$999.99

[that Fish Guy]

What are you curious about? It clearly has been adjusted to make the colors brighter.

I'm not saying the coral is brown. Just that under normal lighting it doesn't look like that.

Whether or not it is Altered you would definetly need to keep it under Blue LED to get that Look but that is the same with any coral.

 

[that Fish Guy]

Yup. That's funny I didn't notice the cut up frag plug.

How is that funny?

That is how most frags are made.

You cut one plug and attach it to another.

So he must have more.

I just don't see what the big deal is about the plug on the plug?

Please explain.

 

[that Fish Guy]

There's a reason why new reef keepers such as yourself have that opinion and it's why you're this predatory vendor's main targets. It's the same reason that experienced people are calling out bs in this thread: you haven't seen enough pictures yet. Once you get to that point it's like looking at the color green and having inexperienced people tell you it's blue... in a year or two you'll be telling people the same thing you're hearing, but in the meantime you can take our word on it or learn after you burn a lot of money on scammy vendors. We were all there once haha

At the end of the day an enhanced picture is an enhanced picture. No amount of good feedback or sales will change that because there's a sucker born every minute and apparently all of them left him good feedback.

There was a good article written today by Mike Paletta on another site called "The Madness of Photoshopped Corals"

He wrote the whole article because he was at a friends house and commented how he liked a certain coral.

The Friend said it is "coloring up"

He said what do you meant it looks great.

The friend showed Paletta an online Photo of the Coral which was Photoshopped.

He told Paletta the Seller said it was "Stressed from Shipping" and that is why it did not look like the online photo.

So maybe all the positive ratings are people believing all his corals get "Stressed in Shipping" and will color up eventually?

 

[SoloGarth]

How is that funny?



That is how most frags are made.



You cut one plug and attach it to another.



So he must have more.



I just don't see what the big deal is about the plug on the plug?



Please explain.

No that is not how most frags are made.

To me it seemed like he was cutting up plugs so he didn't have to include a full plug in the sale. I'm sorry you don't find it funny.
Also it seems to be used in order to make the coral seem larger. I'm not even the first person who said it was funny.

Perhaps read the full thread?

 

[SoloGarth]

Whether or not it is Altered you would definetly need to keep it under Blue LED to get that Look but that is the same with any coral.

I don't follow. So you are saying everyone needs to keep their corals under blue LEDs to have them look colorful?

Also not sure how that makes altering the photo acceptable.

 

[that Fish Guy]

But then he would have to share that information.....

Do high end coral sellers normally include water parameters, salt used, how long propagated, lighting type, camera settings, how long have they heald this morph/color, where collected and conditions, ect to ensure a coral is placed correctly in the correct system to keep its look/health?

No 2 systems are the same....are these high end seller willing to share these trade secrets? Ive never bothered to ask...

I am sure most would tell you if you asked but like you said no two tanks are the same.

Even if you copied everything they said it might not work.

I once talked to someone at an LFS.

She told me both she and her husband have the same sized Tank and set up completely the same. (Lights, Powerheads, etc. all the same).

They even sit side by side.

She even cleans both Tanks and does everything for both Tanks.

It is a "Controlled Experiment" so to speak.

Even though everything is the same she said Candy Canes Thrive and Grow Super Fast in her tank but they straight up die in her husbands tank.

Like you said no two tanks are the same (But even if you try to make them the same they are still not the same).

 

[that Fish Guy]

No that is not how most frags are made.

To me it seemed like he was cutting up plugs so he didn't have to include a full plug in the sale. I'm sorry you don't find it funny.
Also it seems to be used in order to make the coral seem larger. I'm not even the first person who said it was funny.

Perhaps read the full thread?

OK,

How are Frags Made?

Lets say I have a Frag of a Zoanthid and I Charge $10 a polyp.

Lets say I start with 1 Polyp and let it Grow to say 5 polyps.

I could sell it for $50 for all 5 Polyps or I can cut the Plug into 5 Single Polyps for $10 each .

That is how you get the plug on the plug like the picture.

What else is there to read?

You said read the full thread.

I did.

 

[SoloGarth]

$999.99

OK,



How are Frags Made?



Lets say I have a Frag of a Zoanthid and I Charge $10 a polyp.



Lets say I start with 1 Polyp and let it Grow to say 5 polyps.



