Is it just me ?

[xxtriggermanxx]

I love seeing all the new color patterns that we see on this site ,but they only seem to be posted on little round discs. Is it just because everybody is out to make some quick cash? or are there large colonies out there with these stunning zoas. Mind you I'm not against fraging something ,but I don't remember seeing large colonies of the really colorful trendy zoas.... just a thought... oh and if you do have more than a disc full post a pic.
Ray

 

[scuba guy ron]

+1 would love to see some larger exotic colonys

 

[kichimark]

about 250 tubbs on this colony. Bought it like that just the other day haha.

 

[Akwarius]

I love seeing all the new color patterns that we see on this site ,but they only seem to be posted on little round discs. Is it just because everybody is out to make some quick cash? or are there large colonies out there with these stunning zoas.
Ray

If it's trendy right now, then you're not going to see large colonies because people can only afford to buy one or two polyp frags. The vendors have already busted them up before we can get our hands on them.

I see colonies of polyps that were trendy a year ago all the time- because people have been able to grow them out. Example, Nuc Greens, Purple Deaths, Tubbs Blue, Candy Apple Reds, etc.

 

[xxtriggermanxx]

If it's trendy right now, then you're not going to see large colonies because people can only afford to buy one or two polyp frags. The vendors have already busted them up before we can get our hands on them.

I see colonies of polyps that were trendy a year ago all the time- because people have been able to grow them out. Example, Nuc Greens, Purple Deaths, Tubbs Blue, Candy Apple Reds, etc.

Your avatar is just what i'm talking about ! how long have you had it? would love to see a large patch of those .

 

[Akwarius]

I've had my nightmares for a couple of months and they've grown to about 10-12 polyps. Not a big eye catcher as a colony. Similar to Mohawks in that they look better in macro shots.

 

[Friday Night]

I agree big colonys are awsome..(if you still can find them anywhere) I never bought huge ones for the simple fact it took up to much real estate in my tank.. i like singles or frags and like to watch them grow into colonys.. To me thats one of the best part's of this hobby is watching coral grow..

 

[fstar25]

to me thats one of the best part's of this hobby is watching coral grow..

+100

 

[MUCHO REEF]

I love seeing all the new color patterns that we see on this site ,but they only seem to be posted on little round discs. Is it just because everybody is out to make some quick cash? or are there large colonies out there with these stunning zoas. Mind you I'm not against fraging something ,but I don't remember seeing large colonies of the really colorful trendy zoas.... just a thought... oh and if you do have more than a disc full post a pic.
Ray

I enjoy seeing large natural colonies myself, but you won't find them anywhere unless they are dull brown or dull green. Kichimark you were very very lucky, you must have gotten them from a good friend.

Believe it or not, many new reefer don't know that they are collected from the ocean floor on large baseball to football size rocks. It wasn't until 2005/2006, when someone decided to give them a name which caused prices to go from $ 40 for $50 for 60 polyps on a baseball size rock, to $ 40 to $ 100 for a single POLYP !!!!!. These rocks are still being collected as colonies from the ocean floor, but are now broken up and chipped off the mother colony to create those 1 to 3 polyp frags for pure profit, hype and greed.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1881457

Most don't even survive due to excessive, improper and premature fragging and seldom grow to cover a large rock.

As long as people continue buying and paying these sky high prices, all you are going to see are these tiny 1 to 3 polyp frags in frag tanks that are being referred to as reef tanks. As prices rise, colony sizes shrink, it's a fact.


I did my best to collect enough pictures from the old days to create the reef slide below. I think the editor added a few frags to the reef slide but I was dead set against them.

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index...17-reefslidesaul-baldassanos-40-year-old-reef

This is not a fad or trend, it's not supply and demand, it's greed. And this is the way it's gonna be until somebody says enough.

Check out the old reefkeeping articles, may be some more colonies in there from the olds days. Great post, I agree and thanks for sharing this.


Mucho Reef

 

[Akwarius]

I enjoy seeing large natural colonies myself, but you won't find them anywhere unless they are dull brown or dull green.

Believe it or not, many new reefer don't know that they are collected from the ocean floor on large baseball to football size rocks. It wasn't until 2005/2006, when someone decided to give them a name which caused prices to go from $ 40 for $50 for 60 polyps on a baseball size rock, to $ 40 to $ 100 for a single POLYP !!!!!. These rocks are still being collected as colonies from the ocean floor, but are now broken up and chipped off the mother colony to create those 1 to 3 polyp frags for pure profit, hype and greed.

