Do you have a preference where your corals come from?

[Gumbies R Us]

(let's leave bashing of businesses out of this thread)

So this question just randomly came to my mind while I was browsing Reef2Reef today, "do you have a preference of where your corals come from". What I mean by this is, do you make sure it is coming from a trusted person or business, or do you not mind grabbing coral from anyone (a free coral from a local reefer for example). Just curious to hear everyone's thoughts and feedback on this question! Photo Credit: @IntrinsicReef

 

[tbrown]

I tend to buy corals from a few locals that I trust nowadays. Typically for online vendors if I haven't had bad deliveries in the past (pests, RTN, multiple DOAs not due to shipping delays) I will be a repeat customer.

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

I have only ever purchased in person. Little wary of that first shipping order for corals or fish. I did purchase cleanup crew through reefcleaners.com once and was happy with the transaction.

 

[KQuillan]

So far, I have found only three online places I trust. I also trust a few people on here that I have interacted with on sales.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Not really, but I don’t buy much anymore. Unless aquacultured, most vendors are selling from the same wholesalers, imo. So really the biggest difference is in pest and disease control and shipping. Some vendors do it well, and some just pass the coral right along to the consumer without much effort in between.

But I’ve never had a problem from Cherry Corals or Battlecorals at delivery.

 

[Goaway]

My lfs, who is closing. But might keep open as a hobby trade.

3 online vendors I like, but I am at the point of getting collector pieces rather just gap fillers now. So, It's a matter of when I want to buy one of those pieces and who has them.

 

[Swede's Reef]

I have a few trusted online vendors i use from time to time. Local reefers is fine as long as I know them...

 

[Hairyteeth]

I don’t care where my corals come from, they’re all going into the qt regardless!!!
I love a good 5 dollar chop shop frag, I love trading with people and am always looking for some random stuff ….im easy to please the coral that got me into all of it
The green slimer! Still my favorite coral of all time

 

[exnisstech]

I buy at my lfs if I see something I want. I won't buy from most online vendors because images are way overcooked and unreal. I have bought from @Battlecorals and been very happy. I trust Adam enough that I don't even need to see an image.
@Queen City Corals have wysiwyg usually and the images look believable so i placed my first order with them a few weeks ago for 8 frags and 2 clams and was not disappointed.

EDIT: I have also bought from members in the classifieds here and think that's where the best deals can be found

 

[Gumbies R Us]

My lfs, who is closing. But might keep open as a hobby trade.

3 online vendors I like, but I am at the point of getting collector pieces rather just gap fillers now. So, It's a matter of when I want to buy one of those pieces and who has them.

Hate to hear that your lfs is closing!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I buy at my lfs if I see something I want. I won't buy from most online vendors because images are way overcooked and unreal. I have bought from @Battlecorals and been very happy. I trust Adam enough that I don't even need to see an image.
@Queen City Corals have wysiwyg usually and the images look believable so i placed my first order with them a few weeks ago for 8 frags and 2 clams and was not disappointed.

EDIT: I have also bought from members in the classifieds here and think that's where the best deals can be found

I’m starting to see more and more people say buying from the marketplace here is actually a good option. I’ve been curious about buying coral from those people before.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I don’t care where my corals come from, they’re all going into the qt regardless!!!
I love a good 5 dollar chop shop frag, I love trading with people and am always looking for some random stuff ….im easy to please the coral that got me into all of it
The green slimer! Still my favorite coral of all time

This is similar to me. As long as the coral isn’t somehow going to nuke my tank, I’m not too picky where it comes from

 

[Goaway]

I’m starting to see more and more people say buying from the marketplace here is actually a good option. I’ve been curious about buying coral from those people before.

I know someone really approves of camero show coral. There are actually a bunch of market place sellers who are great.

They kind of grow a few select coral. Those are some of the best coral to buy. They've been in captivity for years. Not months.

 

[RocketEngineer]

I much prefer aquacultured corals.

My LFS has been producing aquacultured corals for decades. I enjoy wandering through the store and greenhouse, selecting the exact specimen I want. They don’t have everything I want in my tank so I’ve been researching other online retailers for the few I’m not seeing locally.

Anyone have a green slimmer frag in Delaware/ eastern Maryland?

 

[Bartanto]

Anywhere! …as long as it’s @Battlecorals.

Yesterday’s arrivals (sorry, crummy pic)

 

[tbrown]

I much prefer aquacultured corals.

My LFS has been producing aquacultured corals for decades. I enjoy wandering through the store and greenhouse, selecting the exact specimen I want. They don’t have everything I want in my tank so I’ve been researching other online retailers for the few I’m not seeing locally.

Anyone have a green slimmer frag in Delaware/ eastern Maryland?

@Fish Styx this is kinda your neighborhood...?

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

I've bought online and from local reefers, and I'm honestly down to get corals from anywhere as long as it's a trusted source!

 

[Fish Styx]

I much prefer aquacultured corals.

My LFS has been producing aquacultured corals for decades. I enjoy wandering through the store and greenhouse, selecting the exact specimen I want. They don’t have everything I want in my tank so I’ve been researching other online retailers for the few I’m not seeing locally.

Anyone have a green slimmer frag in Delaware/ eastern Maryland?

I can frag one for you. I go back and forth to the Eastern shore every week. I'm leaving on Friday to head back to DC. PM me and we can set up a meet.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, shipping is a risk and expense that is avoided by locally obtaining corals.

Unless you want little frags, obtaining corals from local hobbyists can often get you larger pieces for similar cost to little frags from businesses.

 

[Snowxcross]

(let's leave bashing of businesses out of this thread)

So this question just randomly came to my mind while I was browsing Reef2Reef today, "do you have a preference of where your corals come from". What I mean by this is, do you make sure it is coming from a trusted person or business, or do you not mind grabbing coral from anyone (a free coral from a local reefer for example). Just curious to hear everyone's thoughts and feedback on this question! Photo Credit: @IntrinsicReef

Locals or private sellers. All vendors get the same lists from wholesellers and the markup is steep. However if the business has a great reputation in regards to aquaculture and better pest control, ill go there as well. I find the trading market to be useful to get the pieces you both want.