#NameTheBowerbanki – Results Are In!

The results are in, and this amazing coral cultivar now has a trade name! — The results are in, and this amazing coral morph now has a trade name!

Aquarists were asked to weigh in on a stunning, Australian Homophyllia bowerbanki that was imported by Carolina Aquatics earlier in 2021. Obviously a showstopper, the coral was destined for aquaculture production, but that raised the question: What shall it be called?

A naming contest was announced, and the person lucky enough to submit the winning name for this coral would receive a three-year subscription to CORAL Magazine, and, if that person resides within the lower 48 US states, they will even receive a frag of this illustrious coral.

It's not every day that an aquarist can say they own a piece of a coral that was first showcased in an aquarium magazine, seen around the globe! — It’s not every day that an aquarist can say they own a piece of a coral that was first showcased in an aquarium magazine, seen around the globe!

Given the incredibly high import price this amazingly beautiful coral commanded, CORAL Editor Matt Pedersen proposed that it be called the “Broke The Banki“! But, sadly for Matt, the staff of CORAL, Carolina Aquatics, and their families were not eligible! However, everyone else was!

Dozens of fragments were cut from the original mother colony, with most destined to be grown out and fragged themselves to create the next generation at a more commercial scale. Valued at several hundred dollars each, one of these is headed to a very lucky aquarist.

Some of the favorite submissions included permutations alluding to the beautiful yellow ridges of this unique coral including “Gridlock” (as the coral looks like a maze of highways to Douglas Lone, receiving an honorable mention here), while John Cummings suggested the very appropriate “Yellow Brick Road“. Ethan Wright’s submission shared similar inspiration, suggesting this coral be called the “Gold Ridge Mountains” Bowerbanki.

In the end, there could be only one name for this coral. The Carolina Aquatics staff debated and voted on the submissions and John Robbins’s “Yellowstone” Bowerbanki ALMOST nabbed the win. But not quite.

This coral was officially unveiled at a Carolina Aquatics industry open house event earlier this year. Owing to the many “galactic” and “outer-spaced” themed names, but also looking at the growing footprint that in-house aquaculture will play at Carolina Aquatics and where the company intends to go, a more conceptual name was ultimately selected as the business looks towards the future.

Meet the C.A. Event Horizon Bowerbanki, as named by William Wahl. Wahl will be receiving a three-year subscription to CORAL Magazine, and if he resides in an eligible location, he will receive a frag directly from the mother colony shown below!

Three runners-up were also selected:

“Yellowstone” Bowerbanki – John Robbins
“Yellow Brick Road” Bowerbanki – John Cummings
“Gold Ridge Mountains” Bowerbanki – Ethan Wright

Each will receive a 1-year subscription to CORAL!

Our special thanks also goes to Kris Cline and the staff of Carolina Aquatics for joining us in offering this contest to CORAL readers!

Update: After the winners were notified, Jeremy Shenk @ Carolina Aquatics was kind enough to send along a photo of the frag destined for William Wahl’s reefs! Check it out!