Go to Live Aquaria's Divers Den right now and buy any of dozens of colonies of brightly colored zoanthid colonies for $40-$80. I can go down to my LFS today and by a 100 polyp colony of bright orange bambams for $89. Yes, the rare, collector stuff is expensive, but there are plenty of colorful and affordable zoanthid colonies that are readily available for the hobbyist who doesn't care about names and specific color patterns.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Every coral there was green with a couple of orange zoas. Each and every one of those frags and colonies are the most commonly collected polyps in the ocean. I saw each of them when I entered the hobby 19 years ago. I can go and list 30, 40 or 50 other blue, red, yellow, pink, purple polyps that you will never see for those prices in those sizes. Do you agree? I listed above that polyps are collected as large colonies and you helped me prove that with the Live Aquaria sight. But you, I and everyone here knows you will never see a blue, red, yellow, neon pink etc at those prices on large colonies. TRUE ??

I know you're into names, and that's fine, but can you direct me to a sight that's selling hornets ( can't believe I'm even saying it ), Jimmie Crack Corns and AK47's at those prices? No sir, cause they don't exist. Maybe I should clarify, you will fine these very very common green zoas and palys in colony sizes at those prices, but show me the polyp in your avatar on a 5 or 6 inch rock, fully covered for $ 50 to $ 60. If I'm wrong, I stand corrected and will make my public apology right here. If you know were they are out there, please direct me, I'd love to see them. If they are there, then that means that things are truly starting to turn around and that would be great for all of us who are against these sky high prices.

Mucho Reef

 

[chucktd321]

Remember about a year or two ago when gas got to an all time high then suddenly went down it seemed. I think it was mainly because people just couldn't afford it at that high of a price. People found other ways of transportation, car pooling, etc. And the supply went up and price went down.

If only we could get people to stop paying a hundred dollars for a single polyp. Then MAYBE the price would go down. Zoas and chalices are the "IN" crowd right now. If people keep buying the named crap it will stay this expensive. Baycorals.com is IMO one of the worst at trying to make a buck off named stuff

Edit: Cherry corals is another culprit

 

[kichimark]

I agree the prices are insane. I am not going to pay over 25 a polyp and even then it has to be really amazing. I picked up some utter chaos the other day with now 6 polyps and another one budding for 100 bucks. Had to drive an hour away though but it is worth it.

 

[chucktd321]

they utter chaos look pretty awesome.

the only problem with the argument that i stated is that its not like i have to buy the crazy named corals for high prices. As mentioned above there are awesome zs and ps for very little expense. Its that a lot of the really nice ones do cost a lot of money. It's like I would love to have a lambo but obviously can't afford one so i settle for vw.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Just received a picture of a "BAM BAM", again, this polyp has been around for over 15 years. It is as common as blue sky. Unless that rock is huge, I'm talking the size of a football, that price with tax is much much higher than it use to be. I use to sell them for $ 15 a frag for 25 polyps, heck we all did.

People these polyps grow overnight, they aren't like SPS which take more time, weeks or months of time in pristine conditions etc to produce an inch of growth. Every excuse I've heard for these high per polyp prices is nothing more than price gouging and hype to get you to pay enormous amounts of money for something that grows overnight and isn't rare at all. Look at Ebay, most everything there the last time I checked was listed as rare, LOL. People they aren't, that's hype to get you excited to buy them.

I will be getting some of those "Utter Ripoffs" in the mail soon. I plan on doing something with them for 50 cents a piece.

 

[chucktd321]

+1 to MUCHO
Its actually getting to the point where i avoid LE and Tyree and Jason Fox crap. I look for the diamond in rough, no named, over looked, zoas and palys.

Perfect example right here.

25+ polyps these are called LE CTD noideaswattherecalled they cost me 10 dollars. Probably some of my favorites I got them today and already colored up tremendously

Pic is a little blury but they have a deep purple skirt blue middle with a super neon green mouth and a dark purple ring

 

[aquaph8]

No disrespect to anyone but this is like the 5th thread exactly like this. You say the prices made the hobby not fun anymore but these complaint threads are bringing the hobby down too. If you dont like it get out there and trade or sell for reasonable prices so people dont have to pay retailers so much. I dont really blame the people making a buck to fund their hobby but you can still sell for half the retailers price and still make a profit. Sorry I just had to vent cause all these threads are depressing me.

 

[chucktd321]

No disrespect taken at all here, Just saying how its really changed and if people want the prices to drop we gotta stop supporting these online vendors. And instead as you mentioned other reefers

 

[aquaph8]

No disrespect taken at all here, Just saying how its really changed and if people want the prices to drop we gotta stop supporting these online vendors. And instead as you mentioned other reefers

I think buying from local reefers is the way to go if possible. There are also some really amazing frag packs for decent prices right here on RC. So, I agree.

 

[chucktd321]

yea joining a local raeef club was probably the best thing i did for my tank lol. You meet some awesome people and can aquire some really cool frags by trading others