We need We need more diversity when it comes to trading

[Markv]

First off, please don't read this as a negative critisism. I'm trying to be constructive in hopes of getting the coral trades here a little more exciting...

I, like many of you, enjoy trading corals. It's a great way to get new corals at the cost of fragging one of your own. Not only does it save you money, but it ensures that a particular coral lives on in numerous other aquaria. That way, if someone's tank crashes, the coral lives on and the reefkeeper can get a new frag back. I call it insurance.

But, to be honest, the trading here has been a bit drab. I've watched the trading in the club for a while now, and the rate at which new corals enter the trading scene. After a while, we all have the same corals. I know a lot of you like sps like I do, but how often do we see frags available that are different than the usual Bali Green Slimer, Capricornis, and montipora digitatas. The same goes for mushrooms and softies.

I know that stores like CBA bring in lots of cool new corals and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that shops the online coral stores as well. So why don't we see a more diverse selection of frags available? It's gotten to the point, where 9 times out of 10 I ask for a little cash instead of trading, simply because the person I trade with doesn't have anything new or exciting to me. I'd prefer to trade for something, but not for a frag of a coral that I already have or brought to the trading scene 3 years ago.

I know there are other people out there with rare and cool corals, and I know you are like me, you want to trade it for something that is desirable to you. So what can we do to diversify the coral swaps? The simple answer is for people to purchase more corals, but what else can we do to spur this on?

Let's get a discussion going... Who out there is an sps nut? What kind of corals are you looking for? What do you consider your sweetest piece?

[Whitten]

And as a side note he will be donateing any unwanted corals to the Help Whitten Stock his tank foundation. We are a not for profit organization that gladly accepts unwanted, or homeless corals reguardless of species, phyla, or color. Adoption proceeds go to help the expense of having a reef tank and being in college.


Sorry Mark I had to, but I do see where you are comming from. I know that when I get my 30 up and going I will be fragging more than I do right now with the Nano Cube. Unfortunatly the stuff in the cube just isn't big enought o matter in some of ya'lls tanks. But as soon as I get my tank up and stable and I have some pretty stuff...ya'll will be the first to know for frags.

[wildemon]

Your goal is worth achieving. However I know that the very corals you mention were the only ones that could be kept alive three years ago. They are also the ones that grow fast enough. Only recently could they be fragged commercially and be found in the local stores. The ones you covet are more recent imports that usually grow slow. Taking a $80 LFS coral and splitting it in half just to trade is stressful and may be difficult to do sucessfully.

If you see something in someone's tank, yes a frag could probably be aquired. You just need to have something worthy in trade as you mention. Blackmail and bribary also work upon occasion. Even the ARC only has a handful of mature tanks three years old.

[mojo]

I agree with what you're saying, although I'm not really doing anything to help the situation. I'd really like to get into some really nice SPS's once my big tank gets setup, but until then I need to wait.

Life Student mentioned in the meeting the other night that we're going to soon have frag-trading software up, and hopefully that will help things out some.

As for promoting nicer corals, I don't have any idea how to make that happen. I for one wouldn't mind buying a handful of nice, expensive corals that would be fragged down the road if other people in the club did the same thing - that way we all benefit from some spectacular corals without damaging the environment and without breaking the bank.

[phishschtick]

I'm willing to pool together cash from folks (2 or 3) in order to buy these $80 plus colonies from the LFS. We can then split the frag and keep our fingers crossed. Once I get my grow out tank setup better, I'll be ready to go. Any folks want to get in on a list of willing contributors???

[Markv]

Your goal is worth achieving. However I know that the very corals you mention were the only ones that could be kept alive three years ago. They are also the ones that grow fast enough.

Huh? 4 years ago, I moved to Atlanta from Denver, with 3 coolers full of corals. I brought the weed we all call green slimer, as well as many other sps(including the Tyree solitaryensis). I also purchased quite a few acros from Marine Fish back then. A guy named Jake would bring in a lot of cool colonies, even frags from farms. Back then, sps were already being farmed in the Solomons. Here we are,4 years later, and the market has opened up even more. Us east coasters have access to a lot of the gorgeous corals the west coast reefers get their hands on.

