Would you take me home? Wild Coral Evaluation, Round 1

[Rakie]

This seems like a fun way for us fellow SPS nerds to look at, and evaluate wild colonies. Some of these are colored up, some of them are not, a few may be dogs, a few may be gems, some are common, some are downright rare. My hope is that this sparks a discussion in which people can gain the knowledge necessary to make wise purchases when looking over wild pieces. All to often, people are let down, or just don't know how to spot that browned out diamond in the rough.

None of these corals are named

I'm going to post 10 pictures of wild SPS colonies from a local wholesaler in round 1. I think it would be very beneficial for newer reefers to see through the eyes of experience, by breaking down what you see, and offering your 2 cents on these pieces.

You do not need to break down every coral, although it would be appreciated! Each picture does not require an essay either. You can leave as much or as little of a detailed response as you like, so long as you at least describe WHY you do, or do not, like each coral.

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[AddictReef]

Love this idea! Following.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Acronic]

1

Looks nice and healthy. Fresh Fiji import? Likely will lose its vibrancy and even out. I would take this home

2

Looks like a common indo milli. Likely won't hold the peach tone and darken. I would take this coral home

3

Stunner but again looks like a fresh Fiji import. I would take this home none the less

4

Difficult coral to keep. Heavy browning at the base could mean stress but color shows promise. Only seasoned vets should attempt. I would take this home

5

Slightly unhappy coral. Indo? Fresh shipping damage on tips but looks like an older import... suggests minimal slime coat. Take precaution. I would take this home

6

Yummy, nice colony. Likely to lose vibrancy and may turn out better than it is. I would take this home hehehe

7

Colors won't hold true. Shipping stress, minimal slime coat. Best to wait... so that I can bring it home

8

Nice tri color. Brown base, take caution. Don't take this home... because it's mine! Also, this looks like natural sunlight at the mariculture facility?

9

Generic milli. Will fade out. Looks healthy but still too fresh import. I would take this home

10

Aha this is a nice coral. Likely been at the wholesaler a while. Hard to color up. Maybe due to disease or irritation. Take caution. I would take this home

 

[Pife]

1

Good looking polyps but I want to see the base color. I think I would take a chance on this one, for sure.

2

Not for me. Probably turn a greenish color in my tank as I've tried this in the past several times.

3

Stunner. I'd grab the whole piece to try and divide it up throughout my tank with different flow and par to see where I can keep it best colored.
4

Not for me. To brown with not enough undertones of color for me to take a chance on.
5

I'd try this one out but wouldn't be surprised if I turned it into a turd.

6

Super saturated picture. I would not buy this as I bet it's mostly green and the sheen it has is photo induced.
7

I'd try this based on the growth pattern alone.

8

Typical Bali tricolor. Not for me.
9

I have a couple of these milles. I have had good luck keeping the orange color. I'm hoping to hit on a really orange one some day.

10

If I could get a frag of this discounted because it's brown id give it a shot. Again I like it's growth pattern and the contrasting polyps. It has a strong under coloring of green I think.

 

[Bdial]

I would chance all of them.

 

[Piper27]

1

Probably a standard red hyanthicus but healthy.

2

Looks like it could get solid colors but these mille change very easily if you don't have very strong light. Not a premium piece either. Most don't ship that great and takes some knowledge to pick the healthy ones.

3

Could be nice if you can keep the green highlights on the coralite edges. Tips are messed up from shipping but looks OK other than that. Probably will just be a solid redish pink with not much contrast. Could turn green in the base colors but the image doesn't give me enough of the coral to tell.

4

These are hard to get settled in and growing. Change to dull colors with the wrong light and shifts in parameters. But this one could be very nice, the green tips and two tones in the base color could color up to be a nice piece with an experienced reefer.
Looks stressed though since the zoox in the tips is messy, I wouldn't buy it to have it shipped. Pick up in person I would take it. One of my favorite species. The branching is kind of hard to find how it's spaced out like that too. Could make it easier to keep since they need high flow through the tight clustered branched ones.
5

Grows good and settles in nice but is fairly standard I would say.

