Most Overrated and Underrated "CORALS!"

[Marine Hobby]

I really don't know how to answer this question. I am in a country where keeping and trading corals are ban so its a yea and no for me. Corals which are overrated or underrated there are all desirable here.

 

[fishybizzness]

Ok here...

That's what I'm used to seeing so I find that beautiful!

 

[mort]

For me I like seeing nice natural looking corals, so I don't mind if they are common. I really find scolys and anything that looks like a child high on sugar, coloured in overrated. I know they are natural but they look so out of place amongst the more muted tones of normal corals.

Gorgonians are massively underrated because what else can you get that adds that much height and movement but doesn't take up much rockwork.

 

[Jase4224]

For me stick gardens are getting so boring nearly every tank packed full of acros looks the same. Yes they are an achievement.. but yawn.

Soft corals and leathers on the other hand even in boring colours for me are much more interesting. The movement, behaviour and shapes makes them seem more alive than SPS do.

Of course my favourite tanks have a nice balance of both

 

[siggy]

Collecting and selling rare sand

Live Rock is were its at! All the Fuji and Tonga stuff. If I see a nice piece I grab it for my Dream Tank some day. Here is a underrated softy and a rare LR find

 

[Greaps]

To me corals that lack solid and rich colors. Multi- colors are cool when examined closely, but I'm more into deeper, solid colors. Like green and red monti, green slimer, the more bright / fluorescent, and solid in color the better.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Great input everyone!

 

[shred5]

What is with all the SPS dominate tank hate in this thread?
Not everyone who does SPS is into expensive named coral, their are allot who just buy what they like. Not all sticks are expensive either.
I do not care if someone does a sps dominate, lsp, softies or mixed reef, a great reef aquarium is a great reef aquarium period. It is about color mix, aquascaping, etc.

If someone buys named expensive corals who really cares it is their money and their choice. If people do not want to they do not have too their are plenty of choices for both right now.

 

[JustAnotherReefer]

Am I the only guy who likes Leptos lol.
I’m bored of jack o lantern but I have this really cool dark red lepto I absolutely love, with certain lighting (time of day) it has this really interesting holographic effect. Super under rated compared to the thousands I’ve dumped into sps.

i have a Frankenstein lepto and its sky blue color is gorgeous

 

[Michael Llabona]

I feel like gonis are not as common and are underrated. They offer great color and can handle flow (for those of us who like SPS). Most overrated is corals that only look good under blue light. In my opinion, if a coral is going into my display, it's gonna look good in any light I throw at it. Pic of my goniopora.

 

[mikes686]

I'm think bounce mushrooms are overrated and overpriced. While they are pretty, what the heck? I get that the hobby establishes the price and popularity of a coral, but I refuse to have an extravagantly priced coral in my tank just so I can worry about it surviving. I'm in this for the enjoyment, not stress, thays why I have kids.

 

[Why-Me]

I said yes and no. I feel this is much like a form of art, music dance etc. It's so subjective. To each his/hers own. What's pleasing to one may not be pleasing or even off putting to someone else.

 

[Sea MunnKey]

It's because of the so called Bounce mushroom "epidemic" that every single 'shrooms prices have steeply increased ten folds including common 'shroom. What the heck man!!! Secondly the term "Rainbow" corals doesn't honestly & truthfully justify any rainbow colors at all . Don't tempt me with "Holy Grail" ... pleeeaaaseee ;Bored

Overrated: Refuse to name Names as I'm just a lowly soul that don't have the budget and unlimited expenses to own fancy designer named corals ala frag sized ones
Underrated: My own & personal reef system at home

 

[MnFish1]

I think most are overrated, nothing about them justifies the prices that they go for, $1000 for a 1/4 inch frag?! ;Greedy;Dead

Curious what you're referring to. Most corals do not go for $1000/frag. But agree with you that anything selling for $1000/frag is overpriced. BTW - If someone is paying $1000 for a frag - by definition it can't be overrated. It might be overpriced. But if it weren't highly rated no one would pay $1000.

