Small scale farming for profit  -08/27/08 Hello crew, thank you for the great site and for answering all the questions you get everyday. <Welcome> I have read though the FAQs on your site, Anthony's book, and searched over the Internet but I still can't find what I'm looking for. I want to setup a small propagation system using a 40 breeder. Before I decide on the lighting, flow, and filtration I want to decide what species I plan to keep so that I can tailor the tank to their needs. <This is the correct order...> I am interested in making as much money as possible off this tank <... is really too small, and just one tank... not a "good bet"...> and I would like to know what corals are the real bread and butter for small scale farmers. <Is more a regional issue... Take a look, census about you... the LFSs, clubs if they're about... What are people looking, paying most for? Acanthastreas (still?), Duncanopsammias? Is there enough "stock" demand for Xeniids, Alcyoniids to warrant dedicating this small system to their culture alone?> My first inclination was to grow rare SPS because each unit has a high price. <Mmm, I wouldn't... too long a "generation time", and too easy, less expensive to simply buy, frag from the wild> However, it might take 6mo to grow a usable frag. On the other hand Xenia doesn't sell for much but grows quickly. From what I can tell revenue comes from sale price times units sold. <About right... then there's costs on your end, opportunity cost...> So what are good corals that are in demand, grow quickly, and have a reasonable sale price. <You tell me... again, this is almost exclusively a "local" issue> Could you also give me an idea of ideal conditions for growing the species you list <Heeeee! Yes... see WWM for a start> I have talked to some people and they seem to think Xenia, Ricordea, <Good genus... but again, slow growing...> and finger leathers would work well. Can all these be kept together? <... no> Can I plumb this prop system in to my already running mixed reef or would these species be bad to keep with SPS? Thanks --Jackson <Read for now Jackson, and keep good notes, dreaming and planning... Bob Fenner>

SPS/Frags/Mother Colonies/Captive Generations'¦  10/6/05 Greetings Oh Great Fish God's, <Are you sure? I swear I caught my Sailfin mouthing off the other day'¦> Kudos for the exemplary work you guys and gals do on this site to provide the vast knowledge base that you do and for sharing your experiences with the rest of us wanabe reefers. It truly must be a thankless task. <It's not so bad.> Question: Is a frag a frag and will it always be a frag? <Not if it grows up, but I suppose there is a lot of gray area in there.> I now have 2, 80gal tanks that are brimming with assorted SPS corals and frags. I had initially purchased mother colonies and after some time I began to frag them. I am now at the point where I am fragging the frags into frags. <Awesome.> Although all of the frags and the frags of the frags are doing great but as they mature and grow they never seem to look like the mother colony in density, color, or number of appendages/bushiness.  <Well unless they are placed in the exact same conditions (noticed I said conditions not tank) a Frag will never grow up to look exactly like its mother.  There are so many factors playing into this, nutrients, water flow, light, relation to light, temperature of light among many others.>  What constitutes a mother colony? <In my opinion a colony large enough to be fragged itself.> Size, age, it's density? <Probably all of the above.> Or, must a mother colony come from the wild where it has been naturally reproduced.  <Not in my opinion. I have a large Sinularia that I consider to be a mother colony. It was purchased over 5 years ago as a captive propagated frag and is now a monstrous size. I now make frags from it, so I consider it to be a mother colony. Honestly though this can be relative, I suppose some say a true 'mother' colony must come from the wild.> Can a frag or a fragged frag or a frag from a fragged frag ever become a mother colony or is it doomed to a life of being just a simple frag?  <Jeez say that last sentence 5 times fast. Like I said in my opinion if a frag has multiplied its original size significantly and has thrived for a decent amount of time. If it is now large enough to make frags without significantly reducing the colony, then I consider it to be a mother colony.  Of course I will say that most of these questions seem to be relative or up to opinion.> As mother colonies are fragged, and then the frags fragged, is there anything lost in the genetics from the mother colony as to the number of times it is fragged and re-fragged? <For the most part frags are exact duplicates. Remember an Acropora species of different color/shape/density can be the same species. That's why some of them are so hard to identify.> Or would this ultimately lead to healthier tank/captive raised specimen? <Yes consecutive generations of captive propagated corals generally adapt a lot easier to changes and captive life in general in comparison to their wild counterparts. I would much rather purchase a captive propagated coral over a wild specimen any day of the week.> Tanks in advance, <No trouble, try not to over think or put labels on your specimens, the fact that they are thriving and producing children should be good enough. Have fun with it. Remember that most of these labels we use including LPS and SPS are not scientific, they are hobby generated.> Gary <Adam Jackson.> The Great White North    <The Great Southwest?>

