Coral sellers, Please include parameters on the bag or invoice.

[AZMSGT]

I have bought only a few corals online. When I bought them and put them in my system I lost over half. Not blaming the sellers.. However I think something that would have helped me is knowing the parameters the coral were in.

Par, salinity, Alk. Temp are a few that would be nice to have known.

If anyone else with more experience can suggest other things that would be good to know.. feel free to add to the list.

Lessons learned I do start new corals low in the tank but that only helps with lighting issues.

 

[S.Pepper]

I have bought only a few corals online. When I bought them and put them in my system I lost over half. Not blaming the sellers.. However I think something that would have helped me is knowing the parameters the coral were in.

Par, salinity, Alk. Temp are a few that would be nice to have known.

If anyone else with more experience can suggest other things that would be good to know.. feel free to add to the list.

Lessons learned I do start new corals low in the tank but that only helps with lighting issues.

Nothing wrong with the suggestion, but most sellers i have bought from put the lighting parameters they grow their coral in on site.

edit: While i haven't been in this hobby long, the 14 corals i have purchased online are all doing well. I guess it's probably beginner's luck.

 

[Retro Reefer]

I try to find out what parameters when I purchase but not really much I can do because I’m not going to change my tank to match new corals preference a long acclimation and placing in lower light to start are about all you can do.

 

[3lusive]

Nothing wrong with the suggestion, but most sellers i have bought from put the lighting parameters they grow their coral in on site.

edit: While i haven't been in this hobby long, the 14 corals i have purchased online are all doing well. I guess it's probably beginner's luck.

While this is mostly true I have actually seen conversations online where someone asked about lighting and the seller flat out refused to say anything other than "t5" . I looked at their site and with the price they were asking for frags , and the color they were advertising, I would prefer to keep the coral under the same lighting or as close as possible to help maintain the color I tried to buy. Seller said "I cant give out that info" .

Not sure if they sponsor here so I will keep the name out of it . Will tell you through PM but not publicly.

Personally I had never heard of them prior to reading that, but it definitely turned me away from possibly ever buying from them.

 

[S.Pepper]

While this is mostly true I have actually seen conversations online where someone asked about lighting and the seller flat out refused to say anything other than "t5" . I looked at their site and with the price they were asking for frags , and the color they were advertising, I would prefer to keep the coral under the same lighting or as close as possible to help maintain the color I tried to buy. Seller said "I cant give out that info" .

Not sure if they sponsor here so I will keep the name out of it . Will tell you through PM but not publicly.

Personally I had never heard of them prior to reading that, but it definitely turned me away from possibly ever buying from them.

I guess the seller didn't want to give out "proprietary" information. lol I would move on to another vendor. Too many awesome vendors that will do everything they can to help make their customer successful.

 

[GlassMunky]

I have bought only a few corals online. When I bought them and put them in my system I lost over half. Not blaming the sellers.. However I think something that would have helped me is knowing the parameters the coral were in.

Par, salinity, Alk. Temp are a few that would be nice to have known.

If anyone else with more experience can suggest other things that would be good to know.. feel free to add to the list.

Lessons learned I do start new corals low in the tank but that only helps with lighting issues.

Why would any of those water parameters matter besides temp/salinity.

Corals don’t need an acclimation period like fish do of getting used to the water.
Just dip and drop in the tank. Never lost a coral once from just being introduced to a new tank. If that were the case frag swaps and such would just be mass death parties

 

[GlassMunky]

Now being acclimated to higher lighting or different lighting is different than being acclimated to the water like when introducing fish.
Light acclimation is something totally different in my book

 

[AZMSGT]

Why would any of those water parameters matter besides temp/salinity.

I look at it this way, there is nothing wrong with to much information. The idea is to set the customer up for success. In my case the corals I bought from two online vendors neither had any info with the corals.
I’m by no means an expert and half my losses could easily be my fault. But after learning that expensive mistake I now go out of my way to get my numbers inline with new additions. Since I started getting the info, my success rate has increased to no losses.

But hey, it’s just a suggestion.. no one needs to follow it or agree with it.

 

[GlassMunky]

But after learning that expensive mistake I now go out of my way to get my numbers inline with new additions. Since I started getting the info, my success rate has increased to no losses.

I’m confused by the way this is worded. you adjust your tank to the parameters of the new frags?

 

[AZMSGT]

I’m confused by the way this is worded. you adjust your tank to the parameters of the new frags?

I am running a Coral QT so I do a group at a time. I can adjust my little 10g to match. Mostly, salt, temp, lighting.

 

[Steve_Skullsplitter0]

You could always test the water they are shipped in before they go in your tank.

 

[AZMSGT]

You could always test the water they are shipped in before they go in your tank.

You are absolutely correct, but if the seller included that info up front there is no need to test. But I can’t test PAR and home temp.

 

[Steve_Skullsplitter0]

The methods farmers use is proprietary. If they told you what they use. We would all do it. BRS did a video series on world wide corals show tanks. Go watch it. It's good stuff.

 

[Steve_Skullsplitter0]

You are absolutely correct, but if the seller included that info up front there is no need to test. But I can’t test PAR and home temp.

I never would believe there word. Even the RO water at LFS could be tainted. Best to test for yourself.

We are all in the same boat. I just got a beautiful rainbow chalice from a friend who uses Ocean Revive lighting. I use Kessils. I just put it on my sand for few days.

 

[Steve_Skullsplitter0]

The methods farmers use is proprietary. If they told you what they use. We would all do it. BRS did a video series on world wide corals show tanks. Go watch it. It's good stuff.

But there has to be reason Brightwell Coralamino is available in 5 gallon buckets.

 

[BloopFish]

Just giving away something like alk, salinity, and temperature wouldn't give away their secret formula for growing... I mean the general public already have access to information one what those three does. Is it a secret that elevated alk leads to faster skeleton growth? No, not really. So I don't see why they can't give away those info at least.

 

[Keepswiming]

Given that all your parameters are within normal limits, I would suggest you focus on AlK and temp when receiving new corals, Particularly sps. These two parameters are usually what will acutely kill sps.

Most venders or hobbyist will give out this info if you ask. Highly unlikely that they have the time to write on each bag. Even getting the bags to be named by coral is a challenge. With that being said, purchase a cheap temp laser to quickly check water temp once receiving. When It comes to alk, you should test the incoming water and adjust your drip rate according. If you are more than 1 DKH Off I would do an extended drip acclimation time. I usually don’t loose corals with this process. Good luck!

 

[Keepswiming]

Why would any of those water parameters matter besides temp/salinity.

Corals don’t need an acclimation period like fish do of getting used to the water.
Just dip and drop in the tank. Never lost a coral once from just being introduced to a new tank. If that were the case frag swaps and such would just be mass death parties

You must not be keeping sps? If you purchase a frag that was in a tank with elevated Alk and just drop it in your tank with alk on the lower end of normal, you will almost certainly have RTN.
Alk swings will definitively give you that nice white sps look

 

[happyhourhero]

For me, it wouldn’t matter at all what they put. I am not going to do anything to try and match what they were using other than taking a slight consideration of lighting.

 

[DaneGer21]

For me, it wouldn’t matter at all what they put. I am not going to do anything to try and match what they were using other than taking a slight consideration of lighting.

I think the point here would be more geared towards acclimation and length of acclimation, than trying to duplicate the actual parameters.