I don't use blue light - so I (personally) see no value in these bright florescent corals people seem to like. (so to me any of these expensive mushrooms/acro/zoas that display best under this light are over-rated).

Also think is difficult to say what is 'underrated' - because as another poster says - there is no clear definition of what the rating is based on. Is it Price:size ratio, Price:color, Poplarity in the LFS or online shops? Since there are no criteria on which to base over rated and under rated - im not sure how to answer - but its an interesting discussion.

 

[User1]

Infinite Aquarium, it’s by Great America and where the 49ers play. Super cool dudes. If you like sps he’s big into the old school ones and very cheap, like 20-40 a frag. Pc rainbow, the vinh, purple monster, green slimer, red planet, borealis, mystic, red dragon, 500 efflo. Pretty much anything people wanted a decade ago theyve got it lol.

Never been there but thank you for information I'm down in Sacramento but next time I am in Sunnyvale for work I'll have to time it such that I can stop by on the way home.

 

[CC13]

BTW - If someone is paying $1000 for a frag - by definition it can't be overrated.

Not to get stuck on the technicals, but if you buy a coral that's been color enhanced or Photoshopped to a point where its colours are not (or likely not) obtainable, regardless of price, by definition, it is overrated. The coral being purchased is not the determining factor, its dependent on what is being advertised to what your actually getting.

The definition of over-rated is: to praise too highly, exaggerate the merits of, over-praise, oversell, glorify, magnify.

 

[tnyr5]

Step one to fixing the hobby: Start prizing individual corals less and the artistic expression of the coral grower more.

 

[MnFish1]

\

Not to get stuck on the technicals, but if you buy a coral that's been color enhanced or Photoshopped to a point where its colours are not (or likely not) obtainable, regardless of price, by definition, it is overrated. The coral being purchased is not the determining factor, its dependent on what is being advertised to what your actually getting.

The definition of over-rated is: to praise too highly, exaggerate the merits of, over-praise, oversell, glorify, magnify.

The problem is that overrated has many categories. (as does underrated). It can be overrated by price, by color, etc. etc. There are so many personal preferences as to color, what is affordable, etc - it kind of becomes a meaningless poll. I.e. Most people say leather corals are 'under rated'. If you personally hate the look of leather corals - you could say leather corals are overrated. Likewise GSP, etc. Its an interesting discussion - but a meaningless poll. (and My guess is that if there was a choice 'corals are neither under or overrated because there is no list of overrated or underrated corals to choose from' that would be the winner

 

[Shep]

Curious what you're referring to. Most corals do not go for $1000/frag. But agree with you that anything selling for $1000/frag is overpriced. BTW - If someone is paying $1000 for a frag - by definition it can't be overrated. It might be overpriced. But if it weren't highly rated no one would pay $1000.

I don't use blue light - so I (personally) see no value in these bright florescent corals people seem to like. (so to me any of these expensive mushrooms/acro/zoas that display best under this light are over-rated).

Also think is difficult to say what is 'underrated' - because as another poster says - there is no clear definition of what the rating is based on. Is it Price:size ratio, Price:color, Poplarity in the LFS or online shops? Since there are no criteria on which to base over rated and under rated - im not sure how to answer - but its an interesting discussion.

Well the $1000 was mostly just exaggeration but I was referring to all the designer corals (mostly acros, chalices and bounce shrooms) that have really high price tags attached to them and are usully pretty small frags. I have to disagree with "If someone is paying $1000 for a frag - by definition it can't be overrated" I dont really see how it cant be overrated if someone buys it. These corals get hyped up as the best looking/must have corals, which leads to the inflated prices, leading to someone buying it at the inflated price. Something can be both overrated and overpriced, they are mutually exclusive

 

[DudeBruh]

Overrated at this time. I’m new to the hobby and the run of the mill stuff is still so exciting and colorful and new.... But I can honestly admit I’m the person in a few years may want to have some of the overrated designer pieces. Right now I enjoy it all as it’s new, and I enjoy putting together contrasting colored frags that compliment each other at a decent price.... as long as they’ll play nice

Underrated from a newbie stand point I would say some Duncan’s which have tons of movement and color and plenty cheap.