Ricordea propagation Hello Crew,  I have searched high and low and cannot find what I'm looking for. In Anthony's book, he describes in detail Corallimorph propagation. Though he does explain the difference between Discosoma, Rhodactis, and Ricordea, the book does not distinguish between these when speaking of propagation. <There is no difference, my friend... I show pictures in my presentations and lectures of doing this to a $200 rose anemone (E. quadricolor)... you can do it with your Corallimorphs> I have had great success with cutting and "pie shaping" my Discosoma, though everyone I have spoken to has told me I cannot do this with my Ricordea or Rhodactis. <Heehee... "everyone" is mistaken here then <G>. Limited experience/// healthy fear (especially for how expensive some of those Ricordea are <G>). No worries... the only limitation is that Ricordea as higher light lower organismal-feeding animals must be in healthier condition from Go as they cannot be fed easily afterwards and supported if they take the imposed technique hard> Could you elaborate on how I would go about propagating these? Thanks a ton.  Rob <Exactly as you have done for your Discosoma... they are fundamentally the same. Kind regards, Anthony

Goniopora stokesii Reproduction Hello, <Hi Jim, MacL here with you tonight> I have a question I can not seem to find an answer for. I have a lime green Goni that is a little over 2 years old (in my tank). It has done well. <Very rare and congratulations> 3 weeks ago while observing the tank I noticed two small (BB size) growths on the substrate, after getting the magnifying glass out I saw what looked like exact clones of the Goni. <BABIES!!!!>  Today they are the size of a large pea, about half the size of a marble. They have for stalk's each and are more discernible now. My question is how do I protect them? and should I try and attach them to something. If so How? I currently have a small piece of egg crate over them so I do not lose them while cleaning. <That sounds like a great idea. You could attach them but I think its best to let them get a bit larger.> I was told they are bud's, but I can not seem to find out any more info. Did these come off the large one? <Yes!> I am extremely excited about these, but, also very worried as to how to care for them. Any help or info you may be able to provide will be deeply appreciated. <Take care of them just like the big ones. You obviously are doing great and congratulations!> Respectfully, Jim

Coral Wholesaler Thanks for the info Bob <Anytime my friend. Your success is mine as well> We plan to start small and slowly work into a larger operation. Right now my partner and I are looking at wholesalers that are working out of Indonesia to see where we could buy from. So far we are looking at 500-1000 dollar min orders. Do you happen to know who is running trustworthy operations in Indonesia? <I would actually not go this route. Look instead to buying from Fiji and fragging, raising the corals from there... much more reliable, consistent supply. Do contact Walt Smith at WSI, Pacific Aquafarms and Scott Cohen at Sea Dwelling Creatures (scottcohen@seadwelling.com,pafarms@earthlink.com) re establishing relations. Well be chatting, Bob Fenner> Thanks again for your time Alex Gawura

Coral ID by Text - 8/20/03 Hi, <cheers> I wondered if you could help me identify this coral, have looked at hundreds of web pages but just cannot find it. <was a pic intended to be attached, my friend ["this coral"]? If so, it did not carry through> At first glance it looks like a fluorescent green coralline algae. It is spread over dead rock much like a coralline would, however it is not hard, it is soft. It also has little patterns in it as if it may be comprised of lots of small organisms. Under lights it is a very bright green and is one of the most beautiful corals I have ever seen. I only have a very small bit of it, and hope to find out what it is to make sure I can grow it more. I know this description may be somewhat unscientific, but if you could give me a name or two of what it might be, I could look them up for further research. Cheers, Alastair <without a pic, we need much more info to help you, bub. Hard coral or soft coral (skeleton underneath?)... size of polyps, etc. Even then it's a best guess. Do send a clear pic and we'll be able to give you a prompt ID mate. Best regards, Anthony>