Bought corals from ebay

[basiab]

Here are 3 I just bought. I have pictures posted by seller, first 3, and my pictures.
Different lighting makes it hard to know what it will look like in your tank but I have the same problem when I buy local.

 

[rookie07]

While that seller has great deals, they def alter photos to make colors brighter and more vivid. Always buy assuming the pic is photoshop'ed to look much better.
Im also fairly certain they use a underwater camera, which really helps!!!

 

[basiab]

I didn't mean to complain. I am actually very happy with their stuff. I just wanted to point out that WYSIWYG depends a lot on the lighting and there is no way to know how it will look in your setup.
I wouldn't call it a great deal because the shipping really adds up but it is usually a very good price.

 

[Reefcowboy]

With leds and photoshop, its impossible to distinguish what the corals will look like in your tank. Best thing is to buy it yourself unless you know and trust the seller. Not saying the one you bought from is or not trustworthy, but anyone can claim these days the pic was taken with this or that led light/camera and not be liable for any differences from what you end up with in your tank...
When i buy corals, i ask at the store for the piece to be shown with regular daylights on/actinics or blues off...cant go wrong.

 

[basiab]

"When i buy corals, i ask at the store for the piece to be shown with regular daylights on/actinics or blues off...cant go wrong."
That is the best way but sometimes even the locals don't have just a white light.

 

[piranhapat]

Lighting has everything to do with it. I never seen so many different names of SPS lately. It's like almost every month some kind of new coral is released. The only true color is the one in my tank.....

 

[peteyboyny]

Buying corals under LEDs is like picking up chicks when you are drunk
They NEVER look the same when you get them home.
(quote from another MR member)

 

[basiab]

There is more to it than that. I have led's. But the mix of colors makes it look different.

 

[bigsink]

That is too funny!:wink1:

Buying corals under LEDs is like picking up chicks when you are drunk
They NEVER look the same when you get them home.
(quote from another MR member)

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

It's true a very large percentage of online vendors blast their corals w/ blue leds and photoshop them to look so amazing you don't mind paying a crazy price. In actuality most of them do not look great and blasting with that blue bleaches them because the blue is a supplement and the white day light is what actually colors up the coral and gives it the spectrum it needs to be healthy and grow. Unfortunately some people don't mind being crooked scam artists. As far as the guy golden basket I got corals from him on ebay a few years ago and they were ok definitely not as nice as the pictures and also much smaller than I expected. Most of these online vendors also do not want to make up for any doas or refund if you ask.

Online purchases are buyer beware so always keep that in mind when you are dealing with someone you can't punch in the face. The guy in Minnesota or California or wherever is not afraid of you or a bad review. Speaking of reviews it's always good to google someone before dealing w/ them, do your homework and you are less likely to get burned.

 

[islandreef]

Online purchases are buyer beware so always keep that in mind when you are dealing with someone you can't punch in the face.

THATS FUNNY

 

[basiab]

It is very hard to get large brains locally without paying a fortune. Colors can be a problem even when buying local. But the bigger problem is trying to see that health of the coral. For open brains you don't want any of the skeleton to be showing and sometimes you just can't tell from the picture.