Back in Denver, a city half the size of Metro Atlanta, we have a ton of local reef farmers and traders. Everytime I visit the family, I bring back a cooler full. It's just odd to me that a city as large as Atlanta doesn't have much going on. Heck, Atlanta used to be the home of scientific corals, one of the first online coral farms. We're also home to 3 reef-related companies, MyReef, Sea Chem, and Kent. So why are there so few veteran reefkeepers? Most of the people I meet are fairly new to this, and getting their feet wet with easier corals. But the sps scene hasn't changed much in 4 years. Maybe there's a secret group of sps nuts that I just don't know about.

I think we all can admit that CBA has been a blessing to our town. It's nice to see a local store bringing such great livestock. It reminds me of the stores out west.

I for one wouldn't mind buying a handful of nice, expensive corals that would be fragged down the road if other people in the club did the same thing

Originally Posted by phishschtick

I'm willing to pool together cash from folks (2 or 3) in order to buy these $80 plus colonies from the LFS. We can then split the frag and keep our fingers crossed. Once I get my grow out tank setup better, I'll be ready to go. Any folks want to get in on a list of willing contributors???

I'm always willing.

That's a great way to add more corals to trade.

[kbxiong67]

I wouldn't mind bringing home a cooler full of corals=)

[goodfortune]

I'm in Dale! Let me know how I can join or help

Fellow SPS-istis survivor, LOL
Michael

Originally Posted by phishschtick

I'm willing to pool together cash from folks (2 or 3) in order to buy these $80 plus colonies from the LFS. We can then split the frag and keep our fingers crossed. Once I get my grow out tank setup better, I'll be ready to go. Any folks want to get in on a list of willing contributors???

[hesstondc]

I was just thinking about that today...I am down for a frag pack order if someone wants to split for SPS....

I only want a few frags to start me out.....

Thanks
Clay

[goodfortune]

Mark:

I know where you're coming from, and I don't take your post as negative criticism. In fact, I think it might be the seed to start something that will benifit us all.

Keep in mind that most of us have only been in the hobby for a short time (I've been up only 5-1/2 months) so I think that might be part of why we are lacking in coral diversity. Most newbies, including myself ,couldn't tell an SPS from an LPS when we first started. It usually starts with seeing a pretty reef tank in a pet store (as was my case, long ago), and all we know is that we want to have one.

I like Dale's idea of a coral buying group. I'd also like to commend CBA for selling a large assortment of inexpensive frags, and I wish other LFSs would follow suit. For me, buying or trading frags not only gives you a variety of corals for a reasonable price, but gives you the opportunity to watch your frags grow out. Seeing small frags grow larger in your system, knowing that you are providing the care and conditons that allow them to do so, is one of my favorite things about this hobby .

I'm about to get some frags from aguy out on the west coast. Mark, if you or any other SPS fan would like to join me, send me a PM.

[CapBay]

How's this for a brighter frag future.............by the end of the year 2005 the Atlanta Aquarium will have opened. With its opening the local interest in reef tanks will spawn ten fold . Having two thousand additional ARC members to trade with might liven up the frags scene a tad bit. So , I think perhaps you all might be better served by preparing for the wonderful future frag meetings .....then complaining about past ones .........What's coming is beyond your wildest dreams ..................... {better get a bigger cooler ]

[kbxiong67]

Totally agrees with CapBay!!!!

[Markv]

Good point. And to prepare for those future frag swaps, everyone needs to have some cool corals to trade.

[JoeJoe]

I'm definately in for some different pieces as the pieces described above are what I have currently. I'm willing make a purchase here and there and when it's frag time, I'd happily donate to the fellow reefers here. Problem is is that I don't know many good sites to purchase from. Definately PM me or put up some places that are quality (if allowed).

[goodfortune]

Hey Markv:

Now that we know that you have the "Denver Connection," you may never have to wonder how you're going to get to and from the airport, considering our group....

Seriously, would you be willing to pick up some pieces for us, whenever you go home, if we gave you some $$$? LMK

- Michael