Cranners
03-11-07, 11:03
Guide to fragging a gorgonian
I was shown this method from a fellow reefer who gave me my first gorgonian - a photosynthetic species which grows really well in most systems. Several members have very large specimens compared to mine but it has grown to the top of the tank and so it needs regularly pruning.
My gorgonian
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg_1_726.jpg
The equipment I use to produce frags from my gorgonian include scissors, small hand drill, plastic container (filled with tank water), super glue gel or milliput, tweezers, and small pieces of live rock/rubble/milliput
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg2zz6.jpg
Take cuttings from the branches from the main stem using the scissors.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg3ej7.jpg
Using the tweezers can help remove the fragged branch quickly into the plastic container
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg5yr4.jpg
The gorgonian will sulk and retract its polyps - this isn't a problem
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg4kd1.jpg
Superglue gel, hand drill and live rock
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg6oj0.jpg
Take the fragged branches and take off the coral rind or skin at the end of the fragment using your finger nails (much like stripping a wire end) to expose the core of the coral
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg7xf6.jpghttp://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg8hb0.jpg
Place the fragments back into the plastic container
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg9fe3.jpg
Drill out a small hole into your frag mounting or use a needle in setting milliput
Add a small blob of superglue gel into the top of the hole
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg10uy4.jpg
Place the core of the frag into the glue leaving a small gap between the rind or skin of the coral
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg11lw6.jpghttp://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg12wp8.jpg
A small piece of rock can be placed over the small hole to help keep the frag in place
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg13qz0.jpg
Place the mounted frag into the plastic container and then into the tank
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg14ou6.jpg
Place the frag on the substrate to settle in
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg15ys9.jpg
This will allow the frag to recover and its skin will grow down the core and onto the mounting
Like this previous frag
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg16gv4.jpg
_____________________
Jon
Copyright © 2007 UltimateReef.com (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=190134)
I was shown this method from a fellow reefer who gave me my first gorgonian - a photosynthetic species which grows really well in most systems. Several members have very large specimens compared to mine but it has grown to the top of the tank and so it needs regularly pruning.
My gorgonian
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg_1_726.jpg
The equipment I use to produce frags from my gorgonian include scissors, small hand drill, plastic container (filled with tank water), super glue gel or milliput, tweezers, and small pieces of live rock/rubble/milliput
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg2zz6.jpg
Take cuttings from the branches from the main stem using the scissors.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg3ej7.jpg
Using the tweezers can help remove the fragged branch quickly into the plastic container
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg5yr4.jpg
The gorgonian will sulk and retract its polyps - this isn't a problem
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg4kd1.jpg
Superglue gel, hand drill and live rock
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg6oj0.jpg
Take the fragged branches and take off the coral rind or skin at the end of the fragment using your finger nails (much like stripping a wire end) to expose the core of the coral
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg7xf6.jpghttp://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg8hb0.jpg
Place the fragments back into the plastic container
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg9fe3.jpg
Drill out a small hole into your frag mounting or use a needle in setting milliput
Add a small blob of superglue gel into the top of the hole
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg10uy4.jpg
Place the core of the frag into the glue leaving a small gap between the rind or skin of the coral
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg11lw6.jpghttp://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg12wp8.jpg
A small piece of rock can be placed over the small hole to help keep the frag in place
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg13qz0.jpg
Place the mounted frag into the plastic container and then into the tank
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg14ou6.jpg
Place the frag on the substrate to settle in
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg15ys9.jpg
This will allow the frag to recover and its skin will grow down the core and onto the mounting
Like this previous frag
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gorg16gv4.jpg
_____________________
Jon
Copyright © 2007 UltimateReef.com (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=190134)