Is this softie too big?

Jutta · 05/22/2007, 06:11 AM

Need your help in deciding whether I should finally say good bye to my big soft coral. It is blocking the light quite a lot and I am constantly shifting other corals around which are struggling for light. I kinda like the coral though, I am a bit proud of the fact that it has grown a huge amount in the past 1.5 years.

Now:

Mar 2006

Nov 2005

three-spot · 05/22/2007, 06:17 AM

That's awesome! You might want to frag it a bit, but I see no reason to get rid of it.

bureau13 · 05/22/2007, 06:21 AM

I agree...that thing looks awesome.

jds

Jutta · 05/22/2007, 06:22 AM

stupid question - how to frag? is it as simple as using a clean knife and kutting a brach off? like pruning a tree? It has attached itself to most of the surrounding rock, can I just cut it off?
Thanks!
Jutta

boxfishpooalot · 05/22/2007, 06:32 AM

Cut and glue I think. But i know nothin about fragging.

You should get new lighting. Maybee 2x 250 metal halides or 175s.

eidillitih · 05/22/2007, 06:35 AM

yea, I'd frag it down. Cut with a razor, rubber band or glue onto another rock.

Frick-n-Frags · 05/22/2007, 06:35 AM

more or less, yes.

I would use a razor blade or sharp scissors myself. when those get PO'd they get smaller and slimier

then loosely rubberband the frags to pieces of rock or whatever and sell/swap them.

you may want to examine the main rock it is on.
I have fragged leathers by cutting them in slow motion with rubberbands straight down to the rock(vs sideways cut) like how lightening would split a tree.
you could also cut them down fast with a razorblade and do something to keep the pieces from re-attaching to each other for a few days
then breaking the rock which made for already attached frags when done. you can make bigger frags this way. also, you are sending the base with the frags. if you cut all the branches off a base, the "tree-stump" has a tougher time living the larger it is.

King-Kong · 05/22/2007, 06:37 AM

huge colonies are what make tanks look best, and natural. Dont ruin that!

If anything, just rearrange it your layout to better highlight that beautiful coral.

Ritten · 05/22/2007, 08:16 AM

Keep it!

crabbejoe · 05/22/2007, 09:55 AM

It's nice to see some big corals! Keep it.

falconut · 05/22/2007, 10:12 AM

I agree, if you like it keep it. It look like mine. I just cut mine with a pair of scissors when it gets too big. I don't think the glue will work to hold the frag because of the slime it produces, but the rubber works great for me.

nano10 · 05/22/2007, 10:30 AM

Keep it!!! it looks to cool to get ride of.

drummereef · 05/22/2007, 10:41 AM

Looks good to me.

pmartin727 · 05/22/2007, 10:55 AM

Frag and it

Scuba Josh · 05/22/2007, 11:13 AM

NO WAY!!! That thing is awsome. It is a centerpiece.

reefchiquita · 05/22/2007, 11:48 AM

Maybe frag a bit of it to make some money, but I think you should keep it if you can. It looks great, and probably makes you feel good knowing that you were babying that thing to get that big the last year!

corals b 4 bills · 05/22/2007, 12:12 PM

Keep it! like scuba josh said, It's the first and last thing you see when you look at the tank (that's a good thing) It must look cool swaying in the breeze.

ERB82 · 05/22/2007, 12:54 PM

I've had great luck with cutting them with scissors and then sewing the frags onto peices of rock with fishing line.

buzzer · 05/23/2007, 12:16 PM

I agree, definately keep it.
How did you get it to grow so quickly in such a short period of time.

andyco · 05/23/2007, 03:44 PM

Frag it.

Increases flow.

Makes more room for fishies to swim.

Like a fire in the forest - lets the life underneath thrive...

Silverfin · 05/23/2007, 03:50 PM

I'd just frag it a bit.....and maybe you could sell any part that you don't want. But keep a little bit of it. That's beautifully healthy and nice looking!

Frick-n-Frags · 05/23/2007, 03:53 PM

Frick-n Frag it

D.Blaine · 05/23/2007, 04:27 PM

Dont get rid of it get a bigger tank

Roy G. Biv · 05/23/2007, 04:33 PM

2 links to help you out.

http://www.fragoutpost.com/

http://www.frags.org/

Der_Iron_Chef · 05/23/2007, 04:36 PM

It's awesome.

View Poll Results: Say good bye to soft coral
bye bye	24	30.00%
keep it	56	70.00%
Voters: 80. You may not vote on this poll

05/22/2007, 06:11 AM	#1
Jutta Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 114	Is this softie too big? Need your help in deciding whether I should finally say good bye to my big soft coral. It is blocking the light quite a lot and I am constantly shifting other corals around which are struggling for light. I kinda like the coral though, I am a bit proud of the fact that it has grown a huge amount in the past 1.5 years. Now: Mar 2006 Nov 2005

05/22/2007, 06:17 AM	#2
three-spot Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: windsor, ontario, canada Posts: 201	That's awesome! You might want to frag it a bit, but I see no reason to get rid of it. __________________ Julian

05/22/2007, 06:32 AM	#5
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	Cut and glue I think. But i know nothin about fragging. You should get new lighting. Maybee 2x 250 metal halides or 175s. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

