A running theme that can frequently be heard in our hobby is that everything is so expensive. From equipment to livestock, it’s not cheap! To some extent, that statement is true. However, the same could be said for any hobby. Entry-level products tend to be more affordable than those found in more advanced systems.
Recently, I decided to partake in a little challenge: The $100 Coral Challenge. How many coral fragments could I purchase with a $100 bill? Would it be 1 Torch or Zoanthid with a cool name? Or, could I spread it out and buy 5-8 “bread and butter” corals?
Going into this swap, my goal was to purchase leathers, Gorgonians, and oddball corals for a new build. As it turns out, these corals are few and far between at frag swaps these days. I did see a fair amount of toadstools, but nothing of interest. Vendors rely heavily on the colorful, fluorescing corals to draw hobbyists in. Don’t get me wrong, seeing a tank filled with colorful Euphyllia and Gorgonians waving in the flow is mesmerizing, but that vibrance also comes at a premium.
Whenever I arrive at a swap, I always like to acclimate myself with a quick lap. Rarely do I purchase anything until I’ve seen most of what’s being offered. The cost of a coral can vary significantly from vendor to vendor. For instance, I purchased one head of Duncan for $10 but also saw that same green-bodied strain for $20 and $25 a head at other tables.
After my lap, I went back around and made some selections: a chunky “potato chip” Pavona, green Lithopyllon, branching Cyphastrea, Pocillopora, and a Duncanopsammia.
I walked up to a vendor with my last $10 and asked, “What do you have for $10?” This was immediately met with, “Ah man, you’re killin’ me!” We settled on a really nice $20 Montipora frag that I ended up paying – you guessed it – $10 for. Be honest. You never know what deals a vendor is willing to make.
All in all, I walked out of the swap with 7 frags. My cost per frag was about $17, which isn’t bad! Keep in mind that one of those was a freebie at the door. This just goes to show that you CAN get a decent amount of coral for $100!
Check out the full video here:
