Is cutting corals easy? making frags

One fish · 04/02/2015, 01:43 AM

I have a green frog spawn that is getting super big and I would rather have two smaller ones than one big one. I have never seen anyone "frag" or cut a coral. Is this safe to do? Does anyone know the percentage chance I will lose it or how to do it?
Thanks a bunch.
FullSizeRender.jpg

alexander_ktn · 04/02/2015, 03:22 AM

When I cut large fleshy corals with a massive base like this, I first dip the coral in an iodine dip, then cut the skeleton with a dremel, making sure I don't damage the flesh too much. When the pieces of the corals only hang together by its flesh I cut that with a scalpel. (Some leave it together and just move the pieces apart a little bit each day so that the coral separates it's tissue on its own.)

If both pieces have mouths and are placed back into the tank they came from to heal, I would not expect fatalities.

Mark9 · 04/02/2015, 06:46 AM

Frogspawn is one of the easiest corals to frag.
Swish it in the water a bit to make the heads retract, then take the coral out of the tank upside down.
I have the Ecotech frag kit which has some beefy bone cutters.
Snips frogspawn like nothing.
Just cut the heads off, leaving lots of branch so not to damage them.
Glue the frags to something, done.
Check out youtube, lots of videos on there.
You can use a dremel to get a smooth cut, but I glue to rocks, and the bone cutters are way quicker.
You should have 0 fatalities.

ryeguyy84 · 04/02/2015, 06:49 AM

I just cut the skeleton part with bone cutters, away from the fleshy part. I've never had any losses this way.

noj3333 · 04/02/2015, 07:44 AM

I like a dremel power tool with a diamond wheel. I already had the dremel so the only thing I had to buy was the cutting wheel.

AdamNC · 04/02/2015, 10:05 AM

On using the Dremel is there a chance to heat up the stem too much or does it pretty much slice right through? And what speed is best to use, higher rpm or a lower rpm?

Sk8r · 04/02/2015, 10:23 AM

If you buy branching corals, it's even easier. They will break in your hands. Just be sure you don't crack any head with live tissue and damage that. But I've broken up a basketball-sized hammer colony with just mild hand pressure, easier than breaking a raw carrot. Since there's no tissue involved, it's a clean break and doesn't tend to develop problems.

alexander_ktn · 04/02/2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

If you buy branching corals, it's even easier. They will break in your hands.

Birdsnest coral anyone?

cloak · 04/02/2015, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One fish

I have a green frog spawn that is getting super big and I would rather have two smaller ones than one big one. I have never seen anyone "frag" or cut a coral. Is this safe to do? Does anyone know the percentage chance I will lose it or how to do it?
Thanks a bunch.
Attachment 313323

Check these out.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/fotm/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

HTH.

alexander_ktn · 04/02/2015, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamNC

On using the Dremel is there a chance to heat up the stem too much or does it pretty much slice right through? And what speed is best to use, higher rpm or a lower rpm?

Most of these corals like bubble coral have a solid outer hull that's about 2-3 mm thick and inside they are very delicate, so if you cut around it's no problem to break the 2 parts apart afterwards.

I usually use higher rpms and try to keep the cut moderately wet with tank water. You don't want to cut through the large fleshy tissue section, so I don't think overheating is much of a problem.

billdogg · 04/02/2015, 10:57 AM

What all of them said. One thing they didn't say - WEAR EYE PROTECTION!!!

Especially when using a dremel, tiny bits are going to fly around. If a fragment of skeleton ends up in your eye it will not be any fun at all!

How to frag birdsnest: Pull overgrown birdsnest out of tank. Drop onto table top. Repeat if you didn't drop it hard enough. Glue various pieces to plugs and call it a day.

Sk8r · 04/02/2015, 11:02 AM

Oh, ABSOLUTELY! Thank you, billdogg! This is serious stuff. A tiny bit of living coral in the eye can cause all sorts of very serious harm. Wear goggles and don't wipe your eyes.

04/02/2015, 01:43 AM	#1
One fish Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Springfield Va Posts: 297	Is cutting corals easy? making frags I have a green frog spawn that is getting super big and I would rather have two smaller ones than one big one. I have never seen anyone "frag" or cut a coral. Is this safe to do? Does anyone know the percentage chance I will lose it or how to do it? Thanks a bunch. FullSizeRender.jpg

04/02/2015, 10:23 AM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If you buy branching corals, it's even easier. They will break in your hands. Just be sure you don't crack any head with live tissue and damage that. But I've broken up a basketball-sized hammer colony with just mild hand pressure, easier than breaking a raw carrot. Since there's no tissue involved, it's a clean break and doesn't tend to develop problems. __________________ 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%.

04/02/2015, 10:57 AM	#11
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	What all of them said. One thing they didn't say - WEAR EYE PROTECTION!!! Especially when using a dremel, tiny bits are going to fly around. If a fragment of skeleton ends up in your eye it will not be any fun at all! How to frag birdsnest: Pull overgrown birdsnest out of tank. Drop onto table top. Repeat if you didn't drop it hard enough. Glue various pieces to plugs and call it a day. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

04/02/2015, 11:02 AM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Oh, ABSOLUTELY! Thank you, billdogg! This is serious stuff. A tiny bit of living coral in the eye can cause all sorts of very serious harm. Wear goggles and don't wipe your eyes. __________________ 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%.

04/02/2015, 03:22 AM	#2
alexander_ktn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austria Posts: 851	When I cut large fleshy corals with a massive base like this, I first dip the coral in an iodine dip, then cut the skeleton with a dremel, making sure I don't damage the flesh too much. When the pieces of the corals only hang together by its flesh I cut that with a scalpel. (Some leave it together and just move the pieces apart a little bit each day so that the coral separates it's tissue on its own.) If both pieces have mouths and are placed back into the tank they came from to heal, I would not expect fatalities.

04/02/2015, 06:46 AM	#3
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	Frogspawn is one of the easiest corals to frag. Swish it in the water a bit to make the heads retract, then take the coral out of the tank upside down. I have the Ecotech frag kit which has some beefy bone cutters. Snips frogspawn like nothing. Just cut the heads off, leaving lots of branch so not to damage them. Glue the frags to something, done. Check out youtube, lots of videos on there. You can use a dremel to get a smooth cut, but I glue to rocks, and the bone cutters are way quicker. You should have 0 fatalities.

04/02/2015, 06:49 AM	#4
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	I just cut the skeleton part with bone cutters, away from the fleshy part. I've never had any losses this way.

04/02/2015, 07:44 AM	#5
noj3333 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 235	I like a dremel power tool with a diamond wheel. I already had the dremel so the only thing I had to buy was the cutting wheel.

04/02/2015, 10:05 AM	#6
AdamNC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 849	On using the Dremel is there a chance to heat up the stem too much or does it pretty much slice right through? And what speed is best to use, higher rpm or a lower rpm?