05/22/2007, 06:35 AM	#6
eidillitih Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Euless Tx. Posts: 1,160	yea, I'd frag it down. Cut with a razor, rubber band or glue onto another rock. __________________ What you achieve or fail to achieve is directly related to what you do or fail to do It's the Journey that makes the Destination so sweet C. Taylor, M.Ed. Current Tank Info: 190g, 250lbs Live Rock, Vertex Alpha skimmer, 2x Tunze 6100's, Vortech 40mp, Queit one return, 220watts vho, 750MH, 60gal. Melev Sump, DIY Stand and Canopy, JBJ 1/4 Chiller, and other Man toys

05/22/2007, 06:21 AM	#3
bureau13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	I agree...that thing looks awesome. jds

05/22/2007, 06:22 AM	#4
Jutta Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 114	stupid question - how to frag? is it as simple as using a clean knife and kutting a brach off? like pruning a tree? It has attached itself to most of the surrounding rock, can I just cut it off? Thanks! Jutta

05/22/2007, 06:35 AM	#7
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	more or less, yes. I would use a razor blade or sharp scissors myself. when those get PO'd they get smaller and slimier then loosely rubberband the frags to pieces of rock or whatever and sell/swap them. you may want to examine the main rock it is on. I have fragged leathers by cutting them in slow motion with rubberbands straight down to the rock(vs sideways cut) like how lightening would split a tree. you could also cut them down fast with a razorblade and do something to keep the pieces from re-attaching to each other for a few days then breaking the rock which made for already attached frags when done. you can make bigger frags this way. also, you are sending the base with the frags. if you cut all the branches off a base, the "tree-stump" has a tougher time living the larger it is. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

05/22/2007, 06:37 AM	#8
King-Kong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 2,346	huge colonies are what make tanks look best, and natural. Dont ruin that! If anything, just rearrange it your layout to better highlight that beautiful coral.

05/22/2007, 08:16 AM	#9
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	Keep it!

05/22/2007, 09:55 AM	#10
crabbejoe Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Little Chute, WI Posts: 707	It's nice to see some big corals! Keep it. __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: 20 gallon reef, 75 gallon FOWLR

05/22/2007, 10:12 AM	#11
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	I agree, if you like it keep it. It look like mine. I just cut mine with a pair of scissors when it gets too big. I don't think the glue will work to hold the frag because of the slime it produces, but the rubber works great for me. __________________ 180 Gallon FOWLR, 40 Gallon Sump and 10 Gallon Refuge. (2) OceanRevive S026 LEDs, ASM G2 Skimmer & SCA-302 Skimmer. Setup since July 2017.

05/22/2007, 10:30 AM	#12
nano10 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: south jersey Posts: 620	Keep it!!! it looks to cool to get ride of.

05/22/2007, 10:41 AM	#13
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Looks good to me. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/22/2007, 10:55 AM	#14
pmartin727 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County California Posts: 426	Frag and it

05/22/2007, 11:13 AM	#15
Scuba Josh Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lower Hudson Valley, NY Posts: 245	NO WAY!!! That thing is awsome. It is a centerpiece. __________________ Rics Rock!!! Current Tank Info: Planted tank and 29 Reef.

05/22/2007, 11:48 AM	#16
reefchiquita Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 114	Maybe frag a bit of it to make some money, but I think you should keep it if you can. It looks great, and probably makes you feel good knowing that you were babying that thing to get that big the last year!

05/22/2007, 12:12 PM	#17
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	Keep it! like scuba josh said, It's the first and last thing you see when you look at the tank (that's a good thing) It must look cool swaying in the breeze. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

05/22/2007, 12:54 PM	#18
ERB82 Sharks fan! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Jose Posts: 274	I've had great luck with cutting them with scissors and then sewing the frags onto peices of rock with fishing line.

05/23/2007, 12:16 PM	#19
buzzer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 413	I agree, definately keep it. How did you get it to grow so quickly in such a short period of time.

05/23/2007, 03:44 PM	#20
andyco Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: milwaukee Posts: 115	Frag it. Increases flow. Makes more room for fishies to swim. Like a fire in the forest - lets the life underneath thrive...

05/23/2007, 03:50 PM	#21
Silverfin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brentwood, California Posts: 224	I'd just frag it a bit.....and maybe you could sell any part that you don't want. But keep a little bit of it. That's beautifully healthy and nice looking! __________________ Arrested Person:"I swear to drunk i am not God." Current Tank Info: Family 210gal reef, 30gal frag,

05/23/2007, 03:53 PM	#22
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	Frick-n Frag it __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

05/23/2007, 04:27 PM	#23
D.Blaine Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jacksonville NC Posts: 104	Dont get rid of it get a bigger tank __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 75g RR Oceanic, Sump with Cheato, Euro Reef ES5-3 Skimmer, 250w x 2 Icecap, 14k Hamiltons,55w x 2 T-5 Actinics,Flow: Koralia #3 x2, Tunze 6025 x 2, Mag 5 return

05/23/2007, 04:33 PM	#24
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	2 links to help you out. http://www.fragoutpost.com/ http://www.frags.org/

05/23/2007, 04:36 PM	#25
Der_Iron_Chef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Posts: 841	It's awesome.