My new ORA frags.

[ERICinFL]

For my birthday last week, I decided to treat myself to some quality frags. The pic isn't the best, as my camera is only 1mp, but here is what I got. I was able to get a really good deal on them and they are gorgeous! I live an hour from ORA, so I did a group order for my reef club (through my LFS) and drove down to get them. Two of my frags even came with Acro Crabs.

Blue Bottlebrush - Acropora sp.
Blue Millepora - Acropora millepora
Scripps Pink Millepora - Acropora millepora
Turquoise Staghorn - Acropora sp.
Blue Tort Staghorn - Acropora tortuosa
Indo Purple-tip Staghorn - Acropora sp.
Nathan's Green Millepora - Acropora millepora
Marshall Island Tri-Color - Acropora sp.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a394/emac800/DCP_4973.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

 

[katpurdy]

why do you have them separated from the tank?

 

[accord86]

Nice. Did they come on frag plugs? I like your soapdish frag rack.

 

[ERICinFL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8352374#post8352374 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by katpurdy
why do you have them separated from the tank?

Right now, I'm acclimating them to my lights. They're at the bottom of the tank and I'll move them up a little, every few days, until I get them to the height I want to mount them.

accord86: Yes, they came on plugs. They're pretty well encrusted on them too. I'm going to cut the plug shaft off and epoxy the bottom of the plug head to my rocks. I got the soapdish idea from another thread here. I added the egg crate so they'd stay upright.

 

[jman77]

what did the frags run you ?

 

[t0mmy108]

would you say that those are the best of the best Acro frags offered by ORA at this time? See anything really neat and unusual? Are they growing out any highly sought after pieces? And lastly, do the prices vary by species or are all of them the same price?

 

[Reefflections]

Tom
ORA does have a fairly new one floating around.It's really nice.
They are calling it the Green German blue polyp acro,from the Red Sea.Hey Tom send me your Email address,can send you a pic of it out of Dustin tank,who wroks for ORA.I got 2 frags of and 2 small chips from it.Sorry the other frag belongs to Znut here on RC.But it is a wicked coral.Keep your eyes open,because more are being released.
:eek1:
Curt

 

[ERICinFL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8352716#post8352716 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jman77
what did the frags run you ?

Well, I got a really good deal, that's all I can say. More than wholesale and less than retail.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8353074#post8353074 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t0mmy108
would you say that those are the best of the best Acro frags offered by ORA at this time? See anything really neat and unusual? Are they growing out any highly sought after pieces? And lastly, do the prices vary by species or are all of them the same price?

What they sell is based on their frag availability at the time. They send out an updated list every two weeks. Unfortunately, I was unable to see any of ORA. They are on the same campus as the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, so I got to see the parking lot, outside the gate. They actually had a person drive the order out to me. They are recognized by the Bureau of Homeland Security because they have a port there. According to the gate gaurd, you have to call in advance, request a tour and get cleared, before you are allowed on the campus. The only thing ORA will show you on the tour, is the sales floor and packing house. Everything else is pretty well kept a secret. At least that's what I was told.

 

[flyin2jz]

To me that is very weird. I would never buy anything from someone that was that jacked up about showing the way and the lighting that they get the frags. Probably frags from fellow reefers that some guys have growing in a rubbermaid tub. One guy in the back with a 80 buck system selling frags he gets from fellow hobbiest. THats why they have limited stuff. Sorry wouldnt give them a dollar im glad you posted this. Kevin

 

[ERICinFL]

ORA has quite an extensive set up. It's not a hack shop for corals. Visit their website and check out everything, including the Harbor Branch website. You'll be impressed for sure. They do so much research and provide tons of education, it'll take you hours to read everything that is done on their campus and world wide. Many of the people in charge of ORA have degrees in marine biology, aquaculture, etc. It's most definately NOT some guy with a $80 system... try a bunch of well educated people with multi-million dollar systems.

 

[Reefflections]

As for ORA I think at one time was open to the public But times have changed.I thought I saw somewhere,reef clubs can make appoinment to go in.But also that tour might just be a tour of the parking lot
But I can tell you for sure this green german blue acro,is right now passed around from them.Their web site might not show it.And also site might not be up to date either.If anyone wants to send me there email address,I have a photo of it.Then you can posted it here for all to see.:mixed:

 

[flyin2jz]

send it to me and ill post it. pingzing2411@yahoo.com I just dont like when people name corals and sell them for 10 times the cost. Just because its a ora frag. looks like they sell nice stuff but when the security guard is delivering frags ill take my business elsewhere. YOu wouldnt buy frags from some other person if he met you at the car with your corals without speaking to you. Kevin

 

[naka]

Curt, I think this is the coral your talking about. This is a picture from Dustin's office tank.

James

 

[Reefflections]

Yep this is it my friend pretty sweet acro,that ORA has coming down the pipe line now.:eek1:
By the way how is your frag doing?Didn't you get your's at MACNA?Has the colored changed since you posted that old pic of it back then.Mine came in really green,color now is starting to change.Also seems to be a fast grower.Always a plus for ORA frags.Super Growth !
Curt

 

[flyin2jz]

really nice coral.

 

[ERICinFL]

ORA sells to retailors only. You can't just walk in off the street and buy frags from them. Had I called in advance, I probably would've gotten to pick the order up from the sales floor. Unfortunately, the LFS owner called the order in the morning I went down.

 

[Maximus]

Sweet acro! Why is it called a German Blue polyped acro if it's from the Red Sea? Guess I need to ask Dustin.

 

[Reefflections]

Maximus,
I think I got this right as for the name.A German was able get this coral from the Red Sea.ORA got their frag from him.And of coarse ORA grew it out.as we see it today.That's what ORA just called it.They never really gave it a special name.So it seems we are stuck with the "Green German acro" from the Red Sea.Not only that Dustin doesn't even know the type of coral it is?Because I asked about what it really is.Doesn't have a clue.

 

[ERICinFL]

I think, "German" just describes the shade of blue.

 

[Maximus]

I just talked to Dustin and he said the original frag came from a reefer in Germany.