Oculina Diffusa and Oculina Robusta Frags

[Coralgardener65]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum and have been a reef tank hobbyist for 5 years. My tank is mainly SPS that have been doing quite well. I'm interested in adding some Oculina Diffusa or Oculina Robusta frags. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[griss]

Both are Caribbean and/or Gulf species. Since collecting stony corals in that region is illegal, it will be difficult to obtain. Your best bet would be to order Caribbean and/or Gulf live rock and hope some Oculina species hitchhike on the rock.

Tampa Bay Saltwater and Gulf Live Rockoffer Gulf rock.

KP Aquatics offers Caribbean rock.

 

[Coralgardener65]

Thank you. Yes, the frags of these species were hitchhikers on live rock obtained legally that were mentioned in previous posts. I will try out the stores you mentioned.

 

[griss]

Good luck. I’d love to see some pics of your Oculina.

 

[Coralgardener65]

Thank you for your help. Yes. for sure. My reef tank is more of a caribbean reef. The Diffusa or Robusta would be a nice addition.

 

[griss]

I did the Caribbean biotope for a while until I started missing keeping Acros.

 

[Coralgardener65]

That sounds cool. I like all types of reef tanks, but there's something that's appealing about a natural scape specific to a certain part of the world.

 

[griss]

That sounds cool. I like all types of reef tanks, but there's something that's appealing about a natural scape specific to a certain part of the world.

Completely agree. If you’re wanting a Caribbean Biotope, KP Aquatics and Reeftopia are good companies with Caribbean livestock.

While I’ve never ordered from them, a friend highly recommends Keys Marine Life Direct

 

[Coralgardener65]

Awesome! Thank you. I've been going out on planting dives with I.CARE coral conservation. I'd like to get my tank to look like a section of the reef. I also would like to try to get the permits and licenses to grow, frag, and transplant myself. It's difficult dealing with state and county bureaucracies.

 

[griss]

Awesome! Thank you. I've been going out on planting dives with I.CARE coral conservation. I'd like to get my tank to look like a section of the reef. I also would like to try to get the permits and licenses to grow, frag, and transplant myself. It's difficult dealing with state and county bureaucracies.

Congrats on your conservation efforts, very commendable.

 

[Coralgardener65]

Thanks. I would like to focus on the northern part of Florida's reef tract. It seems most of the attention is south. Rightfully so. The reef goes as far north as Sebastian Inlet. There's corals that are unique to the northern stretch of reef that aren't as common down south. It would also strengthen the gene pool of the more common species in a northern breeding program that intermingles with the south.

 

[griss]

Thanks. I would like to focus on the northern part of Florida's reef tract. It seems most of the attention is south. Rightfully so. The reef goes as far north as Sebastian Inlet. There's corals that are unique to the northern stretch of reef that aren't as common down south. It would also strengthen the gene pool of the more common species in a northern breeding program that intermingles with the south.

I didn't realize the reef went that far north. I learned to dive in 1985/86 (foggy memory) in Marathon Key. Back then, the reefs were simply amazing. We dove Ft. Lauderdale 8-10 years ago and I couldn't believe how horrible the reefs looked. About 3 years ago, we snorkeled (wife didn't want to dive because it was March and too cold) Pennekamp and the reefs looked a tiny bit better with small colonies of A. palmata here and there. I didn't see any A. cervicornis or A. prolifera sadly.

 

[Coralgardener65]

Yes. There is Oculina Varacosa, Oculina Diffusa, Fire, Pseudodiploria Clivosa, Montastraea Covernosa, Porites branching and encrusting. It's mostly worm rock starting about 100 yards off the beach at Sebastian Inlet. These species are there, but sparce. As you go south they become more frequent. When you get to Stuart and St Lucie you will some decent size colonies. Thinking outside the box, it would be interesting to try Staghorn and Elkhorn further north.