View Full Version : Has anyone tried hanging frags?
Tagamet
01/05/2004, 10:41 PM
Has anyone tried hanging frags? Anthony Calfo talks about it in his coral propagation book, so I thought I'd give it a shot. No sense wasting tank space!
Here are the initial pic and a pic about 2 months later:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21439&papass=&sort=1&size=medium&thecat=
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21440&papass=&sort=1&size=medium&thecat=
Not an awful lot of growth, but it has colored up well. It's only recently that I've gotten my CA and alk up to where it should have been all along, so that may help the growth. I assume that the coloring up happened because of better current, since it colored up within 2 weeks of hanging it (before the CA and Alk came up)
What do you think?
Tagamet
nancysnuwave
01/06/2004, 11:58 AM
I think it looks like a go.. It seems that SPS guys always pause for awhile w/ a move (in my limited experience).
Question.. how to affix this puppy down the road?
Tagamet
01/06/2004, 12:05 PM
Originally posted by nancysnuwave
I think it looks like a go.. It seems that SPS guys always pause for awhile w/ a move (in my limited experience).
Question.. how to affix this puppy down the road?
I'm hoping that I'll have two options. Either break a piece (or pieces) off the way any frag would be, and then epoxy the pieces to small pieces of rubble to grow. Or just epoxy the whole thing to a piece of rubble. I think the first way will be better, since I might lose less coral to epoxy.
Tagamet
nancysnuwave
01/06/2004, 12:48 PM
Originally posted by Tagamet
epoxy.
What 'fer epoxy do you use?
Tagamet
01/06/2004, 12:53 PM
Originally posted by nancysnuwave
What 'fer epoxy do you use?
ByTor gave me a tube, but it doesn't have a brand name on it. I hope I wasn't supposed to smoke it....
Tagamet
nancysnuwave
01/06/2004, 12:55 PM
Originally posted by Tagamet
I hope I wasn't supposed to smoke it....
reminds me of school days of sniffing Elmer's (or was that ) smoking gunpowder?!
Tagamet
01/06/2004, 01:01 PM
Originally posted by nancysnuwave
reminds me of school days of sniffing Elmer's (or was that ) smoking gunpowder?!
Lose a lot of teeth that way...
Tagamet
GarSrtn
01/06/2004, 06:18 PM
Wow. Seven posts to go from hanging frags, to smoking epoxy, to sniffing gunpowder. That has got to be some kind of record. No wonder we refer to ourselves as reefers. :D
Bill King
01/06/2004, 06:25 PM
If our brain cells were un-damaged, we would not be involved in this hobby.
Bill
Tagamet
01/06/2004, 08:10 PM
Originally posted by GarSrtn
Wow. Seven posts to go from hanging frags, to smoking epoxy, to sniffing gunpowder. That has got to be some kind of record. No wonder we refer to ourselves as reefers. :D
What. Oh, sorry, drifted off there...
Tagamet
Snookie
01/07/2004, 08:17 AM
I agree with Bill. :smokin: :D :smokin: :cool:
Tagamet
01/07/2004, 08:29 AM
Originally posted by Snookie
I agree with Bill. :smokin: :D :smokin: :cool:
About what?
Tagamet
Tagamet
01/07/2004, 08:32 AM
Originally posted by GarSrtn
Wow. Seven posts to go from hanging frags, to smoking epoxy, to sniffing gunpowder. That has got to be some kind of record. No wonder we refer to ourselves as reefers. :D
No, silly, it was sniffing Elmer's and smoking gunpowder.
Tagamet
nancysnuwave
01/07/2004, 12:38 PM
Originally posted by Tagamet
No, silly, it was sniffing Elmer's gunpowder.
Sorry.. seemed like the two went together.. massive congestion, and the ultimate unblocker.........................................
Meanwhile, back at the ranch..... back to hanging frags.. what's the latest, tag?
cbonito
01/07/2004, 12:49 PM
Tagamet,
This is a strange concept.
It has always been my understanding that a frag likes to know it's secure with no movement before it will grow.
I can understand that this situation wouldn't affect digitata, as I have pieces all over the tank. Also Digitata tips color up easily under intense light.
The real test would be to hang a piece of acropora, and see what happens. I'd be curious to see the results of that. Does the book have any examples of this using a piece of acropora?
Ocean Image
01/07/2004, 01:11 PM
I have hung a few acro frags. At the time I didn't have a camera, so no pics. I used fishing line that was quickly grown over. They grew nicely as they swayed in the current. The whole colony was covered with flesh. Once it got to be about 3" round I cut the string, and sat it on a piece of LR. I scratched the rock clean where the flesh was in contact with it. Within 1.5 weeks the coral took hold of the rock and was attached. Now it has a big encrusted mat under the colony.
Tagamet
01/07/2004, 01:13 PM
Originally posted by nancysnuwave
...Meanwhile, back at the ranch..... back to hanging frags.. what's the latest, tag?
