Website photos vs reality

[rxx2]

How do you all estimate how the actual coral will appear in your tank vs website photos?

Are some vendors pictures closer to what you actually receive?

Seems there have been quite a number of changes in photography vs 8-9 years ago.

 

[EakTheFreak]

How do you all estimate how the actual coral will appear in your tank vs website photos?

Are some vendors pictures closer to what you actually receive?

Seems there have been quite a number of changes in photography vs 8-9 years ago.

I think things are definitely digitally enhanced in todays hobby unfortunately!! It’s also very evident that all photos are taken with 100% blue lights in my opinion.

That being said, I think if you run your corals at 100% blue it’s still going to look similar to coloration in photo.

I think the big players like WWC, Top shelf aquatics and any bigger companies just have extremely amazing cameras and the pictures are likely just ultra HD & probably will look similar in your tank!

 

[VintageReefer]

After reaching out to countless vendors over the years and countless disappointment on coral arrival, I made a decision years ago to “do what they do”

Noticed my LFS used all blues on coral tanks, online vendors do the same, so I started doing it also. My current tank I ran 2 years with no white and all my coral has grown and thrived. I gradually started adding a little white in as I got more fish to make the tank brighter.

Very often now, when I receive coral, it looks better in my tank then the online photos.

 

[rxx2]

After reaching out to countless vendors over the years and countless disappointment on coral arrival, I made a decision years ago to “do what they do”

Noticed my LFS used all blues on coral tanks, online vendors do the same, so I started doing it also. My current tank I ran 2 years with no white and all my coral has grown and thrived. I gradually started adding a little white in as I got more fish to make the tank brighter.

Very often now, when I receive coral, it looks better in my tank then the online photos.

I just can't yet get used to the all blue look.
I'm running an Icon with the helius program with two OR3 blue plus'es and feel like it's pretty blue. I thought Radiums were pretty blue. Now it's like Radiums on steroids.
I'll have to go and buy in person for now.

 

[exnisstech]

I actually stopped buying much coral online because I don't trust the images. I like a whiter look and don't want to change my lights to make the coral look like something they aren't. I'm just not a fan of the neon tanks but that's me.

 

[VintageReefer]

In person buying was same for me ^^^

My tanks not always full blue like this

I hit lighter periods where it’s blue heavy but has white added in and I find it’s a good compromise. I do hit full blue for extended evenings

 

[rxx2]

I actually stopped buying much coral online because I don't trust the images. I like a whiter look and don't want to change my lights to make the coral look like something they aren't. I'm just not a fan of the neon tanks but that's me.

Great looking tank you have there!
What corals have you found to be especially colorful?

 

[rxx2]

In person buying was same for me ^^^

My tanks not always full blue like this

I hit lighter periods where it’s blue heavy but has white added in and I find it’s a good compromise. I do hit full blue for extended evenings

Uhh, yeah ! That's an awesome looking tank as well!

 

[VintageReefer]

I’ll convert ya! Check out my tank thread sometime, I keep it up to date

I’m a big fan of @exnisstech and his build. The beauty of the hobby is people can run tanks the way they want, and hit success using multiple methods.

When he said he doesn’t want to change my lights to make the coral look like something they aren't - everyone’s welcome to that viewpoint of course

My viewpoint is a little different. I don’t feel I’m making them look like something they aren’t. I feel the blue light periods enhance / allow me to see things I normally can not see, or things that would be hard to see.

Like nighttime feeding signals!

I think the great thing about leds is you can choose to have a more natural look in the day and the crazy fluorescent period at night (or as much / little) as you want

 

[rxx2]

100%.
An amazing tank, is an amazing tank.
I can appreciate them all!

 

[exnisstech]

My viewpoint is a little different. I don’t feel I’m making them look like something they aren’t. I feel the blue light periods enhance / allow me to see things I normally can not see, or things that would be hard to see.

I've been thinking about this statement all afternoon and it finally dawned on me why it hit home. I used to be into posters many years ago. Most were black light posters where things changed or looked totally different under the black lights which were actually blueish purple. What the lights brought out was there all the time just need the lights to see it. Pretty much can be being done with coral which is actually much nicer than posters to look at lol. Thanks I most likely be cranking up some blues for evening viewing. Sorry if this is a silly comparison.

 

[Falc!]

Well I run my radions at 100% whites and reds, just the green I turn down so I like my tank very crisp white. So when shopping for coral, online it’s hard since the pics are usually very photoshopped. In person I always take a white flashlight with me. I even take my flashlight to shows like reefapalooza and aquashella. I have noticed some vendors do not like it when I flashy light but it gives me a whole lot better idea of what I’m buying and it also helps a ton inspecting the coral for parasites and other possible hitchhikers.

 

[VintageReefer]

I've been thinking about this statement all afternoon and it finally dawned on me why it hit home. I used to be into posters many years ago. Most were black light posters where things changed or looked totally different under the black lights which were actually blueish purple. What the lights brought out was there all the time just need the lights to see it. Pretty much can be being done with coral which is actually much nicer than posters to look at lol. Thanks I most likely be cranking up some blues for evening viewing. Sorry if this is a silly comparison.

It’s not silly at all, it’s an exact comparison / analogy I’ve made in my head before but forgot to mention. Yes the colors are there and they react/enhance based on how you light them.

If my coral was white….like a sheet of paper, and I hit it with blue light, and it displays blue…yea that’s a false color. But that’s not what happens. Greens become greener. Yellows become brighter. Patterns and things show up that can’t be seen normally. It’s there all along. The colors and patterns and textures. You just need to light it the right way to bring it out at its best

 

[FMF0331]

I buy my stuff at LFS or at frag swaps. When I do buy online I always go to my favorite vendor, in my opinion his colors is spot on.

The vendor I use rhymes with " AttleCorals "

 

[VintageReefer]

I buy my stuff at LFS or at frag swaps. When I do buy online I always go to my favorite vendor, in my opinion his colors is spot on.

The vendor I use rhymes with " AttleCorals "

Adam is great. He runs photons at 100% on all channels mounted high high up in his facility. Currently swapping over to the new meridian fixtures.