What's the difference between a normal bonsai vs. a garf bonsai?

Chris86 · Mar 10, 2017

I'm about to order some sticks again. The garf looks nice. So does the regular bonsai. What's your opinion on which is better? Pictures always help

!

ReeferBee · Mar 10, 2017

It's all about the lineage. Both have a purple base with green polyps

Chris86 · Mar 10, 2017

ReeferBee said:
It's all about the lineage. Both have a purple base with green polyps

Ok that's good to know. I like cheaper if the only difference is lineage.

spspirate · Mar 10, 2017

GARF would be a safe bet to go with for two reasons. One is that you know your getting a tried and try beautiful bonsai second if you ever want to sell frags in the future most people will recognize the name and know what there getting.

ReeferBee · Mar 10, 2017

Go with the one that fits your budget. Both are beautiful and not everyone buys coral based on the name and lineage. They both came from the ocean lol. Don't get me wrong I have some branded coral but the GARF is no more safe or beautiful then the regular bonsai. This is one of those corals where the GARF name gets attached regularly anyways wether it's legit or not.

mannyhernz · Mar 11, 2017

The garf "bonsai" has a specific growth pattern that is different than the regular valida. Thats what made garf name it bonsai. Other than that..just another valida

Graffiti Spot · Mar 11, 2017

My garf bonsai never grew much like a validia. The mariculture and wild ones definatly grow like a validia. They also get a lot of white in the branches when growing well which I love. The garf piece is a completley different coral imo. Pretty sure he got all his stuff out of figi back then, correct me if I am wrong.
Garf gets thrown on so many corals that look similar to the bonsai including tricolors. The garf is the only one that is a solid deep dark purple.

McMullen · Mar 11, 2017

^ agree! I have the Garf and a reef buddy has three different maricultured bonsai mimics. There is a difference.

The Garf maintains the deep purple!

Graffiti Spot · Mar 11, 2017

My old garf bonsai

Tricolor validia, maricultured, people often confuse for bonsai.

Dalton Hunter · Mar 11, 2017

I absolutely love my bonsai!

ritter6788 · Mar 11, 2017

Pedoconfuego said:
My garf bonsai never grew much like a validia. The mariculture and wild ones definatly grow like a validia. They also get a lot of white in the branches when growing well which I love. The garf piece is a completley different coral imo. Pretty sure he got all his stuff out of figi back then, correct me if I am wrong.
Garf gets thrown on so many corals that look similar to the bonsai including tricolors. The garf is the only one that is a solid deep dark purple.

Agreed. Real Garf Bonsai is not just a regular valida with a name. I'd take the Garf over a tricolor valida anyday.

Liquid360 · May 25, 2017

I just bought this awesome colony of GARF from Adam at battlecorals.

AquamanE · May 25, 2017

@Pedoconfuego -
I don't see the difference.

Graffiti Spot · May 25, 2017

AquamanE said:
@Pedoconfuego -
I don't see the difference.

What you can't see the difference in my two pictures?

Graffiti Spot · May 25, 2017

Pedoconfuego said:
My old garf bonsai

Tricolor validia, maricultured, people often confuse for bonsai.

I wish I still had that tricolor colony. I liked the transition from blue to teal to whiteish color going down the branches.

smokin'reefer · May 25, 2017

Thanks for the info. I was wondering what the dif was. I have what was sold as a tri-color and was wondering if it was a mislabeled Garf. Let me try and get a pic real quick.

Can you tell the difference. I'm sure it is very subtle.

Graffiti Spot · May 26, 2017

It will have to grow out a bit to be sure. Looks like a bonsai frag but hard to tell with your lighting. Garf bonsai is all purple with green polyps and there have been wild and mariculture look alikes coming in for a while. The tricolors are normally blue with green in the base. Nana people often call tricolors but most Nana are purple tips with a brownish base.

smokin'reefer · May 26, 2017

Thanks. So the 3rd color in a tri-color would be the base fading to a lighter color like in your pics above.

Graffiti Spot · May 26, 2017

Yea, their are a few variations but most fade to other shades of green or even to white in the branches. The tips will get yellow polyps often as well. I have a hard time saying some are tricolors since it's just blue and two shades of green on some but that's what they are labeled as.