Why do you buy expensive corals/frags? Investment?

[DJF]

I like uniqueness, something that sets the piece apart visually regardless of price. Maybe it’s a commentary on me choosing based off a “status” (unique/rare as a status) but some of my favorite corals are one of a kind “no namers”

 

[Chukthunder]

I can't be the only one who feels bad when a purchase dies and worse when it's an expensive specimen.

 

[RJH829]

I love buying corals but eventually if you get o ly cheep ones your reef is just green. So that's how I started and just added nicer colorful pieces to add color

 

[hotdrop]

honestly my small tank is getting pretty full and I’ve been thinking of getting a few 100-200 frags just to see if they will grow and so I can trade them but I have a hard time figuring out what to get because the photos seem so doctored that I doubt the frags will look anything like the photos. Suggestions?

 

[darkrabbit]

I'll buy an expensive coral IF I really like it and once I gain more experience. Right now I don't because I don't want it to die a month after it's in my tank.

 

[Coral Euphoria]

honestly my small tank is getting pretty full and I’ve been thinking of getting a few 100-200 frags just to see if they will grow and so I can trade them but I have a hard time figuring out what to get because the photos seem so doctored that I doubt the frags will look anything like the photos. Suggestions?

Find some pieces that are so common that you could find a lot of pictures through a google search. Look at the vendor pics and find some hobbyist (or non-professional photographers) pics to give you a good idea of what you are really buying. Obviously with this technique you are not going to buy any "new releases" or anything that is rare..

 

[Mical]

honestly my small tank is getting pretty full and I’ve been thinking of getting a few 100-200 frags just to see if they will grow and so I can trade them but I have a hard time figuring out what to get because the photos seem so doctored that I doubt the frags will look anything like the photos. Suggestions?

Check locally - IE: craigslist, local clubs, etc. You can find some honest folks out there selling corals at reasonable prices.

 

[Rich Klein]

I just buy a coral because it is attractive and different than anything else in my tank. I have had no problem finding good deals on corals that I really like.

 

[ScottB]

I have over time gotten much more choosy. To the point where I am giving away or consigning a ton of no-name zoas, sticks & montis as they have overtaken my DT.

I do love many eye candy acros and keep a list of what I want, and how they are priced. I do try to attend the regional frag meets, MACNA, Reefapalooza etc knowing what I want and how it is priced. If I see a great frag of something on my wish list and it is priced well..... BAM!

Anybody local want a few pounds of aussie green slimer? Orange cap? Green zoa? Orange?

 

[sfin52]

I don't by high end stuff. The most on a coral is 45. I try to stay with in the $20-30

 

[ca1ore]

Most expensive coral was a 1" rainbow chalice frag that I paid $300 for a year ago. It's now 1.1" .... so I figure I'll be able to frag it again and make a killing in about, oh, 200 years. Excellent!

 

[stanleo]

I haven't bought an expensive coral yet. The most expensive one I have was 75$ for this birdsnest because I liked the color and it fit with how I want that rock formation to look. I think that would be my only deciding factor in buying any coral, regardless of price.

 

[hotdrop]

I haven't bought an expensive coral yet. The most expensive one I have was 75$ for this birdsnest because I liked the color and it fit with how I want that rock formation to look. I think that would be my only deciding factor in buying any coral, regardless of price.

If you got that whole guy for 75 I say win

 

[stanleo]

If you got that whole guy for 75 I say win

It's about the size of a softball. I asked the guy twice if it was really 75$ cause everything else in that tank was a lot smaller lol

 

[Beth Villmow]

I don't really buy expensive corals, but I do buy good looking coral. to date the most expensive coral that I have bought was a $40 torch, and it now has 5 heads (started with 2). I think its more fear of losing a $100+ coral that would then end up in arguments, and I'm not talking about arguing with myself! haha

but I do like looking at high end stuff and saying "when I win the lotto....."

You and me both!

 

[jgvergo]

That’s exactly what I just said.

So you did!!! Great minds think alike Sometimes I'm guilty of not reading the entire thread before I'm moved to comment.

 

[siggy]

What I have always wanted before I became a vendor is a jawbreaker mushroom lol.

Ok now that your a vendor Do you have that awesome Jaw breaker? Pic or.......

 

[Neil S.]

Still learning how everything works.....not going to endanger my reef inhabitants needlessly. (but I really do want some of those gorgeous corals!)

 

[hotdrop]

A guy near me was selling home wrecker frags for 200 and between the worry of killing them and hearing that they aren’t super impressive for most people I just couldn’t do it. At that price need something more likely to survive and thrive

 

[Dacotahk]

There are plenty of lower to mid priced corals that look nice. I’m in a rural area with the nearest (small) LFS 3 hours away and a city that’s 5 hours away. I have gotten most of mine from online companies and overnight is the fastest delivery when all goes well. I really need to learn more about keeping corals thriving as well so I wouldn’t want to kill any unnecessarily. We have a responsibility to keep the animals in our tanks the best we can.