SO when you buy coral...

[Dilan Patel]

So when you buy coral do you buy it for the name? Do you buy it for the price,color or some other reason. Why do you buy your specific corals?

I buy mine for the price and color. I can splurge a little if the color is exactly what I am looking for. I am basically looking for good deals on color and coral. i really could care less about names. Not saying hat I ouldn't pick up named corals such as oregon tort and pink lemonade tho...

 

[Crabs McJones]

So when you buy coral do you buy it for the name? Do you buy it for the price,color or some other reason. Why do you buy your specific corals?

I buy mine for the price and color. I can splurge a little if the color is exactly what I am looking for. I am basically looking for good deals on color and coral. i really could care less about names. Not saying hat I ouldn't pick up named corals such as oregon tort and pink lemonade tho...

I buy mine for the color and looks, and I also consider if it'll thrive in my tank. Example I wouldn't buy a great looking awesome colored acropora if I wasn't sure I could grow it.

 

[ChiCity]

I pick up things I know I’ll be able to trade or sell down the road when things start growing and need to be trimmed.
No matter the price.
Might be bourgeois, but look around...
No one gets rid of their green bay packers, birdsnests, xenia, etc...

 

[Som1else]

Most of my collection has been selected for color and growth patterns and then price. Many times I can find a no name coral that looks exactly like some famous coral that costs 5-10x more.

 

[BoomCorals]

Some people do care about lineage a great deal though. Some of that has to do with ensuring aquaculture frags though, vs a Mari/wild piece that looks like a named aquaculture piece.

 

[Waters]

I don't know the name of any of my acros.....I buy 100% based on cost and appearance.

 

[Raak Arom]

Appearance. The color...

 

[Lonely reefer's]

colors/appearance/name(to be honest some name corals look nicer)

 

[Old Glory]

Color, appearance, price, hardiness. Names do matter to me. I like knowing them. I like owning them. I hate over paying for them.

 

[Rakie]

All of the above.

Name is usually the last thing -- But sometimes the person with the frag isn't coloring up the coral to it's potential... So the name can be very important there, as you will know what it can look like.

 

[Kth]

I tend to start with how I want my tank to look, and from there find myself really stuck on REALLY researching a browsing the internet for corals that might fit into certain parts of my tank. I like variety, so if one day I get a blue-ish coral, the following day I'll look for something that would contrast against it and put it near by.
For Example:

​

 

[jda]

I look for sustainability and not needing any tricks, special lighting or photoshop to sell a frag. If these are met, then I will pay up for a piece. I will pass on the trendy acro of the day if they look like they are black-lit or photoshopped - these nearly always disappoint and lose a ton of value before they crowd my tank and I sell them. IE - Purple Monster or Pink Panther over Walt Disney or HomeWrecker any day for me.

I will take more chances on deepwater since I like them the best. I won't buy a so-so looking Tenuis with promise, but I will buy a so-so looking Granulosa or Lokani with promise.

I will also buy wild pieces that I like, but these are hit/miss - some get better and some get worse.

 

[Braves Fan]

My criteria when I buy corals:

First and most important ,,,, This is pretty much for SPS corals,,,I only buy corals for my tank from vendors that I know go to great lengths to insure that their systems are pest free,,, I never deviate from this,,, no fly by night or chop shop SPS corals for me. I have a list of about 20 companies that I will only buy corals from when I am in the market,, I am willing to add companies to my list,,, example,,, Reef Pets,,, He hits most of the buttons for me,,, but not all,,, active on the Forum,, nice looking SPS frags,,, great prices,,, never talks about his quarantine practices,,, so I just can't put him on my list,, have never bought a frag from him

Second,,, most important: When I have coral $$$ to spend,,, I start looking at the companies that are heavy into Forum participation,,, they get first shot at my coral $$$ ,, its their reward for participating on R2R

I look to see what companies have what for sale ,, who has several corals that I want,, so that I can get the most for my shipping $$$ ,, I don't buy filler corals ,,, corals I really don't want,,, but I buy just to hit a free shipping target number,,, I will do this,, if they have a nice zoa frag,,, zoas are the only filler coral I will buy,,, its how I get most of my zoas lol ,,, as far as what makes me choose one type of coral to buy over another,,, SPS or LPS ,,, its whatever type of coral I think the tank needs for that open spot in the tank,,,

I am a bit more tolerant on my vendor list when it comes to corals that are known, not to be,,, how should I say this,,, corals that don't have as big a problem with pest,,, Acans ,,, Chalices ,, Favias,,, when it comes to those corals,, its all about who has the best price for me,,, right now,,, ASD is pretty much the man for those corals

 

[TvanB1]

I buy based on colors and price.
I propagate high end zoas and some sps. The more expensive the better for me haha