Do you take corals from strangers tanks?

[EvolvedMonkey]

I was commenting on a guy's tank in a restaurant, and he offered me a LPS that I liked. I was happy to have it, but now I'm wondering if I want to put someone else's microfauna in my tank.

As long as I dip (that's my normal procedure when I buy from coral stores and my LFS) is there anything else that I have to be worried about by taking a coral from a stranger's tank?

 

[slythy]

I dont really even dip the corals i buy anymore. I know my LFS gets a bunch from local hobbiest.

Honestly taking it from a “stranger” is no different from your local fish store. Other than the fact its probably safer lol

 

[Homewrecker]

There will always be some level of “unknown” but a free coral is a free coral lol!
I won’t buy from tanks with visible outbreaks of Dino and that’s pretty much it

 

[EvolvedMonkey]

Not sure I even know what dinos look like :)

He did have the biggest aptasias I've ever seen :D

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

there is no way to avoid pests. However it’s good practice to dip. i also like to submerge just the plug in H2O2.

 

[VintageReefer]

I sold to my lfs twice over the last few months. Both times were rocks around 4” that were completely covered in gsp.

They just took it out of my bucket and dropped it right in their coral tank. Didn’t dip or even visually inspect for anything. I was shocked.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

id say thats a score! that was super nice of him!

 

[VintageReefer]

I was commenting on a guy's tank in a restaurant, and he offered me a LPS that I liked

How does this happen lol

I’m imagining that you go up to some guy, start talking, find out you have a mutual hobby, then he shows you pics of the tank, you see something very nice in his tank, and somehow he ends up being like yea take it I’ll give it to you ?

 

[Solo McReefer]

Not sure I even know what dinos look like

Dinos look like brown snot

Diatoms look like brown dust

Cyano looks like green, red, or purple sheets of snot

Crysophates look like the Devil's brown B Hole

 

[VintageReefer]

Dinos look like brown snot

Diatoms look like brown dust

Cyano looks like green, red, or purple sheets of snot

Crysophates look like the Devil's brown B Hole

This should be pinned

 

[Slocke]

I do take corals from strangers tanks. Sometimes with permission. ;)

 

[VintageReefer]

 

[VintageReefer]

Still waiting on the details on how this situation happens

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You friend gave it to you for free. He could have given it to the LFS for $20, and they could have sold it to you for $60, would that make you feel better?

A large portion of their inventory comes from local hobbyists anyway, buy from LFS or local hobbyist its the same thing.

 

[VintageReefer]

You friend gave it to you for free. He could have given it to the LFS for $20, and they could have sold it to you for $60, would that make you feel better?

A large portion of their inventory comes from local hobbyists anyway, buy from LFS or local hobbyist its the same thing.

So true

I sell them my gsp. They give me 75$. They throw it in their tank and don’t dip or inspect it. 1-2 days later when it’s adjusted and open it’s marked for $125 and someone else comes and buys it without a second thought. Theres no warning or disclosure. And if you ask them where it comes from they will say Ohhhh this is WWC long tentacle neon gsp or some made up garbage

 

[VintageReefer]

So true

I sell them my gsp. They give me 75$. They throw it in their tank and don’t dip or inspect it. 1-2 days later when it’s adjusted and open it’s marked for $125 and someone else comes and buys it without a second thought. Theres no warning or disclosure. And if you ask them where it comes from they will say Ohhhh this is WWC long tentacle neon gsp or some made up garbage

A friend was joking with me saying at the price they buy gsp I should set up a gsp grow out tank and be a gsp farmer on the side. How easy lol

I’m March they gave me 60 and In july they gave me 75. Guess the gsp market is inflating

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I was commenting on a guy's tank in a restaurant, and he offered me a LPS that I liked. I was happy to have it, but now I'm wondering if I want to put someone else's microfauna in my tank.

As long as I dip (that's my normal procedure when I buy from coral stores and my LFS) is there anything else that I have to be worried about by taking a coral from a stranger's tank?

That's pretty awesome; someone gave you free coral! As others have said, I would dip it just to be safe.

 

[NanoNana]

I just had a replacement order come in with a substitution in it. They had sold out of what I purchased, bought from an LFS to fill my replacement and what they purchased was full of flat worms. I was thankful they pulled it from my order. You just never know what is coming from where.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Over half of my last tank was stocked by some random dude getting out of the hobby and didn't want to bother selling his livestock. Unless the stranger's tank isn't visibly riddled with pests, I would do it again. Of course, there are some things you can't see that you may not want in your tank. Either way, a free coral is a free coral. :)

 

[Reefer Matt]

Most coral were in a stranger’s tank at one point in time. I suggest dipping and blowing off with a pipette for every coral.