fragging a colt (1 Viewer)

[Thresa]

I have a huge colt coral that I need to frag, but have never done it before. Do I just take a razor to any section, or where do I make the cut? What's the best way to attach the frag to a rock....sewing it on, superglue, rubberband?
Thanks,
Thresa

 

[Guest]

Colt Frag

Cut the colt above a "Y" in a branch, make sure it is big enough to handle and sew. Keep the cutting in a bowl of tank water and put the mother colony back in a area of low flow until after it quits sliming.

I have found it easier to sew and tie the frag to a rock, the tooth pick will work as long as the piece is big enough and the rubberbands are not to tight that it splits the stalk.

After that, put the frag in a low flow area for a week or two.

Some colts take about 3 to 4 weeks to stick.....others are faster.

That's about it.

 

[Thresa]

Thanks for your help. I've never heard of using a tooth pick. How does that work?

 

[Guest]

Toothpick

Take a tooth pick and stick it through the base of the stalk just above the bottom leaving half of the toothpick sticking out of both sides.

Place it above a rock, hold it while you rubber band each end of the toothpick to the rock. Just make sure that the bands are just tight enough, I have had some have enough pressure to split the stalk over time.

After the frag has attached, remove rubberbands, with a pair of cutters cut one end of the toothpick off close to the frag and pull the pick out from the other end. You don't have to cut the pick but it is less that you will have to pull through the frag.

Mike

 

[Guest]

Another method I have used succesffully with colts involves allowing them to "Base-Over" before attempting to attach. I will often make a cutting, and allow it to ly in a low flow and protected "frag-basket" with some crushed coral or aragonite until it has formed a solid "Base" skin where it was cut.. Once it has based-over, it is easy to use the gel superglue method to attach anywhere..

 

[Thresa]

Do you just use a small plastic cup as a frag basket, or is it something that you have to buy that is made for that purpose?

 

[Guest]

Frag Basket

You can make a frag basket out of a piece of 1 1/2 to 2" pvc, some bridal vail and some rubber bands. Cut the pvc just a little taller than your frag, put a small piece of bridal vial over one end of the pipe and rubberband it in place. Put frag in substrate just enough to hold it upright, then put the basket over the frag, this will keep critters away from the frag and keep the current from rolling the frag.

Mike

 

[Guest]

I actually bought some clear plastic shower bins from walmart $3/ea complete with suction cups..

 

[BrianPlankis]

I had some left over containers from Whole foods (rinsed well) that used to contain potato salad. I just drilled a bunch of holes in the side (half way up) and in the lid to allow water exchange.

Then I filled up the bottom with LR rubble and let the frags attach. By having the holes half way up the side of the container I get a 3/4" layer of water in the cup when I remove it so the frags don't blow around as much when taking the cup in/out of the tank.

Here is one of the mushrooms healing in the cup.

Brian