Fragging

[jeasko]

Have spoke to loads of people and done heaps of reasearch into fragging and all seems to say the same thing, basically you have to cut a section and either hold it via a thread or cyanoacrylite it to a rock fragment and it will take and grow, the only thing is im not sure i have the nerve to do this! has anyone actually done this if so would love to hear your feed back

 

[chrissaysyes]

Yeah man, it works. I do it with shrooms in a tupperware bowl away from the flow in the tank. Just lay them on a rock or shell, sometime wrap a rubber band around them loosely so they dont fall off. They will take after about two days.

 

[Lynden]

Cyanoacrylate is typically used only for true (stony) corals but it can work for softies and zoas.

Most corals actually "want" to be fragged as in the wild this would spread their colonies. Just take a pair of scissors or preferably a razorblade and take a section of the coral, then attach it to a rock. Times for attaching are immensly variable.

 

[chrissaysyes]

Important to make sure whatever utensil you use for cutting the coral is sterilized. Bacterial infection is one of the biggest dangers in doing this.

 

[Lynden]

... I've used rusty razor blades and unwashed scissors to cut corals. Most softies are very hardy.

 

[jeasko]

cheers guys it does seem a little to easy but guess it comes down to if your brave enough to do it for the first time, as for using clean cutting blades that wont be a prob as can get some sterile scissors from my other halfs work as she is a nurse and they are readily available!

Lynden
have heard that alot of softies are really not that worried but guess if clean blades avaialble i might as well use one!

 

[chrissaysyes]

... I've used rusty razor blades and unwashed scissors to cut corals. Most softies are very hardy.

Now that's just downright reckless

 

[amstar15]

on behalf of Lyndens corals I have been choosen as their representation. We will be moving forward in the malpractice law-suit. claims of rusty operation tools is just down right unresponsible.

THe corals and myself will be seeking damages up to and including payment of a calcium reacter, new metal halide lighting and better water movement.



I have used a hammer and a straight screwdriver to frag some of my corals... and they were rusty.. even the hammer.

 

[chrissaysyes]

Lyndens favorite tool of the trade:

 

[SkiFletch]

Wait, you people have tools that you use on saltwater items that are NOT rusty

I've got a hammer, chisel, big tube of superglue, rubberbands, plastic bin, razor blades, and for the really thick LPS, a dremmel tool. All of which (except the dremmel) are rusty

To the OP, fragging's easier than you think. Almost anybody can do it, no big deal . I fragged my first coral out of necessity (my favites brain was infected/dying). Broke out the dremmel, reamed out the area along which I wanted to cut, broke out the chisel, hammered down into the groove, and it split like a piece of cake. I'm told a tilesaw works well on thick LPS as well. Bone cutters work a treat on branching SPS for the morbid fragger in ya

 

[chrissaysyes]

You sick son of a biscuit

Oh well, the first time I ever "fragged" anything was in my first tank when I big rock toppled over onto a shroom and ripped it in half...all the sudden I had two shrooms

 

[showjyr]

Really a tile saw? Thats good to know I'm a flooring installer and can use one anytime I please.... should come in handy down the road.

 

[chrissaysyes]

Whats a good glue to use that can be obtained from a hardware store?

 

[SkiFletch]

Whats a good glue to use that can be obtained from a hardware store?

Superglue gel, aka cyanoacrylate. Get the gel consistency, its easier to work with

 

[jeasko]

Have to say i just found it so bizare that we go to all the lengths we go to to look after the contents of our aquariums then when it comes to fragging its so damn easy (in written form anyway) and basically you cut bits off it, but guess im feeling braver about doing it the more i read about it, never know may end up with more corals by end of year lol