Check out these Florida Hard Corals!

Brandon McHenry · Jun 3, 2020

SebastianReefer said:
Looks great I heard the govener is starting phase two up Friday does that include you guys are you open or will you be I still wanna come by and check the place out

Thanks! And not yet. As part of FAU we are following the university’s regulations which means we will be closed to visitors until the beginning of August. But you definitely need to come by when we reopen!

BlazinNano · Jun 3, 2020

Brandon McHenry said:
A few pictures to update everyone on how things are growing. Hope everyone is doing well!

Absolutely amazing to see Florida Corals thriving in a glass box of water. I have lived in Florida my whole life. I love my state and I love that you guys are constantly working to keep our reefs going. Thank you for all the hard work. Thank you for sharing all these photos.

Brandon McHenry · Jun 3, 2020

BlazinNano said:
Absolutely amazing to see Florida Corals thriving in a glass box of water. I have lived in Florida my whole life. I love my state and I love that you guys are constantly working to keep our reefs going. Thank you for all the hard work. Thank you for sharing all these photos.

Thank you so much! It means a lot! I am also a native Floridian so keeping this tank hits close to home for me (pun intended

). Our scientists do some really amazing work and I’m glad to be able to highlight it through my passion! If you are interested in learning a bit more about the tank then you should check out the build thread in my signature!

SebastianReefer · Jun 3, 2020

Brandon McHenry said:
Thanks! And not yet. As part of FAU we are following the university’s regulations which means we will be closed to visitors until the beginning of August. But you definitely need to come by when we reopen!

I most definitely will be there can’t wait

Brandon McHenry · Jun 3, 2020

SebastianReefer said:
I most definitely will be there can’t wait

Great! I’m looking forward to showing all my tanks off!

Ben Pedersen · Jun 3, 2020

Brandon, is there any way to get a small frag of Acropora palmata legally? What permit do I need to have? How do I get the permit? I have been intrested in thar coral since I was a little kid.

I really think that legalizing ownership of these corals is a good way to keep them from going extinct. Especially with the new round of white-band disease going around in the gulf right now.

danieyella · Jun 3, 2020

Such a great thread, updated photos look amazing. Florida native here myself and it's great to see these guys thriving even in a tank.

Brandon McHenry · Jun 3, 2020

Ben Pedersen said:
Brandon, is there any way to get a small frag of Acropora palmata legally? What permit do I need to have? How do I get the permit? I have been intrested in thar coral since I was a little kid.

I really think that legalizing ownership of these corals is a good way to keep them from going extinct. Especially with the new round of white-band disease going around in the gulf right now.

Hi Ben, to my knowledge only research and educational facilities are allowed to keep this coral. I know there are several institutions that are aquaculturing this, and several other Florida corals for restoration purposes but personal aquariums cannot have palmata. It’s great to know that there are people out there that are as passionate about Caribbean species like we are at HBOI.

danieyella said:
Such a great thread, updated photos look amazing. Florida native here myself and it's great to see these guys thriving even in a tank.

Thanks so much! Things are really getting into a groove. It’s really neat to be able to keep them in an aquarium. The Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce has an amazing Florida Reef tank with amazing staghorn.

Ben Pedersen · Jun 3, 2020

Brandon McHenry said:
Hi Ben, to my knowledge only research and educational facilities are allowed to keep this coral. I know there are several institutions that are aquaculturing this, and several other Florida corals for restoration purposes but personal aquariums cannot have palmata. It’s great to know that there are people out there that are as passionate about Caribbean species like we are at HBOI.

Thanks so much! Things are really getting into a groove. It’s really neat to be able to keep them in an aquarium. The Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce has an amazing Florida Reef tank with amazing staghorn.

We home school.... Does that count as an educational institute?