How do I frag my new Hammer Coral (pic included)?

ToTaLCHaoS13 · 08/03/2006, 10:27 AM

I recently bought a hammer coral which was grown on a round "plug" of cement. I want to attach it to one of my current live rock and need to know:
1 - How should I cut it, what sort of tool?
2 - Where on the stalk should I make the cut, near the base or higher?
3 - What kind of spacing should I allow between the stalks in my tank for future growth of this coral?
Here is a picture of the new coral:

All suggetions are appreciated!

xtrstangx · 08/03/2006, 10:31 AM

I accidently fragged my Hammer coral one time. I just broke the skeleton like a wish bone. No damage to the coral, both are healthy (6 months after the fact)

You can also use a Dremel with a cutting wheel to do the cut. I would cut it at the base off the plug and then epoxy that to your rock. Eventually it will grow out completely and you won't see the base again.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/03/2006, 10:34 AM

It looks like you actually have a Branching Frogspawn (Euphyllia paradivisa), but only a skeletal analysis will be able to tell you though

I would do just what xtrstrangx suggested. Use a dremel tool to cut a branch off near the main column of the colony, and then either place it in a hole on a rock, or spoxy it to rubble, frag disk, or frag plug.

TKByrnes · 08/03/2006, 01:54 PM

just use a pair of dykes. cut it off and attach it where you want it. or place the base that it is on now under the sand or under some rock. or wedged between 2 rocks! dykes work great though.

Sk8r · 08/03/2006, 01:55 PM

Rose clippers work.

xian · 08/03/2006, 02:25 PM

My friend and I fragged a branching frogspawn with two pair of water pump pliers. As stated: wish bone style

AS long as you don;t damage the tissue anything goes.

Six member of my reef club and I fragged a favia this year as well, we used a screwdriver and a hammer. Seems barbaric but All 7 frags are still healthy.

TKByrnes · 08/03/2006, 02:30 PM

rose clippers should work. we used dykes on mine and i have 8 new branches growing now

08/03/2006, 10:27 AM	#1
ToTaLCHaoS13 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cartersville, GA Posts: 379	How do I frag my new Hammer Coral (pic included)? I recently bought a hammer coral which was grown on a round "plug" of cement. I want to attach it to one of my current live rock and need to know: 1 - How should I cut it, what sort of tool? 2 - Where on the stalk should I make the cut, near the base or higher? 3 - What kind of spacing should I allow between the stalks in my tank for future growth of this coral? Here is a picture of the new coral: All suggetions are appreciated!

08/03/2006, 10:34 AM	#3
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It looks like you actually have a Branching Frogspawn (Euphyllia paradivisa), but only a skeletal analysis will be able to tell you though I would do just what xtrstrangx suggested. Use a dremel tool to cut a branch off near the main column of the colony, and then either place it in a hole on a rock, or spoxy it to rubble, frag disk, or frag plug. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/03/2006, 01:54 PM	#4
TKByrnes Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fairfield, PA Posts: 1,331	just use a pair of dykes. cut it off and attach it where you want it. or place the base that it is on now under the sand or under some rock. or wedged between 2 rocks! dykes work great though. __________________ Baby it was on sale half price I PROMISE!!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gal mixed reef-55 gal sump-mag 9.5 return pump-10 gal frag tank 15 gal refugium. 2x 150 watt HQI outer orbit 4x pc actinic

08/03/2006, 01:55 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Rose clippers work. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/03/2006, 02:25 PM	#6
xian Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 2,180	My friend and I fragged a branching frogspawn with two pair of water pump pliers. As stated: wish bone style AS long as you don;t damage the tissue anything goes. Six member of my reef club and I fragged a favia this year as well, we used a screwdriver and a hammer. Seems barbaric but All 7 frags are still healthy. __________________ -Matt Christian Define Irony: Algae growing on a snail. Current Tank Info: 125 gal planted lagoon

08/03/2006, 10:31 AM	#2
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	I accidently fragged my Hammer coral one time. I just broke the skeleton like a wish bone. No damage to the coral, both are healthy (6 months after the fact) You can also use a Dremel with a cutting wheel to do the cut. I would cut it at the base off the plug and then epoxy that to your rock. Eventually it will grow out completely and you won't see the base again.

08/03/2006, 02:30 PM	#7
TKByrnes Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fairfield, PA Posts: 1,331	rose clippers should work. we used dykes on mine and i have 8 new branches growing now __________________ Baby it was on sale half price I PROMISE!!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gal mixed reef-55 gal sump-mag 9.5 return pump-10 gal frag tank 15 gal refugium. 2x 150 watt HQI outer orbit 4x pc actinic