3 New Acro Colonies Today For $50 each At My LFS

[tbaum101]

I couldn't believe the size of these colonies for the price. The thing is I really don't know what types they are. I know they're nothing fancy but I was so excited...Can't believe I got all 3 for $150 total. Any help on ID?

 

[crazyfishmom]

They look like three different birds nests.

 

[tbaum101]

They look like three different birds nests.

Could be...The polyps are different on all 3 of them. I just don't know enough about them other than they're SPS....

 

[saltytanked]

Ya just some bird nest… certainly not worth $50. Tell them to frag each for $5 and you have a deal lol

 

[saltytanked]

Wow you bought them for $150?I’m sorry lol

 

[tbaum101]

Don't know where you are buying coral. These things are huge. Guess it's easier to give commentary than answer a question. Nice

 

[JonoH]

They do look like 3 different Birdsnests.

Nice work - its hard to find them for sale that large sometimes! They look great... and we would be paying a lot more than that over here.

Its close to that for a frag at times in AUS.

 

[tbaum101]

They do look like 3 different Birdsnests.

Nice work - its hard to find them for sale that large sometimes! They look great... and we would be paying a lot more than that over here.

Its close to that for a frag at times in AUS.

Thanks, the variety down there looks like nothing I've ever seen on videos anyway. Admittedly I need to get better with pics. All 3 are different in texture, polyp and growth pattern but it didn't translate well to photo. Not used to people who don't observe while dogpiling on. They must be from Reddit. Lol

 

[JonoH]

Thanks, the variety down there looks like nothing I've ever seen on videos anyway. Admittedly I need to get better with pics. All 3 are different in texture, polyp and growth pattern but it didn't translate well to photo. Not used to people who don't observe while dogpiling on. They must be from Reddit. Lol

The first 2 def look like Birdsnests....not so sure on the 3rd pic!

I am only just learning SPS also though!

 

[tbaum101]

The first 2 def look like Birdsnests....not so sure on the 3rd pic!

I am only just learning SPS also though!

Same here. The grower didn't push colors much. Ice gotten a few pieces from him now and they all brighten up in a few weeks in my tank. That's what this hobby is all about and what makes it so interesting. It's a constant evolution of thought.

 

[OscarHaglund]

Acropora have axial polyps (i.e. a polyp at the end on the stick whete its growing), the only stony coral in the trade to do so.

 

[OscarHaglund]

Acropora have axial polyps (i.e. a polyp at the end on the stick whete its growing), the only stony coral in the trade to do so.

 

[tbaum101]

Acropora have axial polyps (i.e. a polyp at the end on the stick whete its growing), the only stony coral in the trade to do so.

That makes sense..Never heard anyone put it that way. Now that you say that I know exactly what you're talking about. Honestly I thought acros were a general broad type of branching stonys that covered them all. Thanks for the info.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I couldn't believe the size of these colonies for the price. The thing is I really don't know what types they are. I know they're nothing fancy but I was so excited...Can't believe I got all 3 for $150 total. Any help on ID?

No offence but they are frags not colonies.

And I think $50 each is really over the top.

 

[Solo McReefer]

The first two are not acropora

The third one might be, needs a better pic to be definitive

If the store told you that they were acropora, you may have cause to at least get $100 back

 

[VintageReefer]

It’s birdsnest and it’s very very fast growing and common/inexpensive. It’s a good beginner sps to start with. Comes in a variety of colors / styles but it’s considered a weed by many sps keepers due to the fast growth and brittle branches that frequently break from doing normal tank maintenance.

They are nice and if it’s worth $50 each to you then go enjoy it and ignore what others say. I don’t want you be mislead though because birdsnest cost really isn’t comparable to other sps in terms of pricing.

IE if you got a millepora colony that size for $50 then yea you’d have a different tone in the audiences reaction. To many it’s like saying you got a full rock of zoanthids for $50 and then posting it and it’s actually fast spreading paly’s

i bought this scraggly frag for 12$ at the end of April

And in less than 3 months

I think you got good size pieces for the price but others would buy smaller pieces much cheaper and then just wait a few months for it to grow in.

If you like the pieces, they are healthy, and you feel they are worth what you spent, then nothing else really matters

 

[vdubers]

I like them. And for me here in the uk that comparable price from an LFS seems decent enough. This might not matter to the more experienced reef keepers but I have much better luck buying bigger coral frags/colony’s and them surviving. Small frags for me die off and don’t do well but larger pieces seem to be fine. So worth taking into account with the price.

Also buying something bigger you get to enjoy it right from the get go rather than looking at a small frag for months dreaming of the day it gets to how you want it. However I appreciate for some people that’s half the enjoyment so each to their own!

 

[OrionN]

The first two are not acropora

The third one might be, needs a better pic to be definitive

If the store told you that they were acropora, you may have cause to at least get $100 back

^^^^^
Agree about the ID, not the pricing. The first two are Seriatopora species while the third may be a Acropora. Clear picture of the tip will ID it for sure. 50 for that size is not bad. They are colorful and will hold their color much better than Acropora.

 

[VintageReefer]

@tbaum101 if you like birds nest (and I do, easy to care for, fast grower) then I suggest you look for ORA ponape birdsnest. Truly stunning for the species. Here’s one I had. No camera tricks here, no editing or filters, this was under halides with a cheapo blue led bar, back when that tech first came out and was in infancy

 

[McPuff]

If you're happy with them then don't worry what others think!