About the Coral Centre
We originally started fragging corals as a hobby...
a way to meet people locally who kept marine aquariums and, through swapping, expand our coral collection.
In April 2019, we decided to turn a hobby into a business, renting a small unit in Hampshire. Here we started to design and build a dedicated corals facility... the size not seen before here in the UK. So far, we've built three systems, focusing on sustainable UK grown corals. One for soft corals, one for LPS, and one for SPS.
We know that every frag sold is potentially saving corals from being taken from the reefs around the world. You know that with every coral or dry goods product you buy from us, you are contributing to coral research.
This makes us arguably the largest professional coral provider in the UK, if not Europe and it doesn't stop there... that's just a splash in the ocean!
Meet the team
Your friendly neighbourhood coral experts
Director
With over 35 years of experience in the hobby, and having been fragging corals for over 10 years, I turned my vision for a sustainable and research based coral fragging business into a reality at the beginning of 2019. I have always tried to push the boundaries of reef keeping to encourage coral reef preservation and raise the profile of what an amazing hobby corralling is. It has always been deeply important to me to ensure each and every customer of The Coral Centre is provided with the highest quality advice, and best value for money products for their reefing systems.
Favourite coral
Toadstool leather Corals. They add height and movement to any system and are a great home substitute for clownfish.
Coral Cultivation Manager
I have worked in the aquatic industry for the past 10 years and joined The Coral Centre in 2019. Before becoming part of Coral HQ, I managed the fish and coral area in a large retail aquatic centre, having completed a FDSC in marine ecology and conservation at Bournemouth University. Having recently completed a degree in Marine Ecology and Conservation, I specialise in the identification of fish, pathogens, water quality, and the propagation of corals.
Favourite coral
Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) because they look totally different to all other corals, yet are one of the hardiest LPS corals.
Digital Marketing Assistant
I joined The Coral Centre in 2021 as a Digital Marketing Assistant on the Kickstarter scheme after gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Media and Communications from the University of Winchester. My role involves taking photos of the stock, updating the website and doing product research. I also produce videos for our YouTube channel, such as our Product of the week, short documentaries on research like the CoralPod™, and our collaborative work with other universities.
Favourite coral
Chalice or Acan as I love the chalices' texture and the colour vibrancy of the Acans!
Entertainment Manager
I started my puppy training at Coral HQ with my owner, Rob, at the beginning of 2022. Being a puppy, I'm still learning my social skills, but everyone loves me at Coral HQ and I quickly became the star of the show!
Favourite coral
Acropora as they look like sticks.... I love sticks!
Research
The research system was set up in July 2019 and will help us to look at how we can promote coral growth & feed back our findings to aid the repairing of coral reefs around the world.
This Autumn will see the launch of a series of YouTube videos 'how to set up and run a reef system for under £200’ and the 'you can frag it' program, which guides you though how to frag at home, is still in development and will be launched soon.
We are renowned for supplying quality corals at great prices, and with over 42 years of marine keeping experience, Rob and Emma, will offer help and advice too for all aspects of marine keeping.
We understand the importance of supplying quality corals, with a commitment to quality and sustainability
Soft corals
We like to leave these corals growing for 10–12 weeks (3 months) before they are ready for sale. Some grow so quickly, we will be able to release them earlier, but we have to be happy the corals are ready for their new homes.
LPS corals
Our range of LPS is growing and some corals we will keep for up to 2 years before selling any frags, but most frags will be ready after being left to settle and grow for 5–6 months.
SPS corals
These corals we will keep for approx five months before becoming available for sale. We want to see the coral has had significant growth, this way, you'll know you're putting a healthy coral in your system.
Homes for happy, healthy corals
It's important for us that we see growth with all our corals. This tells us the corals are healthy and ready for a new home.
Some corals grow so quickly, we can't keep them for these times, but you can be assured they have been given the chance to heal and grow.
We have recently teamed up with suppliers who adopt our same ethos around coral frags, to bring you a wider choice of corals. (If a coral frag has come from a supplier, we will tell you on the listing).
This has also seen us start to supply colonies. We have been asked so many times if we can get quality colonies to support customers who understand that our livestock is of the highest quality.
Our sustainable approach
Here at The Coral Centre, we understand the importance of sustainability in all areas of the business. Any items we use on a day to day basis are recycled where possible. Anything that can't be recycled is incinerated to create electricity. This way, nothing goes to landfill.
Our corals are posted in pots that can be reused time and time again. To make it easier for you, in every shipment we supply a Royal Mail freepost label. This allows customers to ship the packaging back free of charge. We are the only retailer in our industry to do this worldwide.
We grow as many corals here at Coral HQ as possible, & only coral frags grown here in the UK are given the 'UK grown' badge. We source as many colonies from Indonesia, where the corals are maricultured for the aquarium trade.
Animal welfare
Coral HQ operates under Winchester City Council. We are proud to display our first licence we gained in October 2021.
We are now able to sell marine fish and have a small selection available.
We also take orders for fish, so if you’re looking for something special, pop in or give us a call and we will source them for you.
Animal Welfare licence:
Licence No 21/03173/LIANWE with Winchester City Council.
Corals for sale
See our latest range of corals available for in-store or home delivery.
