Yes, but if companies did not try to make food specifically for hard to keep corals (ie. like reefroids) and individuals, who may have bought their first "impossible to keep" corals without doing their own research or being told wrong info by the LFS, did not write about any successes they may have had in keeping the corals alive, reefing would have been nearly impossible today. I'm not saying we should all now go out & buy these species. However, these reefers who are having some success are getting the info out on foods, techniques, tank parameters, etc. so others can learn & the pool of knowledge can grow.
It is highly unrealistic that suppliers will stop shipping these daisy/flowerpot corals or that all LFS will stop ordering them in because they are beautiful, colourful, and showy. From my observations and discussions with people at many of our LFS, people who participate and do their research on these types of forums are not in the majority. Most people go to the LFS, see something that catches their eye, and buy it. That's why Alveoporas & Gonioporas are, and have been since reefing started, good sellers. I've talked to many of the saltwater room guys and they say that their customers & their bosses want them to bring it in. Also, even the "good" LFS that conscientously refuses to order these species in will often get them in their shipments as replacement or filler corals because their shipper or supplier has too many or wants to get rid of a few.
"Impossible to keep" was what they called Acros & other sps not that long ago. Is it better to have a wider knowledge base on what it takes to at least give the corals a fighting chance or totally depend on the good will and knowledge of every reefer in the world boycotting these species until every LFS & coral supplier stops bringing them in. If you check pretty much every internet sw site or your LFS, you'll find flowerpot corals available. I'd rather know how to take care of them than to hope that businesses worldwide will ban their collection (because that's not gonna happen).
That's why I commend the other member for letting us know what others are doing to help keep these corals alive and thriving in their tanks. One person has had their's (according to their own account) for 9 years, which would indicate they are doing something right.
Anthony
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