What is pt1 tonga mean please?

Zoabowlboy · Mar 19, 2021

Hi all. So I've bought a 7.6kg tonga plate it sais pt1 on the ad.
But then I bought another 5kg of plate from another guy and his ad said pt1 aswell.
What actually does the pt1 mean, does anyone know?
TIA

Idoc · Mar 22, 2021

Sorry... no clue what you are referring to in your question. Please post a pic so we can see what you are referring to.

Zoabowlboy · Mar 22, 2021

Idoc said:
Sorry... no clue what you are referring to in your question. Please post a pic so we can see what you are referring to.

I will screen shot the ads of the rocks i have bought.
In the ad titles it is described as "PT1" TONGA.
My question is what does the pt1 mean.

nereefpat · Mar 22, 2021

Oh.

Part 1, maybe?

That does not look like rock from Tonga, not branchy enough. Google images for Tonga live rock. Tonga is popular stuff.

Zoabowlboy · Mar 22, 2021

nereefpat said:
Oh.

Part 1, maybe?

That does not look like rock from Tonga, not branchy enough. Google images for Tonga live rock. Tonga is popular stuff.

No I've seen several sellers put it on their tonga listings now.

And with the tongan rock it comes in plate and branch type formations generally.
This is the plate type.
It's not globular looking like other types. Kinda smoother.
I love the look of the plate tonga.
I'm pretty sure you cant buy it in any shops any more because they banned collecting it.
If you google tonga shelf tank or tonga shelf plate rock you will see what it looks like.

Idoc · Mar 22, 2021

I don't know what that means, except possibly the Tonga rock suppliers designation for Plate rock possibly. Hit that "Contact Seller" button on the add that you posted the pics from and ask them directly.

CanuckReefer · Mar 22, 2021

Zoabowlboy said:
No I've seen several sellers put it on their tonga listings now.

And with the tongan rock it comes in plate and branch type formations generally.
This is the plate type.
It's not globular looking like other types. Kinda smoother.
I love the look of the plate tonga.
I'm pretty sure you cant buy it in any shops any more because they banned collecting it.
If you google tonga shelf tank or tonga shelf plate rock you will see what it looks like.

Yep plate and branch, and sure darn hard to find quality older existing pieces for a decent price now. Lucky enough to have one plate and a branch in my system from years back....as for the pt1....hmm, interesting....

Tcook · Mar 22, 2021

What I'd like to know is what does the TP1 mean on the last listing.

Baldguy · Mar 22, 2021

I found another of your UK ebay sellers with PT6 Tonga Plate. I'm curious now! Let us know what you find out.

Zoabowlboy · Mar 23, 2021

Idoc said:
I don't know what that means, except possibly the Tonga rock suppliers designation for Plate rock possibly. Hit that "Contact Seller" button on the add that you posted the pics from and ask them directly.

Why in the flying fireball didnt I consider just asking them.
You sir..... genius. Message sent!

I suspect it's something to do with geography, i know tonga is regionally recognised as three groups of islands, could be related to that.

Zoabowlboy · Mar 23, 2021

CanuckReefer said:
Yep plate and branch, and sure darn hard to find quality older existing pieces for a decent price now. Lucky enough to have one plate and a branch in my system from years back....as for the pt1....hmm, interesting....

Yeah that's one of the attractive things about the stuff.
I'm really sad I missed out on a really really nice branch the other day.
I will never see it again

why didnt I just buy it. Whyyyyyyy?

Zoabowlboy · Mar 23, 2021

Baldguy said:
I found another of your UK ebay sellers with PT6 Tonga Plate. I'm curious now! Let us know what you find out.

Will report back when the seller replies

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 23, 2021

Tonga is branch rock. That is not branch rock. That is base rock. Flordia keys or gulf base rock. Hths
D

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 23, 2021

Most shelf rock is man made

Zoabowlboy · Mar 23, 2021

monkeyCmonkeyDo said:
Tonga is branch rock. That is not branch rock. That is base rock. Flordia keys or gulf base rock. Hths
D

Lol no monkey, tonga isnt just branch rock, that's just the stuff that's popular and popular to copy stylistically, at this snapshot in time.
Tonga is a place, the kingdom of tonga.
And yes they have a king.
Years ago they used to export their rock. Tonga rock.
Most popular now is the branch rock, but they also exported plate rock too.

You cant buy the stuff any more , there is a bit floating around in the second hand market but not a ton.

Zoabowlboy · Mar 23, 2021

monkeyCmonkeyDo said:
Most shelf rock is man made

It is yeah. Rightly so really. It doesnt seem right carving up natural ecosystems when we can just make stuff.
That's why its banned from taking it some of these places maybe.
The natural stuff is beautiful though.