I hated this type of coral but now I love it! What and why is that?

[revhtree]

In life and in the reef aquarium hobby, tastes change for various reasons! For me there were always those corals that so many loved that I hated and those that I loved that others hated. But now, at this point in my "reefing career" I find myself loving some of those corals I used to hate! Let's talk about that today!

PS. I used to HATE bounce mushrooms but now I love them!

1. What coral do you really like now that you used to really dislike?

2. Why do you think people's tastes for certain corals change?

Bounce Mushroom image via @ChaosAquaculture

 

[ZoWhat]

Come to appreciate naturally occurring sponges that grow. Use to think they were a nuisance that took up real-estate

 

[KrisReef]

I didn’t think much of the torches but lately the smugglers brought in some really beautiful morphs that I’m starting to collect.

 

[REEFTIDE]

Goodness... I used to blast chalices so much for being "boring" corals LOL! Once I learned how cool they could be they quickly became a favorite

 

[revhtree]

Goodness... I used to blast chalices so much for being "boring" corals LOL! Once I learned how cool they could be they quickly became a favorite

HAHA me as well. You don't know the true beauty until you get one that really starts to grow out and get some size to it!

 

[REEFTIDE]

HAHA me as well. You don't know the true beauty until you get one that really starts to grow out and get some size to it!

I made a tank full of them purely because people said they took forever to grow LOL! I had to start cutting them a lot quicker than I expected... and you can cut off the less interesting parts so that the cooler pattern/ color combos expand
Very much an under appreciated coral

 

[Edelbims]

Yeah, definately hated SPS corals, because they were not spectacular
Now I'm in love with them <3

 

[Tamberav]

I still don't like bounce mushrooms. I want to pop their pimples! I like the non bouncy kinds though

 

[Kiwi369]

For some reason, I've always disliked Acropora corals. Now I've seen big colonies in a friends tank, and I'm obsessed haha.
Unfortunately, my tank isn't ready for such sensitive corals yet. But I'm looking forward to having some in the future.

 

[Goaway]

This is kind of a reverse situation on my part. I love just about everything. But, I can't say everything appreciates the habitat I provide. So, it's complicated in forms of caring for our aquariums.

The complications were. Hammer corals I loved them, but couldn't keep them happy. I had attempted them 3 times in the past. Couldn't keep them from getting bjd. Now they are growing rather well. I know it's my fault. I just don't know where I went wrong. I kept frogspawns happy and thriving. But, now I'm scared frogspawns will melt when I attempt those again.
I am currently in my comfort zone and don't want to leave it.

 

[ZoWhat]

I've got a coral that's beautiful BUT I can't seem to admire it enough to buy it.

Lobos....

Such slow growers that seems like it takes 20 years to double in size.

I can't seem to want to buy them bc of slow growth. I desire coral progression

 

[maugustine]

In life and in the reef aquarium hobby, tastes change for various reasons! For me there were always those corals that so many loved that I hated and those that I loved that others hated. But now, at this point in my "reefing career" I find myself loving some of those corals I used to hate! Let's talk about that today!

PS. I used to HATE bounce mushrooms but now I love them!

1. What coral do you really like now that you used to really dislike?

2. Why do you think people's tastes for certain corals change?

Bounce Mushroom image via @ChaosAquaculture

Haven’t tried any mushrooms yet but after seeing this I think I going try some!! Beautiful!! Thx for sharing

 

[James_O]

Not really, I haven’t had that much experience to say just yet.

 

[Neil Fox]

More the opposite for me. I've seen corals that I really loved, got one, and then regretted it. The best example was a really beautiful Hollywood Stunner that I got. It seemed to take off immediately, nice shape, growing, couldn't have been happier; until the fateful day it showed it's murderous side. It could broadcast deadly sweeper tentacles throughout the entire tank. It was a killing machine!

 

[fachatga]

I hated this thing when I got it. It grew so fast I thought it was just a huge ugly green thing that just took over the small tank. It shed its skin which revealed an amazing fluorescent green inside which it was almost completely lacking before. Now I love this leather. I wanted to just sell to Lfs but my middle daughter wouldn’t let me. Now I’d never give it away.

 

[Nigel35]

I have to agree about the sponges! Often times a forgotten hero but I have really grown to appreciate them lately!



Nigel

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Zoanthids have been that coral for me. I used to hate that there were so many different varieties and they all looked the same in shape but had different morphs and some are slightly distinguishable and had a major difference in price because of it and on and on. Once I put them in my tank to ease into the hobby and taking care of corals, I realized how stunning some of them are under the blue lights. They’re not my favorite but they’re in the top 5.

More the opposite for me. I've seen corals that I really loved, got one, and then regretted it. The best example was a really beautiful Hollywood Stunner that I got. It seemed to take off immediately, nice shape, growing, couldn't have been happier; until the fateful day it showed it's murderous side. It could broadcast deadly sweeper tentacles throughout the entire tank. It was a killing machine!

Similar to this, this was me and pulsing xenia. Mine decided they never wanted to pulse and so now they’re just an invasive coral (luckily they’re on an island and I only got 2 frags for 10 dollars). Should have gone with clove polyps. May remove it and do that if I can find them.

 

[Goaway]

I hated this thing when I got it. It grew so fast I thought it was just a huge ugly green thing that just took over the small tank. It shed its skin which revealed an amazing fluorescent green inside which it was almost completely lacking before. Now I love this leather. I wanted to just sell to Lfs but my middle daughter wouldn’t let me. Now I’d never give it away.

Corals in pictures never demonstrate their true beauty. Soft corals being the number one worst picture takers.

 

[vetteguy53081]

1. What coral do you really like now that you used to really dislike?

Xenia coral. Had past high rate of overgrowth and now more manageable and colorful under my lights.

2. Why do you think people's tastes for certain corals change?

Lack of color or was cool when the tank was new and they wanted anything live to look at. Also aggressive growth such as GSP or Kenyii tree will change one's mind in a hurry

 

[Jbell370]

I wanted to remove this leather, but now it is the play center for clowns, 6 line, damsels, hermits and cleaner shrimp. Was a $15 Nepthia frag that is now 18" in height and 12-14" wide.