Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquattro
I know it's not easy, I'm more involved than most hobbyists in the ordering and scoping out suppliers. But the pics sent never, or almost never represent what is shipped. Not even same species.
I see you have amazing stuff, as do the other sponsors, but I can't believe you order 30 boxes and keep the one good piece from each box and toss the rest 
I have unpacked a box here and there that had nice stuff, but it's tough to get repeat shipments |
We certainly don't toss the rest but they do get picked over pretty quickly because, as you say, superior pieces don't always come in.
That said, Wild Colonies and MariCultured colonies are still a risk. Wild colonies always come in so faded and can wipe out overnight…even months later. MariCultured, if they come in colourful, often lose that colour a little later and may take months to come back…..and many times a lot different looking.
When we do find a keeper piece we grow it out under optimum aquarium conditions and that takes a little time but we are there with many pieces.
Here is an example…… Red Diablo
The original Colony in Sept. 2012 (Pic saturated)
Our frag from THAT original colony taken in 2012 (under T5s)
1 year later (Under T5s)
2 years later (Pic taken under purple plus/and Blue Plus T5s)
...all the while Frags were taken many many times while we grew this out.
Pic of OUR Frag (Taken under 250w 14k Phoenix)
My point is the process takes time to get great truly healthy pieces out there. At least this way you get something that has kept/improved its colour over time all the while growing in an actual aquarium environment much like your own.