Which would you pick?

[MTsquared]

So I am meeting with two local reefers tomorrow. We will call them reefer A and reefer B. Both have various sticks for sale and I’m fairly new to collecting sticks (have many in my tank and having good success thus far). Venturing out a little to bring more colors to the tank and away from the standard green with blue or green and some other color variation. Looking for decent growers and nice coloration or polyp extension.

Reefer A has the following available and a few other not mentioned. Of these which 1 or 2 are must have? Hayfever table, JF Haterade, JF Fox Flame, CB Malificent, TSA Bill Murray.

Reefer B has the following available, again which 1 or 2 are must haves? Northern Crush, Merlins Staff, PC Rainbow, Greg’s Unicorn, Pink Panther, and Solar Flare, some wild rainbows.

I am thinking of getting 1-2 from each or maybe 3 depending. I don’t really know all the names to be honest and a google image search turns up a wide variety for the ones named. Thanks in advance and if you have any of the above any pictures of yours would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Smite]

If you get to see them in person, in tank then I'd just wait and make your decision there pending price. I only have a few of those but I absolutely love my CB maleficent. If you want a red piece, that's a great choice. If you're newer to sticks I'd steer clear of the wild rainbows, guessing tenuis, unless they are pretty cheap or have been in reefer B's care for a few years. Of all the wild/mari pieces I've gotten tenuis are hands down the hardest to keep alive when new to tank life.

 

[MTsquared]

If you get to see them in person, in tank then I'd just wait and make your decision there pending price. I only have a few of those but I absolutely love my CB maleficent. If you want a red piece, that's a great choice. If you're newer to sticks I'd steer clear of the wild rainbows, guessing tenuis, unless they are pretty cheap or have been in reefer B's care for a few years. Of all the wild/mari pieces I've gotten tenuis are hands down the hardest to keep alive when new to tank life.

Thanks for the input. Yes, I will be able to see them in both situations prior to buying. I agree with you on looking to see what looks best in terms of colors and overall health. Definitely like the Maleficent and feel like that will be one I take home. Any pics of yours?

 

[Smite]

Thanks for the input. Yes, I will be able to see them in both situations prior to buying. I agree with you on looking to see what looks best in terms of colors and overall health. Definitely like the Maleficent and feel like that will be one I take home. Any pics of yours?

Here is a colony shot of mine under 14k halides

Here are some macro shots under 14k halide and reefbrite xho so around 20k

It's pretty good looking under all blues as well.

 

[ScottB]

None of those are poor pickings, but IMO Maleficent and Pink Panther are must haves.

But maybe I feel that way because I don't have either anymore.

 

[MTsquared]

None of those are poor pickings, but IMO Maleficent and Pink Panther are must haves.

But maybe I feel that way because I don't have either anymore.

Thanks for the input! Will let you guys know what I get.

 

[MTsquared]

Here is a colony shot of mine under 14k halides

Here are some macro shots under 14k halide and reefbrite xho so around 20k

It's pretty good looking under all blues as well.

Looks awesome thanks for sharing! How old is that colony?

 

[Smite]

Looks awesome thanks for sharing! How old is that colony?

I got a very small frag about 3 years ago. It's been fragged a few times. I'd say it's a pretty good grower. It encrusted for the first 6 months then started branching out.

 

[MTsquared]

So here is what I grabbed - Pink Panther, Maleficent, Bill Murray, and Solar Flare. All decent size frags not little nubs.

 

[Smite]

So here is what I grabbed - Pink Panther, Maleficent, Bill Murray, and Solar Flare. All decent size frags not little nubs.

Pics or it didn't happen

Nice grabs!

 

[MTsquared]

Will post pics once in the tank

 

[Smite]

Whaaat PC Superman was a score too. Great pack, sizeable frags as well!

 

[homer1475]

I would have grabbed fox flame too. While not an interesting piece as a frag, a colony is simply amazing.

 

[ScottB]

Awesome haul! Dip in potassium chloride. It can wait until they settle in for a few days.
1 tblsp per gallon tank water

 

[shakacuz]

Awesome haul! Dip in potassium chloride. It can wait until they settle in for a few days.
1 tblsp per gallon tank water

is the potassium dip better than a regular coral rc/reef primer or even bayer dip?

 

[ScottB]

is the potassium dip better than a regular coral rc/reef primer or even bayer dip?

For acropora related pests, yes. For AEFW in particular? Absolutely.

It is as gentle as Bayer, but mixes clear and isn't so problematic to manage safely. No gloves, no rinsing, etc.

Reef primer is "Potassium Salts". Is that an expensive version of the common salt substitute Potassium Chloride? I think so.

I do NOT recommend KCl dipping for any coral other than acropora.

All the stick vendors I follow here use KCl. They also treat their systems with Interceptor a couple times per year. I don't go that far, unless I spot red/white bugs.

 

[shakacuz]

For acropora related pests, yes. For AEFW in particular? Absolutely.

It is as gentle as Bayer, but mixes clear and isn't so problematic to manage safely. No gloves, no rinsing, etc.

Reef primer is "Potassium Salts". Is that an expensive version of the common salt substitute Potassium Chloride? I think so.

I do NOT recommend KCl dipping for any coral other than acropora.

All the stick vendors I follow here use KCl. They also treat their systems with Interceptor a couple times per year. I don't go that far, unless I spot red/white bugs.

what brand, or form of it do you use?

 

[ScottB]

what brand, or form of it do you use?

Any food grade will do. I use the product below.

I forgot to add, KCl kills AEFW in 5 to 8 minutes. They will curl up and even dissolve. That means you should watch closely as you baste. It is easy to confuse their remains with just detritus.

When using Bayer, it very much stuns them and they don't like it. But they will crawl around in Bayer for an hour or more before dying. Once you pour off the milk you will find them crawling on the bottom of the dip tray.

SORRY OP! Got off track there. Lets get a pic of those babies in the tank. That Pink Panther looked like a monster frag!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

For acropora related pests, yes. For AEFW in particular? Absolutely.

It is as gentle as Bayer, but mixes clear and isn't so problematic to manage safely. No gloves, no rinsing, etc.

Reef primer is "Potassium Salts". Is that an expensive version of the common salt substitute Potassium Chloride? I think so.

I do NOT recommend KCl dipping for any coral other than acropora.

All the stick vendors I follow here use KCl. They also treat their systems with Interceptor a couple times per year. I don't go that far, unless I spot red/white bugs.

im seeing you know a little about this im looking into Potassium Chloride because i did see white bugs on a few plugs im trying to help prevent any spreading? do you have experience with acro white bugs? thanks

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Any food grade will do. I use the product below.

I forgot to add, KCl kills AEFW in 5 to 8 minutes. They will curl up and even dissolve. That means you should watch closely as you baste. It is easy to confuse their remains with just detritus.

When using Bayer, it very much stuns them and they don't like it. But they will crawl around in Bayer for an hour or more before dying. Once you pour off the milk you will find them crawling on the bottom of the dip tray.

SORRY OP! Got off track there. Lets get a pic of those babies in the tank. That Pink Panther looked like a monster frag!

i just ordered this ill continue to research it, thanks for pointing it out to me ill find a good recipe.