Fragging 101 I Stylophora

[mikejrice]

Methodology:

The method I use for fragging the majority of hard corals is primarily the same with the cutting tooling being an 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 Stylophora:

Stylophora has a few different growth types which, along with specific colony forms, can make fragging them very different. Of the two main varieties found this video features the thicker branching strain.

Because of the base size of most of these colonies, I like to cut accessible branches off as I work my way around the base. When finished, you're left with a base that can then be grown out once again. I usually split the base stock so that I can grow out both halves starting from flat.

As with all SPS frags, I cut each frag off square at the base to make gluing them to plugs much easier and more consistently vertical.

If there's a specific species you would like to see fragged, please comment below.

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http://www.fragging101.wordpress.com

 

[sbash]

No gloves? I feel like gloves should be worn...

Does the Gryphon 'support' cutting corals?

 

[mikejrice]

No gloves? I feel like gloves should be worn...

Does the Gryphon 'support' cutting corals?

It would be safer to wear gloves, but neglegable with most corals. It's got a flat deck, so if the bottom of the coral is flat you can use it for support. I usually just cupport corals in my hands.

 

[sbash]

It would be safer to wear gloves, but neglegable with most corals. It's got a flat deck, so if the bottom of the coral is flat you can use it for support. I usually just cupport corals in my hands.

I mean does the manufacturer still support their product if used with corals. Some of the lower cost saws I have been looking at specifically say not to use to cut corals (even though they should work just fine)...

 

[Joe Rice]

I mean does the manufacturer still support their product if used with corals.

It's specifically designed for cutting corals.

http://www.gryphoncorp.com/index.php?p=bandsawCR

 

[sbash]

It's specifically designed for cutting corals.

http://www.gryphoncorp.com/index.php?p=bandsawCR

Awesome, thanks!

 

[stevieduk]

Methodology:

The method I use for fragging the majority of hard corals is primarily the same with the cutting tooling being an 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 Stylophora:

Stylophora has a few different growth types which, along with specific colony forms, can make fragging them very different. Of the two main varieties found this video features the thicker branching strain.

Because of the base size of most of these colonies, I like to cut accessible branches off as I work my way around the base. When finished, you're left with a base that can then be grown out once again. I usually split the base stock so that I can grow out both halves starting from flat.

As with all SPS frags, I cut each frag off square at the base to make gluing them to plugs much easier and more consistently vertical.

If there's a specific species you would like to see fragged, please comment below.

Subscribe:
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=mikejrice1

http://www.fragging101.wordpress.com

well its nice to know that we can repopulate the worlds reefs from just a few clumps of Stylo

 

[mikejrice]

well its nice to know that we can repopulate the worlds reefs from just a few clumps of Stylo

With enough time, we could.

 

[stevieduk]

well, maybe if the oceans warm , then the areas that are to cool for corals now will become the right temperature for them and we can start some new reefs off, or genetically alter the algae that lives in the coral to like warmer water

 

[mikejrice]

well, maybe if the oceans warm , then the areas that are to cool for corals now will become the right temperature for them and we can start some new reefs off, or genetically alter the algae that lives in the coral to like warmer water

The further from the equator you go the larger the seasonal temperature swing is. What we need are corals that are more resistant to a larger temperature scale.

 

[mikejrice]

Looking to cut up some SPS using tools a little more commonly found than a wet bandsaw? Check out my latest article in Reef Hobbyist Magazine!

https://issuu.com/reefhobbyistmagazine/docs/190118214952-8219f9ede9b24083af370b3079cf70d6/32

 

[sbash]

Looking to cut up some SPS using tools a little more commonly found than a wet bandsaw? Check out my latest article in Reef Hobbyist Magazine!

https://issuu.com/reefhobbyistmagazine/docs/190118214952-8219f9ede9b24083af370b3079cf70d6/32

Excellent, thanks for sharing!

Have you ever fragged up an elegance coral?