Buying coral online

[GillMeister]

How many of you have purchased frags online lately only to be disappointed with the size of the frag? When I shop at my LFS I know what I'm getting. Just this week I bought several frags online and frankly, I'm really disappointed with what I got. The frags are more like chips. If that weren't enough, the color isn't close to the images on the auction. This is the third time I've bought corals this way and by far the worst quality. A purple and yellow montipora I bought is actually gray, and half the size of my little finger nail. Is this a common problem?

 

[ReefBeta]

Thanks for putting this here. I was just looking them over. Battle Corals has a million dollar coral? called Fairy Food. really?

Yeah. It was put on during one Apirl Fools. It never got taken down after. It's there as an inside joke.

 

[IKD]

We're always here to help!

I just added you to the summary vendor list above yesterday as well. Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[D4jack]

Tidal gardens or nothing for me. They are about 30 minutes from my house so maybe I'm just partial.

 

[GillMeister]

Tidal gardens or nothing for me. They are about 30 minutes from my house so maybe I'm just partial.

Yeah, I'm not about to bash any of our sponsors but I will point out the good ones. Tidal Gardens was a satisfying experience, as was TCK. I will still take my business to my LFS, New Wave Aquaria, first unless I can't find what I'm looking for.

 

[maugustine]

I’ve had no issues buying online. Especially from some guys on here. Also usually get one freebie with different online vendors.

any recommendations for online frags!

 

[amazongb]

any recommendations for online frags!

Are you looking for SPS, LPS, Softies? If SPS I'd shop with Reefbum, he always gives me large chunks. Another good one is Boom Corals.

 

[BiggestE222]

That's the problem. There are so many and finding a good one is a crap shoot. If you do find a good one you should stick with them. My last purchase was from one of the more well known sellers and I feel like I got duped out of my money.

My LFS has great quality at reasonable prices. The issue here can be a lack of selection makes you look a little harder at these online corals that look really colorful. In reality,, what you get might be a dull colored molecule of calcium carbonate and a polyp.

I love tidal gardens. I like live aquaria. Just ordered some pods from aquarium depot. Will see how that goes.

 

[GillMeister]

I love tidal gardens. I like live aquaria. Just ordered some pods from aquarium depot. Will see how that goes.

I've had great luck with those first two. Have not tried Aquarium Depot.

 

[jassermd]

I've ordered from several myself and have settled on one that I rely on... Corals.com. Jon does an exceptional job of WYSIWYG and the size of the coral colonies and frags are spot on. I've ordered from Corals.com numerous times and he always goes above and beyond. Packaging is by far the best I've seen yet.

 

[Staghorn]

I think that’s become the norm. I remember when all sps frags were 2” minimum. I see allot of companies selling 1/2”-3/4 frags. I think thats kind of redicilous. Especially at the prices some are charging.

 

[Marc2952]

My LFS has a bunch of pests on his tanks so i have no choice but to buy those bugger frags.

 

[Marc2952]

For awesome SPS i love TCK, got a nice deal on a Rainbow splice.

 

[GillMeister]

My biggest beef was with a company BRS had partnered with for live coral sales. I bought 4 corals, once, and none were larger than 3/8". The plugs were small so the frags looked larger in the photos.