6

Nice sarmentosa but the picture is misleading imo. Probably is a green with pink tip that just came in and still has wild colors with a little photo enhancement.

7

Standard and doesn't excite me...

8

Same as above but a little healthier.

9

More healthy than the above mille and will have better colors if kept right. Nice piece but won't be as vibrant as the pic.

10

Browned out piece that could be beautiful but it's to hard to tell what it will be. I wouldn't buy it unless it had hints of another hue in there.



Rakie if you don't mind I could post a list we can do them same thing with?

 

[Rakie]

Rakie if you don't mind I could post a list we can do them same thing with?

Absolutely! I have 2 more rounds myself ready to go, I just wanted to let this thread cook a little longer and see if it generates proper interest before round 2.

PM me and we can choreograph the next post.

 

[Piper27]

OK will do. I can post pics I of some stuff I have that's straight from the islands and after everyone guesses what they will turn out like I can post updated shots of them after they have settled in.

 

[Rakie]

OK will do. I can post pics I of some stuff I have that's straight from the islands and after everyone guesses what they will turn out like I can post updated shots of them after they have settled in.

That's perfect!! That's what I wish I had.

Although if you'd like, you can post round 2 on a separate thread whenever you want. Round 1 didn't get much traction, hope there's more participation in the next one!

I genuinely feel this can be a VERY cool learning experience for all involved.

 

[Piper27]

Yea I feel the same way, I am surprised others aren't posting. Most people around here have no idea how to pick wild or maricultured acropora for their tanks.

 

[Rakie]

Yea I feel the same way, I am surprised others aren't posting. Most people around here have no idea how to pick wild or maricultured acropora for their tanks.

Which is exactly why this thread is important! Even if they take a wild guess and end up 'wrong' that isn't a bad thing. We all bought a solid brown dog that turned into a solid green turd at one point or another!

Either way, feel free to post whenever. Especially if you have any that turned out fugly.

 

[reefmutt]

This seems like a fun way for us fellow SPS nerds to look at, and evaluate wild colonies. Some of these are colored up, some of them are not, a few may be dogs, a few may be gems, some are common, some are downright rare. My hope is that this sparks a discussion in which people can gain the knowledge necessary to make wise purchases when looking over wild pieces. All to often, people are let down, or just don't know how to spot that browned out diamond in the rough.

None of these corals are named

I'm going to post 10 pictures of wild SPS colonies from a local wholesaler in round 1. I think it would be very beneficial for newer reefers to see through the eyes of experience, by breaking down what you see, and offering your 2 cents on these pieces.

You do not need to break down every coral, although it would be appreciated! Each picture does not require an essay either. You can leave as much or as little of a detailed response as you like, so long as you at least describe WHY you do, or do not, like each coral.

1

Standard or not.. it's coming home. Crazy pe. Very pale but great potential.

2

I'm not a Millie fan, I don't know why. I usually pass on millies because they almost always disappoint..
3

Crazier than the first one.. also so pale, it'll change a lot but I'd take it home.
4

Nope. Leaving this one.. never seen this do well or colour up..
5

This! This I want this. Classic Fiji 3 month surprise stunner. Gimme!!
6

Sermantosa? Maybe. Not sure. Super saturated photo.. I may leave this one..
7

I'll leave this one as well.. not much to it, I don't think
8

Meh..
9

Actually, this millie would tempt me. Potential orange/red/yellow.... but... I'd probably leave it.

10

This also looks standard and not super healthy.. I don't think it's worth the wait..

 

[Usernam Invalid]

Great thread!!! As someone that likes to obtain a lot of wild Acros I enjoy the hunt for that rare gem. The challenge of trying to color up a turd and the heartbreak of what you thought would be a gem turns to a turd.

What I look for in wild or mariculted pieces:
First would be any kind of polyp extension in the holding tank. Seeing an acro with any PE after being shipped half way around the world and threw who knows what is usually a good sign it will atleast survive the next round of torture your about to put it threw.
Next I try to asses the health of the tissues. No obvious signs of tissue loss or recession on the base or inside the branches. Last but not least try to spot any signs of pests not always easy but even if there is any question I won't touch it.