Most Underrated and Most Overrated

[DiaTom]

In your experience, which pieces of livestock (coral, fish, cuc, etc) have been the most underrated (exceeded your expectations) and the most overrated (did not meet your expectations)?

 

[Spare time]

Urchins are definitely underrated. I also think that macroalgae are underrated. Many don't understand that a cheap light is not going to give you ultra fast growing chaeto. You can go without a skimmer in many cases if you understand how to keep macro algae.

 

[Homebrewer]

I love the idea of this thread.

I think the most underrated fish of all time is the Royal Gramma. Imagine if you never saw it before, and all of a sudden someone discovered it. Given its color an hardiness, it could be a $500 fish! But because they are common and been around forever, they are affordable. I once got one free with purchase of a Yellow Tang! I love me some RG!

Overrated... super-expensive coral with crazy names. Some things you just get what you pay for, no doubt, but just because it has some cool name doesn’t mean it looks worthy of such a name (and price)! I’m into the brewing scene and I tell people all the time, just because you know a place that makes their own beer, that doesn’t mean that it’s good! Same with these coral names. Just because it’s called whatever, doesn’t mean that it’s awesome. Though, I’ll admit, I have a few “brand name” coral - and I’ve also spent money on bad beer! Oh well!

 

[Han]

Underrated fish- marine betta
Underrated coral- photosynthetic gorgonians
Underrated invert- reef lobsters (in a species tank)

Overrated coral- acros, i don’t see the appeal
Overrated fish- not sure, maybe tangs Overrated invert- nassarius snails, I have never had success with these guys

 

[lolmatt]

Most overrated - online coral sales. I've bought from a few places and rarely gotten anything that looked like the pics, both in size and color.

Most underrated - starcki damsels. I got one maybe a year ago and it looks like a dwarf angel without having to worry about it eating my corals!

 

[Copingwithpods]

For coral I'd say hypnophora pilosa is extremely under rated. I've been lucky in that mine kept its mettalic blues, purples and greens and didn't just green out. They are aggressive but not nearly as much as people portrayed them to be, no more aggressive than an acan or favite. I would love to see more forgotten species back in the hobby.



Under rated cuc would have to be fighting conches they are really cool although very lazy and cryptic.

Over rated... don't know, good question.

 

[Beardo]

Have to agree with @Homebrewer on the royal gramma being underrated. Great fish and relatively inexpensive. Also the yellow coris wrasse, a nice vibrant yellow and performs a function hunting pests.

For corals many of the old school corals are underrated while the rainbow tenius are overrated in my opinion. Mostly because I run my lights on the white side and many of them only look good under heavy blues.

 

[jda]

Named torches are over rated.
Large Discoma and colonies of Z&P (tie) are underrated.

Designer Clownfish are over rated.
Genicanthus Angelfish are under rated.

 

[Thetankdoctor]

This is tough...I think underrated is a sand sifting goby...little dude just does work keeps sand moving and clean. Yeah they can play heck with rock work but if done right they are awesome...

Overrated....hmmmmm I think the lack of experience in the hobby. I mean we all started with our first salt water tank at some point. With all the tech and internet information now, I think the vast library of knowledge we collectively use now makes up for some lack of experience.

 

[blasterman]

Over-rated fish:
Anthias: look like baitfish, act like baitfish, have zero personality.

Over-rated coral:
A tie between bounce mushrooms and chalices. Both are under whelming to look at and look like something that came out of a smurf with the stomache flu.

Over-rated gear:
LED lights that require firmware updates and/or anything involving blue-tooth or wifi.

 

[Homebrewer]

and look like something that came out of a smurf with the stomache flu.

I will never look at my chalices the same again!!! lol!

 

[DiaTom]

For me - acans and gsp have exceeded my expectations. Zoas are way overrated - so much hype, but they're actually quite boring, IMO.

 

[JonoB]

This thread shows how great it is that we are all different and have different opinions

I think anything that is expensive just because of the name and hype is over-rated, but someone obviously likes them! I would love some expensive coral but I'm pretty happy with some of my budget LPS right now. My elegance is my favorite, but honestly I think Duncans are pretty underrated, I think I get more comments on that than anything else.

I agree with the nassarius snail being overrated, I don't feel like they ever actually do anything...

Also cleaner shrimp, annoying as crap to me.

 

[hart24601]

For me acro only tanks are overated. Sure they are great coral and can be a fantastic centerpiece, but just because they are difficult (especially deepwater) doesn’t mean they are prettier or more interesting. From 10ft away perhaps the most boring reef tanks possible.

I think tuxedo urchin are underrated. Great algae eaters, can get stuff snails can’t touch.

 

[RCS82]

I'll throw an under rated one out there. For corals, SPS specifically, Forest Fire Digi. For its price and relative ease to keep, It just glows and has awesome green tips

 

[Doctorgori]

Over: Boris Vallejo-ish aquascapes that look like surreal moonscapes from the andromeda galaxy
Over: lords, zoas and acros with silly names that look one shade different but cost 20X more

Underrated fish- marine betta
Underrated coral- photosynthetic gorgonians
Underrated invert- reef lobsters (in a species tank)

Overrated coral- acros, i don’t see the appeal
Overrated fish- not sure, maybe tangs Overrated invert- nassarius snails, I have never had success with these guys

Marine bettas are just naturally cool, calm and beautiful and bulletproof
Reefs don’t look complete w/o Sea fans

Most overrated - online coral sales. I've bought from a few places and rarely gotten anything that looked like the pics, both in size and color.

^^^ taking the high road....you are being nice and refrained ..

 

[windemerejack]

Most overrated fish = Clown fish, the most boring, uninteresting fish ever.
Most underrated fish = Marine Betta
Most overrated coral = anything that is sold online
Most underrated coral = Pulsing Xenia, if kept under control.
Most overrated invert = blood red shrimp
Most underrated invert = Tuxedo urchin

 

[jsvand5]

Over rated for me is every Tenuis aside from SC Orange Passion.

Under rated. Most leopard wrasses.

 

[DiaTom]

Most overrated fish = Clown fish, the most boring, uninteresting fish ever.
Most underrated fish = Marine Betta
Most overrated coral = anything that is sold online
Most underrated coral = Pulsing Xenia, if kept under control.
Most overrated invert = blood red shrimp
Most underrated invert = Tuxedo urchin

I almost listed ocellaris as one of the most underrated fish. I have 4 juveniles and am enjoying them - both their looks and personalities. I think many designer clowns are overrated though.

I agree about pulsing xenia - a very interesting coral and one of the things that made me first consider starting a saltwater aquarium - a coral that moves on its own - cool!

 

[JoshO]

Most overrated - online coral sales. I've bought from a few places and rarely gotten anything that looked like the pics, both in size and color.

Most underrated - starcki damsels. I got one maybe a year ago and it looks like a dwarf angel without having to worry about it eating my corals!

Is it aggressive??