How Do you Get "Intense" Colors?

[BigandUgly]

I've seen zoas fragged from the same colony have very different colors in different tanks. I understand that diet, flow, lighting, water quality, and luck will all have an effect on a zoas appearance, but what steps should be taken to give zoas the brightest, most intense color possible?

 

[romsoccer12]

i really think you found out everything that makes the color nice, but dosing can help to like vitamin C and making sure there are no pests or anything bothering them in a tank

 

[Scott-CapeCoral]

Knowing the origin of the zoa sometimes helps. Shallow zoas from around here in Florida, would do great in high light of course. Now Japanese deep waters are the opposite. They keep intense dark bold and beautiful colors, with low light. They fade and colors will blend together (instead of distinct separation lines) if not properly taken care of.

Frag a colony and place some in high direct light, and some in low or medium, preferably low. See who looks better to you. Then you will know for sure for that particular zoa.

Even if you take a high light zoa and place him in a lower light, you'll benefit from it. They will open up greater and evenly for you.

I feed my zoas cyclops (not often, once every 2 weeks), and I dose roties to the whole tank (1-2 times a week). The fish and cleanup crew get a homemade blend of almost everything you can think of. (shrimp, fish, scallops, mussels, octopus, oysters, clams, squid, nori, garlic, cyclops, brine, mysid, crab, vitamin supplement..) (every other day).

AND

Water changes, water changes, water changes... Zoas like "dirty water" not toxic water.

 

[jefferino]

Scott telling your fiance they cost $5.00 only works as long as she is your fiance.

 

[wis_fishing_guy]

Photoshop....lol

but lighting is #1

 

[Scott-CapeCoral]

Scott telling your fiance they cost $5.00 only works as long as she is your fiance.

If she ever finds out, and has a problem with it, don't bother showing up to the wedding! I'll be finding a new one

 

[Scott-CapeCoral]

Photoshop....lol

but lighting is #1

How about helping the guy? How did that help him?

 

[Reef Bass]

Lighting, particularly blue lights, will pop color in a big way. Of course, if your zoos don't have some color going on, they won't pop visually.

 

[BigandUgly]

I guess my question was meant more as "how do you develop good color in zoas?" I know that they can morph based on conditions, but what conditions should I try to create?

Intense lighting vs. low lighting

Very Blue vs. Very White

Feeding Vs. Not Feeding (and what to feed)

High Flow vs. Low Flow

I know that different colonies will have different preferences. But what would you consider to be best in general?

 

[Scott-CapeCoral]

I guess my question was meant more as "how do you develop good color in zoas?" I know that they can morph based on conditions, but what conditions should I try to create?

Intense lighting vs. low lighting

Very Blue vs. Very White

Feeding Vs. Not Feeding (and what to feed)

High Flow vs. Low Flow

I know that different colonies will have different preferences. But what would you consider to be best in general?

It really varies sooo much... I took these ugly white ones placed them in high light, way up top of the tank, and they turned into green and purple skirts, and white green and purple oral disks. Other zoas, have bleached out in high light. It varies per type. Actinics, 20k halides, and blue t5's will be your best friend.

 

[tuckdawaytoo]

$5 you are getting ripped off I only give $.50 for mine...hehe

 

[handfed]

ok heres one for you. I have a nice sized colony of this certain zoa. The colony is rather dull. I have made a few frags from the colony. The frags are coloring up with intense colors, the colony still rather dull. All are at the same height and location in the frag tank.
hmmmmmm

 

[hlam420]

LEDs will give you the intense crazy colors, but imo they don't look natural to me. I like how corals look under metal halides.

 

[Scott-CapeCoral]

ok here's one for you. I have a nice sized colony of this certain zoa. The colony is rather dull. I have made a few frags from the colony. The frags are coloring up with intense colors, the colony still rather dull. All are at the same height and location in the frag tank.
hmmmmmm

I've noticed the same with my frags. Also notice they grow faster than a full colony as-well. When zoas feed, it's shared without the whole colony. My guess is when you frag them, they are absorbing less nutrients from fewer mouths and tissue, then change color to use the light more efficient.