sell 70-80% my frags and buy a couple colonies?

[codydemmel4]

So I have been thinking about selling a majority of my frags, right now I have around 70. I was thinking about selling 40-50 of my frags for around $20-30 each and then use $800 on around 8 mini colonies(3-4 inch multi branched).

That have I have around 8 colonies but still have my favorite frags cooking. I am having a hard time pulling the trigger on this as I also like watching the frags grow, but man sometimes they are painful to watch where with the bigger colonies I would have multiple branches growing instead of a couple branches growing.

Looking to see what you guys think, you can see my current tank in the link below

 

[hann1bal]

I personally like the frags the way you have them. Wait a couple years and they will fill in nice. I've never had that many though nor any large colonies so i may be wrong.

Ive always thought frags grow faster than large colonies though.

 

[acro-ed]

I would say, emphatically, "no." If you buy wild/maricultured colonies they will not be nearly as robust and adaptive as a frag you grow out. Even if you found several captive grown colonies they generally do not do as well shipping or in changing parameters (lighting, flow, etc.). Let them grow to your tank. You will be way happier in the long run. I have had good luck with transferring captive grown chunks, but never long term success with large colonies that weren't grown in my tank.

There's a reason that the industry has transitioned into "chop shopping" all (ok; most of) the cool wild colonies that come in: there is higher overall survival of 30 frags rather than a single colony with 30 branches.

-Ed

 

[Piper27]

I would say the chop shopping is more money motivated than anything else but I see what you mean.

Op, I would buy a colony or two to try out if I were you. No need to go with large colonies either, smaller wild colonies do much better. Growing wild or maricultured coral is a little harder than aquaculture frags. Takes a lot of work and time to get certain pieces colored up and growing. Gotta know what species does well and which ones topically don't color up or are known for dying. Could be a risk selling everything for some colonies but it's up to you and what you want. If you need help finding colonies send me a pm.

 

[ClownMan727]

Do what you want. This is all about having fun so there is no right way. Buy colonies if that makes it fun for you. You can get some cool wild stuff but it us not as hardy as captive grown coral. You might loose some or you could find the next million dollar coral!!

 

[codydemmel4]

thanks everyone!

When i mean colonies, i just mean like 3-4 inch mini colonies i should say. i do not want to buy those 7+ inch colonies. I just was thinking of starting with more mini colonies then the 1-2 branch that takes at least 6 months to really get going. \

still deciding though and looking for more opinions on what yall would do.

like I said, I wouldnt sell all of them so maybe i should change the title. i would keep around 20 frags that are my favorite and then with the proceeds of the others one buy some mini colonies

 

[Bpb]

I'll go against the grain and say I'm for it. It can be frustrating waiting the years it takes for colonies to develop. Keep some nice frags but if you can put some mature colonies in to fill out the space why not? Go for it. Just ensure you properly medicate and quarantine them. I've witnessed and experienced too many acro pest scenarios from cheap mariculture colonies


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[jda]

Colonies can suffer when not under the same parameters and placement in which they grew. By far the best thing is to grow your own colonies.

If you are any good at this, you will be cussing colonies in 18 months and ripping out your birdsnests and montis (if you even have any).

Just wait it out... there are no good ways to speed this up.

 

[Ucantwin]

I feel most of the fun of the hobby is seeing your frags grow to colonies. Taking photos every so often and seeing what they will color up and look like in your tank.

 

[Jettareefer]

I'm with the majority vote here, watching frags grow into colonies is super fulfilling and my favorite part. With good growth it usually doesn't take that long ��. Wild or mariculture stuff is scary that's all I can say. - AL

 

[Scorpius]

I enjoy buying small frags and watching them grow. I'm not in this hobby short term.

 

[btb72]

Didn't you say you thought you had aefw? If so don't pass that on

 

[codydemmel4]

Didn't you say you thought you had aefw? If so don't pass that on

no i was concerned i did but after doing multiple dips, i am 99.9% i do not have it as i cannot find any bite marks or any worms in the dip which is why i am considering this. i just had some stn out of nowhere so i got worried

 

[codydemmel4]

I'll go against the grain and say I'm for it. It can be frustrating waiting the years it takes for colonies to develop. Keep some nice frags but if you can put some mature colonies in to fill out the space why not? Go for it. Just ensure you properly medicate and quarantine them. I've witnessed and experienced too many acro pest scenarios from cheap mariculture colonies


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this was exactly my thought

 

[codydemmel4]

Colonies can suffer when not under the same parameters and placement in which they grew. By far the best thing is to grow your own colonies.

If you are any good at this, you will be cussing colonies in 18 months and ripping out your birdsnests and montis (if you even have any).

Just wait it out... there are no good ways to speed this up.

I feel most of the fun of the hobby is seeing your frags grow to colonies. Taking photos every so often and seeing what they will color up and look like in your tank.

I'm with the majority vote here, watching frags grow into colonies is super fulfilling and my favorite part. With good growth it usually doesn't take that long ��. Wild or mariculture stuff is scary that's all I can say. - AL

I enjoy buying small frags and watching them grow. I'm not in this hobby short term.

i thought about all of this but i could keep around 20 frags and then get some mini colonies. think im going to wait around 1 week to make my decision and see what i decide. i just would like to look at some large colonies while also having some smaller frags

 

[Pife]

I'd leave them be. Before long you'll have 65 mini colonies for just some time and love! But seriously I get a lot more out of growing stuff from small little pieces rather than the maricolonies you're speaking of

 

[jdm1114]

I'd leave them be. Before long you'll have 65 mini colonies for just some time and love! But seriously I get a lot more out of growing stuff from small little pieces rather than the maricolonies you're speaking of

I agree, let them grow into mini colonies. Keep your parameters stable and you should have mini colonies by Christmas.

 

[reef80]

Frags into colonies will sustain in your tank...wild colonies have high rates of perishing for no particular reason and not as hardy....they my be good for 6 months and then look at them different and rtn tomorrow...try maybe one 2 or 3 and test out first...

 

[Piper27]

I love buying small wild and maricultured pieces. Growing named frags of common stuff got boring. I know what all of the named pieces will look like when they become a colony. Buying wild or maricultured gives me some challenge and lots of reward when I get a piece to become very colorful. They change so much after being shipped here it's really fun to watch them go from pale or brown to beautiful. Plus tweaking their colors is more enjoyable once they grow out, tweaking the colors of known named pieces is not as great because there are hundreds of pictures of what everyone's final result looks like.