Readers of the 2017 MACNA Book were treated to an insider’s look at the “Ludicrous Chalice,” collected and brought into aquaculture this year by Bali Aquarium.
Turn the pages of your new issue to catch a glimpse of some of the hottest corals on the market right now, and see even more that didn’t make the final cut in this exclusive ONLINE BONUS.
For every issue of CORAL Magazine, we reach out to coral collectors, importers, and farmers around the planet, asking them to show off the most exceptional coral specimens they’re putting into the marine aquarium trade. We are routinely overwhelmed by the responses we get, but for each coral that ultimately graces the pages of the magazine, many exceptional specimens must be passed over.
What becomes of the dozens of stunning corals that don’t make it onto the printed page? Herewith: a look at some exceptional coral morphs and cultivars that did not make it into the current issue, but that we suspect you will find worthy of a second look.
For the sumptuous print edition of VISIONS, look for a copy of CORAL Magazine at your LFS or Barnes & Noble bookstore, and see the corals that bested the ones below. Comments or suggestions to our editors may be posted below.
—Matt Pedersen
Ultimate Rainbow Acan from A&M Aquatics. Image by Brian Dowling
Ultimate Rainbow Acan
Micromussa lordhowensis
A&M Aquatics
Lansing, Michigan
amaquatics.com
Geographic Origin: Australia
Light Level: Moderate
Flow Level: Moderate
Care Level: Easy
Notes: This is an extremely colorful variant of the common Aussie Acan. Keep in moderate light and feed heavily for the best growth and colors.
Photo Credit: Brian Dowling
WWC OG Bounce Mushroom, on hand at Carolina Aquatics. Image by Josh Davis
WWC OG Bounce Mushroom
Rhodactis sp.
Carolina Aquatics
Kernersville, North Carolina
carolinaaquatics.com
Geographic Origin: Unknown
Light Level: Low to Medium
Flow Level: Low
Care Level: Easy
Photo Credit: Josh Davis
WWC Hellfire Blasto from World Wide Corals
WWC Hellfire Blasto
Bastomussa sp.
World Wide Corals
Orlando, Florida
worldwidecorals.com
Geographic Origin: Indonesia
Light Level: Low
Flow Level: Moderate
Care Level: Intermediate
Photo Credit: Chris Turnier
AML Lobo from Aqua Medic Live
AML Lobo
Lobophyllia sp.
Aqua Medic Live
Loveland, Colorado
aquamedicusa.com
Geographic Origin: Jakarta
Light Level: Low
Flow Level: Low
Care Level: Intermediate
Photo Credit: Chad Wohlers
Scrambled Brain, from Cairns Marine
Scrambled Brain
Coscinaraea columna
Cairns Marine
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
cairnsmarine.com
Geographic Origin: Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, North Queensland
Light Level: High
Flow Level: Moderate to High
Care Level: Easy
Photo Credit: Cairns Marine
Umbrella Mushroom, from Cherry Corals
Umbrella Mushroom
Discosoma neglecta
Cherry Corals
Livonia, MI
cherrycorals.com
Geographic Origin: Florida
Light Level: Low
Flow Level: Low
Care Level: Easy
Notes: Discoma neglecta are slow-growing corallimorphs. Brightly colored morphs like this one are extremely rare; most display color combinations in shades of green and brown.
Photo Credit: Cherry Corals
A beautiful combo: Jason Fox Everlasting Gobstopper Zoanthids at left, and Jason Fox Jack-o’-lantern Leptoseris at right.
Jason Fox Everlasting Gobstopper Zoanthids
Zoanthus sp.
Jason Fox Signature Corals
Baltimore, Maryland
jasonfoxsignaturecorals.com
Geographic Origin: Indonesia
Light Level: Moderate
Flow Level: Moderate
Care Level: Easy
Photo Credit: Christopher Jason Studios
Jason Fox Jack-o’-lantern Leptoseris
Leptoseris sp.
Jason Fox Signature Corals
Baltimore, Maryland
jasonfoxsignaturecorals.com
Geographic Origin: Australia
Light Level: Moderate
Flow Level: Moderate
Care Level: Easy
Photo Credit: Christopher Jason Studios
Chameleon Torch Coral, from Quality Marine
Chameleon Torch Coral
Euphyllia glabrescens
Quality Marine
Los Angeles, California
qualitymarine.com
Geographic Origin: Indonesia
Light Level: Moderate to High
Flow Level: Moderate to High
Care Level: Easy
Notes: While the overall care for these Torch Corals is easy, achieving good and consistent color is very difficult.
Photo Credit: Gaspare Gladstone for Quality Marine
For those new to our CORAL Visions series, take note: Recognized coral vendors furnish their own subjective and generalized rating on a particular coral’s care requirements. Out of respect for the expertise of these professional aquarists, and the realization that different cultivars of the same coral species may have different needs, we refrain from attempting to equalize or normalize these ratings between individuals of the same species or type. Therefore, when comparing entries, you might see different ratings for the same coral’s light, flow, or care needs.
