Acanthastrea Fragging 101

Discussion in 'Frags' started by mikejrice, Jul 10, 2015.

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  1. mikejrice

    mikejrice 3reef Affiliate

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    Methodology:

    The method I use for fragging the majority of hard corals is primarily the same with the cutting tooling being a Gryphon band saw.

    Cooling liquid used is fresh mixed saltwater with enough iodine to color it a light amber. This helps to disinfect cuts as they're made which has shown to greatly increase frag survival.

    All corals are stored during cutting in a small bucket holding water taken directly from their home aquarium. This water is used both to keep them wet as well as for rinsing any flesh away from cuts while I'm working on them.

    All finished, and rinsed, frags or trimmed colonies are soaked in Brightwell Aquatics Restor dip to insure that minimal flesh is lost.

    Both soak buckets are rinsed and replenished between colonies to reduce the risk of interactions between loose flesh of different coral species.

    Notes about acans:

    Acans are one of the corals that will bear significant advantages if corallite boundaries are followed, so when cutting these corals, I always try to follow directly along the top of corallite walls.

    As with most LPS corals, cutting frags as thinly as possible will help to accelerate growth.

    Acans build one of the most dense skeletons I've come across, so they can be quite hard to cut. Be sure to take your time and let the blade do the work.

    elite_reef_coral_DSC9907.JPG elite_reef_coral_DSC9924.JPG elite_reef_coral_DSC9926.JPG elite_reef_coral_DSC9928.JPG
     
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  3. NU-2reef

    NU-2reef Montipora Digitata

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    Great video mike. Wish I had a frag saw like that! For now a Dremel will have to do.
     
  4. Va Reef

    Va Reef Giant Squid

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    Cool video, getting to the point where I'd like to frag some mini colonies.

    Have you noticed any "grafting" when placing two different morphs together?
     
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  5. mikejrice

    mikejrice 3reef Affiliate

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    I'm still yet to get a coral graft to take, but I'm still trying.
     
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  6. Va Reef

    Va Reef Giant Squid

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    For any species in general or specifically the acans? I've had good luck with montipora capricornis and seriatopora hystrix. I imagine stylophora would be pretty easy to graft too. Grafting acros are beyond me, though I've seen plenty milleporas successfully grafted
     
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  7. AnotherMike

    AnotherMike Fire Worm

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    Very cool Mike, thanks. I think I'd be missing a few knuckles,if I tried that.

    Seriously, I do have an Acan that is long overdue to be chopped, but with no access to a band saw what Dremel blade do you guys suggest?
     
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  9. mikejrice

    mikejrice 3reef Affiliate

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    I haven't been successful with any species yet. I haven't tried with SPS yet, but I may have to try that.

    Luckily the blade can't really cut me or I would be too!

    Cut off wheels do the best job in my opinion. I like the larger diameter carbon blades the most.
     
  10. mikejrice

    mikejrice 3reef Affiliate

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  11. Va Reef

    Va Reef Giant Squid

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    I'm noticing when I place two different acans near each other, certain colors start to show up that weren't there before, and are prevelant in the other acan. Am I going crazy ??
     
  12. mikejrice

    mikejrice 3reef Affiliate

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    Not at all. I've seen the same thing in several acans.