I could sell it for $50 for all 5 Polyps or I can cut the Plug into 5 Single Polyps for $10 each .



That is how you get the plug on the plug like the picture.



What else is there to read?



You said read the full thread.



I did.

Most frags are made by cutting the coral not the frag. Also, when I frag a coral it is a colony. Not a frag that I bought with 5 polyps that I'm trying to make a profit out of by cutting into even tinier pieces. But I suppose your right. If that's the business plan I suppose cutting up the frag plug would be necessary for that type of coral.

Also maybe it's just me but I wouldnt sell or buy a single polyp.

 

[that Fish Guy]

I don't follow. So you are saying everyone needs to keep their corals under blue LEDs to have them look colorful?

Also not sure how that makes altering the photo acceptable.

I mean

Corals Glow under Blue LED.

If you put them under White LED or any other Type of Lighting Blue or Not they will not look like that.

But if it is Photoshoped even if you put it under Blue LED it may still not look that nice.

It doesn't make altering photos acceptable.

I never said that.

My point was people often complain that they get a coral and put it in their tank they wonder why it doesn't look like the pic.

It is their lighting.

All these online photos (Photoshoped or not) are usually taken under Blue LED's to bring out the color.

It is not deceptive or fake per say but if you do not use that type of lighting then it is not going to look like that at all.

If you buy a coral online that was taken under blue led and you use 50/50 T5 it will never look like that.

 

[that Fish Guy]

Most frags are made by cutting the coral not the frag. Also, when I frag a coral it is a colony. Not a frag that I bought with 5 polyps that I'm trying to make a profit out of by cutting into even tinier pieces. But I suppose your right. If that's the business plan I suppose cutting up the frag plug would be necessary for that type of coral.

Also maybe it's just me but I wouldnt sell or buy a single polyp.

Most Corals Yes, you cut the coral (Favia, Acro, Hammer, etc.).

We are talking about Zoanthids here.

Cut through a Zoanthid Polyp.

It is not going to live.

The Proper way to Frag Zoanthids is to cut around Polyps (Best Done on a Frag Saw).

So you cut the Plug or Rock and Glue that Surface to a Frag Plug.

I see some people taking Razor Blades to "Sliver off Polyps"

That is Very Unprofessional.

They are Softies and can Easily Detach if you do that or a Snail Could Knock them off.

Glue touching the Flesh of the Zoanthid will Irritate them.

Gluing a Plug or Rock or whatever Hard Surface the Zoanthid is on to another Hard Surface is the Only Safe and Proper way to Frag them.

This goes for any Sofite not Just Zoanthids.

Try Gluing a Mushroom Polyp to a Rock or Plug and see what Happens.

It will just Detach and go to the back of your tank and most likely shrivel up and die.

For LPS and SPS you can cut the Coral and Glue it to a Plug but not Sofites.

 

[SoloGarth]

Most Corals Yes, you cut the coral (Favia, Acro, Hammer, etc.).

We are talking about Zoanthids here.

Cut through a Zoanthid Polyp.

It is not going to live.

The Proper way to Frag Zoanthids is to cut around Polyps (Best Done on a Frag Saw).

So you cut the Plug or Rock and Glue that Surface to a Frag Plug.

I see some people taking Razor Blades to "Sliver off Polyps"

That is Very Unprofessional.

They are Softies and can Easily Detach if you do that or a Snail Could Knock them off.

Glue touching the Flesh of the Zoanthid will Irritate them.

Gluing a Plug or Rock or whatever Hard Surface the Zoanthid is on to another Hard Surface is the Only Safe and Proper way to Frag them.

Actually we are talking about palythoa although you just said frags.

How about just surround the plug with a new surface. Then, when it grows onto it pull the plug or the new surface away. And there you have it. A new frag. No need to go chopping up plugs.

This however is not the point of this discussion. The point is that the guy is selling a single polyp for 500 by ramping up the saturation (I believe) and calling it a "new release". IMO it is price gouging and bad for the hobby.

Not really interested in arguing with you further as that seems to be your goal.

 

[that Fish Guy]

Actually we are talking about palythoa although you just said frags.

How about just surround the plug with a new surface. Then, when it grows onto it pull the plug or the new surface away. And there you have it. A new frag. No need to go chopping up plugs.

This however is not the point of this discussion. The point is that the guy is selling a single polyp for 500 by ramping up the saturation (I believe) and calling it a "new release". IMO it is price gouging and bad for the hobby.

