Help with fragging

Martinf

Martinf

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Hi need some help with a fragging of a coral.

How do i remove the coral with out taking the live rock out as i only have one large rock in the tank ?

Do i need live rock rubble thats from my tank or can i use any live rock rubble ?

The coral is getting too big for my tank.

How long before i can move the frags to another tank ?

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If you cannot remove the rock, you could either
-get a scalpel or razor blade and slice pieces off it, or chop the whole head off
-tear the coral off the rock, the foot you have left will probably regrow a new coral
-use and old steak knife and chip bits of the rock off at the base to get the coral off
Run a big bag of activated carbon if you are slicing it in the tank as leathers release toxins.

You can put the frags back in the tank afterwards.
PS I assume you are talking about the leather coral?
 
You can move the frags to another tank at any stage. I find sewing pin cushions to the rock you choose is the best way to let them attach. Glue doesn't work too well.
 
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@jimilutz If i manage to get the coral of the rock and cut it out the water do i have to use a coral dip for the toxins ?

Can i then just use frag plugs instead of bits of live rock rubble ?
 
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Martinf said:
If i manage to get the coral of the rock and cut it out the water do i have to use a coral dip for the toxins ?
Click to expand...
It is recommended to do a dip, but to be honest, I have never dipped any of my corals after fragging them :blush:, and they've all survived. When you frag your pin cushion, it is best to leave the frags and the mother colony in a bucket of tank water for a while as these particular corals release huge amounts of slime during and after the fragging process, and you don't really want all that slime in your tank.

Martinf said:
Can i then just use frag plugs instead of bits of live rock rubble ?
Click to expand...
Have a look at the pics on this thread for some idea's of how to mount slimy corals Fragging a leather - Marine Aquariums South Africa
 
Martinf said:
@jimilutz If i manage to get the coral of the rock and cut it out the water do i have to use a coral dip for the toxins ?

Can i then just use frag plugs instead of bits of live rock rubble ?
Click to expand...

Dips are to prevent infection, they won't prevent the excretion of toxins. I think dips are used for fragging LPS due to the chance of the flesh getting infected but not so much with leathers as their natural slime is there to slough off infection.

You can attach frags to anything that sinks. Frag plugs, rubble, shells, pieces of tile, granite stones. Different materials just make attachment of the frag a different challenge. I often use ceramic filter rings for small frags as they are unobtrusive when attached to the rock work later, but they do get knocked over easily.
 
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Have you considere selling the whole thing, then take the money and buy new rock?
That way you don't have to worry about stressing your system and all the fuss but you get the same result.
 
The very first coral i ever fragged was a pincushion like yours. All the frags survived and grew fast!
I would do a small water change and keep some of the old water in a bucket for the fragging operation. Remove the whole rock from the tank and use a sharp clean nt cutter (sliding blade utility knife) to cut either the whole head off the coral or trim the edges you feel are too big. After cutting place the rock with the coral in the bucket with the water you just removed from your tank with the water change. This will allow the coral to release an amazing amount of slime. While this is happening you can slice the pieces you removed in to approximately 3cm pieces. I found that smaller than this takes too long to grow out. Take very thin fishing line and thread it through a sewing needle. Push the needle through the 3cm frag and tie it on to a frag plug or small piece of dead coral etc. Place a drop of superglue gel on the knot to prevent it from coming undone. After about 10 minutes you can place the big rock back in the tank. Now place the new frags in the same bucket of water to slime off. If the water is too full of slime or getting too cold just get rid of the water and siphon new tank water into the bucket for the frags to slime off. Place the frags back in your tank in a moderate flow area. and make sure your skimmer is working properly. In many cases you may find the frags showing polyp extension within a few hours after fragging!
PS. Nearly all corals will survive easily if taken out of water for the duration of the fragging operation without ill effect. Sometimes for up to half an hour! The secrete slime to prevent drying out
 
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