same polyp different lights, different results

[mfinn]

This is another example of what different lights can do to the same zoanthid.
First I will say that all three pictures were taken with a Nikon 8700. Using the Nikon software, I used auto everything, focus, white balance etc.
When I prepared the pictures for posting I used auto sharpening(high) and I used auto contrast without color change.
I used no color altering features.

I bought the colony from someone local. I shared a chunk of it with a friend who put part in one tank and another part in a different tank. We have had the zoanthids 3 weeks. Both of her tanks had different lighting than the piece I put in my tank. Same piece three different lighting.
The first picture is from my tank with a 250 watt 20k Helios bulb and 1x55 watt pc actinic. This picture is very similar to the original owners picture when I bought the piece.



The next picture is from my friends tank that has a 175 watt 10k mh bulb.




And this picture is a frag she placed in a tank that has vho and power compacts on it. Like I said, they have been in these tanks for about 3 weeks.

 

[brettandlyndi]

Very interesting! Great research, it's amazing what different lighting will do for coral coloration.

 

[mfinn]

This is really making me re-evaluate my thinking on what lighting makes zoanthids look the best. I usually use a 14k Hamiton bulb, but it went out and I'm using the Helios bulb till a new 14k bulb comes.
I even went out and bought a 96watt powerquad setup for my 20 to see if the changes are light only or environment and light.

 

[redFishblue]

What is the color on the vho and power compact setup on the last pic?
Thanks for the post, pretty interesting.

 

[chris2222000]

Thats awesome! We should experiment with other types of zoas and palys.

-Chris

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7839071#post7839071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redFishblue
What is the color on the vho and power compact setup on the last pic?
Thanks for the post, pretty interesting.

I didn't look at them when I was there. I sent a email and am waiting to hear back. I fragged up my piece and am going to try a duplicate what she did.

 

[TWallace]

Those ones in the top left of the first pic are awesome. Got a better pic of them?

 

[MarvinsReef]

wow.. thanks for the comparison pics..

Marvin

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7846579#post7846579 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TWallace
Those ones in the top left of the first pic are awesome. Got a better pic of them?

I setup to get a shot of those last night and just when everything was ready the timer shut the mh's off.
I got those about 10 months ago and they were classic fire and ice. Now they are much darker.

 

[wds21921]

This also occurs with mushrooms.
I was given a donation of some true blue shrooms by a local reefer, His tank used 250 watt MH's and two actinics.
In my tank they bleached out under 4X65watt PC's to a faded blue jean (denim) blue.
Now under my 4 110 watt VHO's they're all beginning to get back there original color and even better .

This is something to keep in mind should someone try to sell you a shroom or zoa you've never seen before (coloration).

 

[mfinn]

The first picture is very close to the original picture from the original owner.
These were never bleached out.
And I wouldn't call the last picture bleached out either.