Not really interested in arguing with you further as that seems to be your goal.

You could do that put when you "Pull Away" you will most likely Tear Polyps and Kill Them.

Why do you think my goal is to argue?

I simply was curious to know what the big deal with the plug on the plug was?

I noticed it to but thought nothing of it.

You said that was "Funny"

I wondered why you thought it was funny.

Then you told me that is not how you frag so I was curious to know how you thought the proper way to frag was?

There are many ways but some are better than others.

My goal is not to argue but to understand where you are coming from.

Sorry if I offended you.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Most frags are made by cutting the coral not the frag. Also, when I frag a coral it is a colony. Not a frag that I bought with 5 polyps that I'm trying to make a profit out of by cutting into even tinier pieces. But I suppose your right. If that's the business plan I suppose cutting up the frag plug would be necessary for that type of coral.

Also maybe it's just me but I wouldnt sell or buy a single polyp.

I see what your saying now....looks like a frag of a frag...glued to a new plug...

I like the way you think....some of us, including me, dont look at it hard enough the first time.

There is obviously less stress of leaving a polyp on its original base than fragging off a substrate, of any kind, and glueing to a new substrate...but-

There is obviously, in my experience, alot more stress fragging a frag (especially a single polyp) off a frag than there is off a mother colony (usually done in a group of 5 or more polyps.....good eye.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

If it lives that is (Or grows).

Exactly....

Its a single polyp...odds of thriving severely decreased.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Maybe he has fake ratings?

I heard he got kicked off facebook for bidding on his own auctions.

A popular scheme...

Not to mention feedback ratings.

Ive been offered free high end polyps in trade for feedback....

Not saying from this seller, but just in general.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Whether or not it is Altered you would definetly need to keep it under Blue LED to get that Look but that is the same with any coral.

That polyp will look nothing like that under 10k 175w XM bulbs.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Seller said it was "Stressed from Shipping" and that is why it did not look like the online photo.

So maybe all the positive ratings are people believing all his corals get "Stressed in Shipping" and will color up eventually?

The carrot on a stick in front of the donkey....

 

[SIR PATRICK]

I am sure most would tell you if you asked but like you said no two tanks are the same.

Even if you copied everything they said it might not work.

I once talked to someone at an LFS.

She told me both she and her husband have the same sized Tank and set up completely the same. (Lights, Powerheads, etc. all the same).

They even sit side by side.

She even cleans both Tanks and does everything for both Tanks.

It is a "Controlled Experiment" so to speak.

Even though everything is the same she said Candy Canes Thrive and Grow Super Fast in her tank but they straight up die in her husbands tank.

Like you said no two tanks are the same (But even if you try to make them the same they are still not the same).

Exactly. Again, I like how you think.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Actually we are talking about palythoa although you just said frags.

How about just surround the plug with a new surface. Then, when it grows onto it pull the plug or the new surface away. And there you have it. A new frag. No need to go chopping up plugs.

This however is not the point of this discussion. The point is that the guy is selling a single polyp for 500 by ramping up the saturation (I believe) and calling it a "new release". IMO it is price gouging and bad for the hobby.

Not really interested in arguing with you further as that seems to be your goal.

I beleive the reef guy is just sharing his point of veiw, which I fing enlightening and enjoyable. I dont think hes here to argue....

Just offering another way to look at it.

The way I see it, hes agreeing with you from a different stand point, out of curiosity/everyone elses sake, continuing on conversation from a different point of veiw.

We are all enthusiasts here. Sometimes its easy to take things out of context when dealing with a hobby, especially a particular part of it, that we are so passionate about.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Often times, when I want my nice looking corals to look even better, I will experiment.....what better way than to frag 5 frags off 1 mother colony, put each frag in a different system, or even placement, to see which ones morph to be the best....

If I was a buisness-

If one of those 5 frags turned out looking better than the rest, in their different systems/locations, I would frag those frags into single polyps- and sell them for big $$$.

As a buisness, thats what I am doing it for right?

Too bad it has such negative impacts on the hobby.....I would surely pay (as well as many) $10/polyp for a 6 polyp frag.....

But then the seller would have to wait to have that many full frags, and hope they live/retain that color....

Making more money in the long run, but taking just 1 more chance of loosing first.