Mariculture SPS question

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#1
What are the the pro and cons for mari-cultures sps frags. I am always in love with how they are colored and the growth for a reasonable price. My reef is going to be a sps only tank got inspired by V and other great forum members who keep their sps tank looking awesome. What are trick and tips in keeping them alive for long term.
 

Mr V

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#5
Advantage, of course they are cheap. (But not so much now since Indo ban)
Disadvantages, you pretty gamble on the purchase.
Marine cultures colonies are usually very weak, and a lot of chance having unwanted pests.
About coloration, you don't know what you got. They usually brown, green or pale (again, because they are weak). But once you can keep them survive and healthy, color will come back and they are nothing different from aquaculture. Every aquaculture once marine cultures, aren't they?
 
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#6
If you frag one from a marine culture then grow that into a colony. Then you frag that colony, new growth part, and sell it to a other guy. That guy grows that frag to a colony... Second generation frag has never seen the ocean water :)
 
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#7
I didn't think of the ban so I think they are not as common at the moment. I need to go to my LFS to see if they are in stock.

Even if the we dip and will pest be an issue? I plan on having a small quarantine system to observe. It does makes sense of the possibility of losing sps because they are weak. Specially for an inexperience sps reefer I think a well established coral will make more sense for me as opposed to marine cultured which i have no experience with.
 

Mr V

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#8
I didn't think of the ban so I think they are not as common at the moment. I need to go to my LFS to see if they are in stock.

Even if the we dip and will pest be an issue? I plan on having a small quarantine system to observe. It does makes sense of the possibility of losing sps because they are weak. Specially for an inexperience sps reefer I think a well established coral will make more sense for me as opposed to marine cultured which i have no experience with.
When you dip the corals you can kill the pests (if you lucky and get rid 100% of them in one dip) but you can't kill their eggs.
Quarantine is a good option, but you need to make sure your quarantine system very established and doing really really good. Because the new corals are weak, and you immediately introduce them into a 10 gallons newly set up, they won't survive.
Unless I have huge systems and need to fill it, maricultures are out of option.
 
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#11
I love mariculture it's like a box of chocolates never know the inside until u bite. If you dip frag it throw away the base then no chance for pest. Aefw live at the base not on the tip. You could end up with something like this

1A8D136A-943F-4958-8018-507FE64A991C.jpeg
 

Smite

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#12
yup! and these...
DSC_0396
by matthew schueneman, on Flickr

DSC_0277
by matthew schueneman, on Flickr

DSC_0244
by matthew schueneman, on Flickr

DSC_0019
by matthew schueneman, on Flickr

DSC_0092
by matthew schueneman, on Flickr

The risks are there for sure, but I kinda feel they are always there and you should treat all pieces like the pests are present. Thriving hobbiest systems and healthy looking pieces in LFS with AEFW. Do as ycnirbc said and remove the base, same goes for frag plugs if small. Part of the reason I'm always down for fresh cuts is because I'm going to cut encrusted plugs off anyhow. I also cover some live flesh where I removed the piece with superglue just to be safe. I hope this encases any pest's eggs and dont allow them to hatch.

Personally I dip heavy in bayers, real milky. Swoosh and bast the pieces while they dip to knock off any stunned critters.
 

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