“Collectible coral, for the purposes of reef keeping, are corals worth talking about and observing.” This helpful and profoundly simple definition isn’t from Jake Adams, but from you, the reader. Many have tried to follow it, and have certainly found things to talk about. But do “Classic” corals ever fall out of fashion? It would seem so, but other hobbies show us this is simply the lie we tell ourselves to feel good at night about our corals and fish.
Turn on the radio, and odds are you’re going to hear older music from decades gone by. The Sicilian Defense in Chess? It’s 420 years old now. The Yellow Fiji Leather is one such coral that only recently was allowed to be re-exported. Prior to this, you had to be one of the lucky few who managed to hold onto one all this time. (Over a decade, now) Available specimens in the hobby were slim to none. It soon became fashionable to have one, due to its rarity in the hobby.
Naturally, humans enjoy doing things they are explicitly told not to do. (Whether or not you believe in the Moon Landing is up to you, but as an astronomer, I firmly stand in the lunar camp.) Forbidden fruit are a staple of biblical proportions, but when is this desire actually acceptable, if ever? Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is it’s easy to find it fun to spend money for the ideological satisfaction of exclusivity.
The bad news is rarity and fashion has nothing to do with it, and the opinion of the masses defines what you can get in the hobby anyway. Surprise! Your corals aren’t special. In fact, the only thing that makes them special is the value you give them, and monetary value is an incredibly shallow way to evaluate that for anyone except those looking at the bottom line. (Shout-out to those who do, I know this market sucks even if you are having wild success.)
I hazard a guess there are definitely a large number of hobbyists reading this now who might be upset for me to tell them this, but it’s painfully true. Your corals are there for you to enjoy, not necessarily for you to farm for cash on the side. I’ll ask again – Do “classic” corals ever fall out of fashion? No, they absolutely do not. A reefer merely has to be patient enough to grow out the colony to be rewarded with interesting growth patterns and a myriad of colors.
Spoiler alert: Some corals are boring. There’s no merit to collecting because it’s classic or not. You need to go out into the market and find things that you find interesting. At the end of the day, your reef tank is a reflection of what you choose to do with it. I find myself watching my corals grow, and in a weird way, it’s almost like watching kids grow up in a successful environment. I find myself cheering them on like a proud parent! Sure, it might only be a birds-nest or a mushroom rock, but it’s yours, and that alone is worth being proud of.
Stop worrying, and love the colony. Reefing has never been better, and there’s never been a better time to fill up that aquarium. What shall you create? What shall you do?
Frankly, I don’t give a damn. Now get out there, and paint your own saltwater canvas. There’s more to reefing than crazy names and colors. There are amazing things happening in your tank every day, waiting to be observed by those with the patience and dedication to go looking for it.
About the author
Kyle O’Neill has lived in a family of reef keepers since the mid 90’s. He loves reading everything he can find related to the hobby, and is no stranger to opinion and writing, having spent 8 years in the wine and beverage industry while studying for the Master Sommelier exam. He has educated thousands of people on wine, beer, and spirits in that time via seminars, classes, written material, and meetings. He hopes to someday do the same for his love of reef keeping.
