PSXerholic
Supporting Member
Fragging like a Pro - by PSX (& DIESEL) .........I watched fragging my $1,000 Frag
Hey guys,
fragging like a pro ?
Here are a few pictures of my frags ............................... as well I wanted to share the professional fragging of a RR Rainbow blossom frag with an official market value of $1,000 !!!
So I took the "RISK" to take my 1k frag home right after the cut!
Many will call this crazy, well I have fragged in the last years several hundred frags of my collection and learned how to careful frag and transport our sensible beauties.
A few things are to be considered while fragging and offering it for sale or share it with others.
1.) Cut an glue
I usually prepare a large clean plastic bin and fill it with tank water and throw in the ceramic plugs and frag racks that fit in perfectly.
Then I cut or break off branches from healthy corals and drop them asap into the bin.
Do not cut off too many.......usually I do not cut more then 10 minutes. Otherwise I repeat on another round.
Also not more then 15 frags to avoid slime in the bin.
Then I start putting a nice large bean of IC Gel on the plug in one hand, quickly grab the coral frag and cover the entire cut with glue asap and place it back into the water on the frag rack and align the frag straight on the plug under water!!!
So the frag is nicely sealed.
When all frags are glued on, let them harden for like 10 minutes after the last frag.
Bring them back to the tank and bring over the frag rack with all frags, not each frag individually in an ideal case.
The temp shock and PH drop is mostly what can cause issues while fragging.
After the fragging, clean your frag bin very well and rinse it.
Don't use this bin for anything over then fragging.
As cleaner your procedure is as better the results !!!!
I have not lost any of my frags since a long long time while doing it this way ;-)
2.) Break n' go (Coral to go)
See below some pictures from my friend Ben how he cuts off even expensive frags off a very dense grown colony !!!!
He made a long metallic (likely SS) rod, and shaped the end like a screwdriver, so it actually becomes the DIESEL Chisel (lol, sorry for the rhyme Ben ;-).....)
Also he carries a variety of different lengths to be able to knock off the branches precisely via DIESEL-Chisel and bonecutter as a hammer above water.
Short and quick flaps above the water surface take the piece off very nicely.
If you notice, he also uses for "targeting" a top down viewer ;-)
So that part is what you can do for #1 as well, instead just a bonecutter, when you frag off dense grown colonies!
Here is the interesting part while you take a Coral to go to make sure it survives:
Have your ducks and tank in a row !
The Coral will have to remain submerged under water after the knock off. (To avoid sliming in the container/bag which can kill the coral during transport)
Do not take it out of the water, to place it in container or a bag.
Do not let any air into the container where you put the frag in. Either a plastic container or plastic bag has to be filled underwater and no air is suppose to be in there.
And again......Do not take it out of the water, to place it in container or a bag.
When the coral arrives your tank you can continue your dip after temperature acclimating is completed.
Seal the coral with glue or glue it on a plug prior you put it in your tank, to be on the safe side.
This is to avoid infection by bacteria from your tank, not the other!!!!
The Chisel
DONT'S WHILE FRAGGING !!!!
Do not work in a room with a fan on !
Do not cut and glue when you have a cold, an infection, or you have taken medicines !
Wash your hands well prior fragging !
Do not frag while you have injuries on hands or fingers !
Keep your plastic bin always clean after fragging and wash it out with tap water and rinse it well !
Happy Reefing,
PSX (THX to the support from DIESEL)
Hey guys,
fragging like a pro ?
Here are a few pictures of my frags ............................... as well I wanted to share the professional fragging of a RR Rainbow blossom frag with an official market value of $1,000 !!!
So I took the "RISK" to take my 1k frag home right after the cut!
Many will call this crazy, well I have fragged in the last years several hundred frags of my collection and learned how to careful frag and transport our sensible beauties.
A few things are to be considered while fragging and offering it for sale or share it with others.
1.) Cut an glue
I usually prepare a large clean plastic bin and fill it with tank water and throw in the ceramic plugs and frag racks that fit in perfectly.
Then I cut or break off branches from healthy corals and drop them asap into the bin.
Do not cut off too many.......usually I do not cut more then 10 minutes. Otherwise I repeat on another round.
Also not more then 15 frags to avoid slime in the bin.
Then I start putting a nice large bean of IC Gel on the plug in one hand, quickly grab the coral frag and cover the entire cut with glue asap and place it back into the water on the frag rack and align the frag straight on the plug under water!!!
So the frag is nicely sealed.
When all frags are glued on, let them harden for like 10 minutes after the last frag.
Bring them back to the tank and bring over the frag rack with all frags, not each frag individually in an ideal case.
The temp shock and PH drop is mostly what can cause issues while fragging.
After the fragging, clean your frag bin very well and rinse it.
Don't use this bin for anything over then fragging.
As cleaner your procedure is as better the results !!!!
I have not lost any of my frags since a long long time while doing it this way ;-)
2.) Break n' go (Coral to go)
See below some pictures from my friend Ben how he cuts off even expensive frags off a very dense grown colony !!!!
He made a long metallic (likely SS) rod, and shaped the end like a screwdriver, so it actually becomes the DIESEL Chisel (lol, sorry for the rhyme Ben ;-).....)
Also he carries a variety of different lengths to be able to knock off the branches precisely via DIESEL-Chisel and bonecutter as a hammer above water.
Short and quick flaps above the water surface take the piece off very nicely.
If you notice, he also uses for "targeting" a top down viewer ;-)
So that part is what you can do for #1 as well, instead just a bonecutter, when you frag off dense grown colonies!
Here is the interesting part while you take a Coral to go to make sure it survives:
Have your ducks and tank in a row !
The Coral will have to remain submerged under water after the knock off. (To avoid sliming in the container/bag which can kill the coral during transport)
Do not take it out of the water, to place it in container or a bag.
Do not let any air into the container where you put the frag in. Either a plastic container or plastic bag has to be filled underwater and no air is suppose to be in there.
And again......Do not take it out of the water, to place it in container or a bag.
When the coral arrives your tank you can continue your dip after temperature acclimating is completed.
Seal the coral with glue or glue it on a plug prior you put it in your tank, to be on the safe side.
This is to avoid infection by bacteria from your tank, not the other!!!!
The Chisel
DONT'S WHILE FRAGGING !!!!
Do not work in a room with a fan on !
Do not cut and glue when you have a cold, an infection, or you have taken medicines !
Wash your hands well prior fragging !
Do not frag while you have injuries on hands or fingers !
Keep your plastic bin always clean after fragging and wash it out with tap water and rinse it well !
Happy Reefing,
PSX (THX to the support from DIESEL)