Involved in the biosynthesis of carotenoids spheroidene and spirilloxanthin. Catalyzes the hydration of neurosporene to the corresponding hydroxylated carotenoids 1-HO-neurosporene and 1,1'-(HO)2-neurosporene and that of lycopene to 1-HO-lycopene and 1,1'-(HO)2-lycopene. Can also act on demethylspheroidene, spheroidene, 1-HO-3,4-didehydrolycopene and geranylgeraniol. rhodopin = all-trans-lycopene + H2O 1,1'-dihydroxy-1,1',2,2'-tetrahydrolycopene = H2O + rhodopin 1-hydroxy-all-trans-1,2-dihydro-neurosporene = all-trans-neurosporene + H2O 1,1'-dihydroxy-1,1',2,2'-tetrahydroneurosporene = 1-hydroxy-all-trans-1,2-dihydro-neurosporene + H2O Optimum pH is 8. No activity is detected at pH 4.0-5.0. At higher pH values, it shows rapid decrease in activity, although 50% of the relative activity is still detected at pH 9.0. It retains much residual activity after 30 minutes incubation at pH 4.0-8.0, indicating that CrtC is stable in both slightly alkaline and acid environments. Optimum temperature is 30 degrees Celsius. Enzyme activity is significantly lower at 20 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius. Carotenoid biosynthesis; spheroidene biosynthesis. Belongs to the CrtC hydratase family.