Fraging Corals

[Malawiandude]

I have some ricordia on a chunk of holey rock prolly a 8" spread of
rock two ricordia on each end of the rocks. I need to get a small
frag of just one side of the rock. Here is what i was thinking i
could do, but not sure if its the right way to do it, so could
really use your input.

I setup some cardboard and my cutting board on the counter(cardboard
to keep water from the rock going everywhere) get a flat head
screwdriver or chisle, and hammer. Pull the rock out quickly, place
it on the cutting board and smack the hammer and chisle in the
middle of the rock then place back in tank, is this right? Corals
shouldn't be hurt since not touching them right?

I have never fragged before but really want to get into it since i
have zoos coming, and my shrooms are opening so wide, i place a frag
of them onto a big piece of LR, i heard that you cut them into four
pieces and then rubberband them to frag rocks to get them to spread?
(that's the harsh way, or like i am trying to get it to spread to
chunk of liverock by placing frag on big piece of it)

Some references and information would really be helpful, i dont have
sps or anything just shrooms, zoos(soon), and xenia(not interested
in fragging that lol that stuff is really touchy)

 

[Great Lakes]

First, the Rics. Yes you can chisel the rock with little to no trouble. I let Ricordia propagate on its own as I have heard mixed results on fragging them. They closely resemble shrooms, but are not as tenacious. But just breaking the rock they are on should pose little to no problems.

When fragging mushrooms, each frag must have a section of the mouth/center.
I have heard of some folk fragging as many as eight pieces from a simgle mushroom, but of course this is size dependant.

When fragging Zoas, make sure to exercise caution, use gloves, and avoid at all cost working with any open/fresh cuts around them. Just do a Google search on {Zoanthid poison}, and read on in shock to gain proper respect for them.

Xenia will prove to be good or bad for you. There seems to be little in between. Some people grow them with great difficulty, and others have them growing like weeds. IT seems like we all have our specialties according to how our tanks are set up.

Just start fraging slow and easy, and you will quickly get the hang of it.

GL

 

[Malawiandude]

thanx, i was reading that sticky about the zoo's last night couldn't believe that happened to that guy. Going to crack the rock tonite and i'll let you know how they look on friday. Xenia is so cool and i have so much more coming lol i think i will put them in a corner by themselves, my one stalk reaches for the sky and "pulses" which i heard some do and some don't...guess got my tank right! $500 later it is anyway lol. Thanx for the information, haven't been able to get a answer on this for past week!