Soft coral/ AquaCorals group buy

JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
I've been wanting to ask for someone(s) to go and split the shipping with me for an order to AquaCorals.
But I haven't posted because the reason being that I want to support local fish stores.
However, there are just a couple corals from AquCcorals than and I cannot find those anywhere else.

So if anyone has a desire to pick up some spiffy soft corals, let me know and we can coordinate something.
https://www.aquacorals.com/
 
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Maddlesrain

Cleaner Shrimp
#2
It’s too bad you’re ordering (or already ordered these) now. I’d be all over this if it were the fall months. Post pics of the corals you get from aqua corals! I hadn’t heard of them until stumbling across this thread.


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CRW Reef

Blue Whale
M.A.S.C Club Member
ex-officio
#3
Curious what corals are you liking that you can't get here? If you post up what you are looking for, I would bet that there is a club member or 10 that would have it.

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scchase

Administrator
Staff member
M.A.S.C Club Member
M.A.S.C. B.O.D.
B.O.D. Member-at-Large
#6
Just watched a video I will try again in a week or two once my mother has had some healing time, looks like the toothpick method I used doesn't work with them.
 

JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#7
The main one I was looking for was the gorgonian (not the grube but the other one). The shop owner doesn't know the species. I have 6 species and the one in the vendors photos dont look like any i have. I asked a couple people and have gotten varied guesses (my guess is rumphella). Either way, the mother looks gorgeous so I want to try a frag of it.

Still haven't put in a purchase yet. I can wait till fall if I have to. The shipping ($40 minimum iirc) is a deal breaker right now.
 

scchase

Administrator
Staff member
M.A.S.C Club Member
M.A.S.C. B.O.D.
B.O.D. Member-at-Large
#8
That ones corky sea finger, I used to have it so should be some still around here somewhere
 

Maddlesrain

Cleaner Shrimp
#9
That ones corky sea finger, I used to have it so should be some still around here somewhere
I have a ‘corky’ finger as well. However, I think there might be a couple variations under the same name? Mine grow in a carpet rather than stick form (so far).


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JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#10
There are most definitely two habits of corky fingers, Briareum asbestinum, (this page profiles those well: http://www.snorkelstj.com/corky-sea-finger.html ). C. asbestinum branches only basally and splits along a branch once or twice at that. I have one in my tank.

The encrusting habit can look darn near similar to another Caribbean encrusting gorgonian, Erythropodium caribaeorum, (http://coralpedia.bio.warwick.ac.uk/en/octocorals/erythropodium_caribaeorum ). IIRC, you can tell them apart when the polyps are retracted.

This video,
, shows the encrusting habit (or E. caribaeorum), from 0:39 to 1:18 (the video then shows a slitpore), and then returns to corky finger at 1:36.

I said I had guessed Rumphella but I could very likely be wrong. The more I look elsewhere like on RC and R2R, the more I see Plexaura and Pseudoplexaura that look similar to the AC's gorgonian... I figure that I can't know without seeing it in person.
This website is also somewhat useful: http://coralpedia.bio.warwick.ac.uk/en/octocorals/pseudoplexaura_crucis , but a book on Carribean coral ID is on my to-buy list, especially as my build continues.
 

Maddlesrain

Cleaner Shrimp
#11
There are most definitely two habits of corky fingers, Briareum asbestinum, (this page profiles those well: http://www.snorkelstj.com/corky-sea-finger.html ). C. asbestinum branches only basally and splits along a branch once or twice at that. I have one in my tank.

The encrusting habit can look darn near similar to another Caribbean encrusting gorgonian, Erythropodium caribaeorum, (http://coralpedia.bio.warwick.ac.uk/en/octocorals/erythropodium_caribaeorum ). IIRC, you can tell them apart when the polyps are retracted.

This video,
, shows the encrusting habit (or E. caribaeorum), from 0:39 to 1:18 (the video then shows a slitpore), and then returns to corky finger at 1:36.

I said I had guessed Rumphella but I could very likely be wrong. The more I look elsewhere like on RC and R2R, the more I see Plexaura and Pseudoplexaura that look similar to the AC's gorgonian... I figure that I can't know without seeing it in person.
This website is also somewhat useful: http://coralpedia.bio.warwick.ac.uk/en/octocorals/pseudoplexaura_crucis , but a book on Carribean coral ID is on my to-buy list, especially as my build continues.
Looking at the photos and video, the coloration of mine looks very much like the E. Caribaeorum. What / how often do you feed your gorgonians? They’re beautiful.


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JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#12
I think the distinction is E. Caribaeorum = smooth when retracted and B. asbestinum = bumpy. I think.. I should look it up.

That is most definitely not my tank and I can't take credit. I have an upcoming build that will house just Caribbean species so I ran across this as inspiration.
I do have many gorgs though so I'd like to trade with you at some point if you don't mind cutting off some of your encrusting gorg.
--
edit: Oh btw, I don't feed any of mine... or any of my corals. But, I do plan on trying a couple brands. I often find detritus within the polyp (they're semi transparent) of my corky finger so it is clear that they are scavenging on their own.
 
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Maddlesrain

Cleaner Shrimp
#13
I think the distinction is E. Caribaeorum = smooth when retracted and B. asbestinum = bumpy. I think.. I should look it up.

That is most definitely not my tank and I can't take credit. I have an upcoming build that will house just Caribbean species so I ran across this as inspiration.
I do have many gorgs though so I'd like to trade with you at some point if you don't mind cutting off some of your encrusting gorg.
--
edit: Oh btw, I don't feed any of mine... or any of my corals. But, I do plan on trying a couple brands. I often find detritus within the polyp (they're semi transparent) of my corky finger so it is clear that they are scavenging on their own.
Mine is bumpy when shut, so I retract my previous statement. It’s definitely B. asbestinum! I was thrown off by the coloration. Most of the B. asbestinum I see is yellow / brown, but mine is a light pink.

Here’s a photo of mine:


I’d be happy to give you some! I’ll look at what I have this weekend. I might have a spare chunk if you’re going up to ReefEd I could bring it along. Mine is mostly just random pieces scattered around the tank right now.

If your new tank looks anything like the one in the video it will be spectacular.


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JZinCO

Goby
M.A.S.C Club Member
#14
I found a dichotomous key intended for use without a microscope... I cut out the steps needed to ID either species.

1a. Colonies with no axis, encrusting or single branches rising from a base: Soft corals ---------------------------- 2 If Yes, move to 2
2a. Coenenchyme purplish with shades of gray or tan; apertures open, encrusting or branching; polyps dark and large (> 1 cm): ------------------ 3 If No, move to 2b, if Yes, move to 3.
2b. Coenenchyme beige; polyps light and small (< 1 cm): ----------------- -------------- Erythropodium caribaeorum
3a. Colonies with rod-like branching, usually connected by a stolonal mat: ---- ------------ Briareum asbestinum If No, move to 3b.
3b. Colonies encrusting forming soft meat-ball like lobes; usually encrusting gorgonian corals: ---------- ------ Briareum polyanthes
It looks like your tissue between the polyps (coenenchyme) is purple so I'm gonna go with B. asbestinum as well.
 
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