What frags...
Tagamet
Tagamet
01/07/2004, 01:16 PM
Originally posted by cbonito
Tagamet,
This is a strange concept.
It has always been my understanding that a frag likes to know it's secure with no movement before it will grow.
I can understand that this situation wouldn't affect digitata, as I have pieces all over the tank. Also Digitata tips color up easily under intense light.
The real test would be to hang a piece of acropora, and see what happens. I'd be curious to see the results of that. Does the book have any examples of this using a piece of acropora?
I have a piece of ByTor's acro hanging in the other tank, and it's grown 2 small branches at the tip.
Tagamet
nancysnuwave
01/07/2004, 01:16 PM
My bad,
I was thinking that this was your frag
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21439&papass=&sort=1&size=medium&thecat=
nancysnuwave
01/07/2004, 01:40 PM
Originally posted by Tagamet
I have a piece of ByTor's acro hanging in the other tank, and it's grown 2 small branches at the tip.
Tagamet
Ah.. that was both the question and answer.. frags are growing.. I think (prior to the gunpowder) you'd said that they'd colored up well.
Tagamet
01/07/2004, 01:58 PM
Originally posted by nancysnuwave
Ah.. that was both the question and answer.. frags are growing.. I think (prior to the gunpowder) you'd said that they'd colored up well.
That too.
Tagamet
GarSrtn
01/07/2004, 06:30 PM
Any issues with the frags being too close to the light? No problems with fishies poking at things hanging on strings?
Originally posted by Tagamet
No, silly, it was sniffing Elmer's and smoking gunpowder.
Tagamet
Short term memory loss...
'Sides, if you sniff the glue before the gunpowder, the granules stick in your nostrils.
Tagamet
01/07/2004, 07:49 PM
Originally posted by GarSrtn
Any issues with the frags being too close to the light? No problems with fishies poking at things hanging on strings?
Nope on both counts. I did try hanging some at different "depths", but the "deeper" ones didn't do well (yet), and there was initially a bigger problem with the threads tangling. If you try it, make sure the threads or monfilaments are well seperated. I used 100% polyester thread, because it's a lot easier to tie knots in it than mono and it doesn't rot either.
I have another little experiment going where I cut off the bottom of a 3 liter (diet) Pepsi bottle and then cut a slot on both sides from the bottom to near the top. I glued a few of frags to it and hung it over the top edge of the tank. There doesn't seem to be much difference in the growth of these frags (from that of the other frags), but it does have the advantage of using unused tank space. Maybe I should have used Diet Coke bottles. It's really tough getting a decent picture of this setup.
Tagamet
nancysnuwave
01/08/2004, 09:25 AM
Tag..
I think we're all interested in growth rates of these puppies.. if similar to 'fixed', well, so much the better..
btw. .sounds as if you are saying that one drawback of the system is the twisting of strings around each other, preventing one from putting them really close together?
Snookie
01/08/2004, 09:28 AM
Tag, I think you should use a COPPER swivel. :D :D :D
Tagamet
01/08/2004, 11:36 AM
Originally posted by nancysnuwave
Tag..
I think we're all interested in growth rates of these puppies.. if similar to 'fixed', well, so much the better..
btw. .sounds as if you are saying that one drawback of the system is the twisting of strings around each other, preventing one from putting them really close together?
Yes, the first time I hung some they tangled worse than helium balloons in a wind storm. I had to start all over. Spaced 2 inches or more apart - no problem.
Snookie: Ok, Snickers, I'll be right over to try it in your new reef. You should have lots of room. If not now, you will after the copper...
Tagamet
Snookie
01/08/2004, 11:41 AM
I think your 240 would make a nice wishing well. Or an Olympic size swimming pool. I'll bring my pennies and swim trunks. :D
Tagamet
01/08/2004, 11:43 AM
Originally posted by Snookie
I think your 240 would make a nice wishing well. Or an Olympic size swimming pool. I'll bring my pennies and swim trunks. :D
I'll get the electric hair dryer all warmed up to join you in there...
Tagamet
Snookie
01/08/2004, 11:48 AM
No, you go first...
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
I almost bought the farm yesterday when I unplugged an arcing heater and power strip while standing in saltwater as it back-siphoned out of a powerhead all over the floor. :eek2: It gave me an excuse to order a 500w heater. :mad: Now that I think of it, I think I'll be needing those pennies. :rolleyes:
Tagamet
01/08/2004, 12:39 PM
Originally posted by Snookie
No, you go first...
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
I almost bought the farm yesterday when I unplugged an arcing heater and power strip while standing in saltwater as it back-siphoned out of a powerhead all over the floor. :eek2: It gave me an excuse to order a 500w heater. :mad: Now that I think of it, I think I'll be needing those pennies. :rolleyes:
Where are your GFI outlets????
BTW, get two 250 W heaters.
Tagamet
Snookie
01/08/2004, 12:47 PM
BTW, get two 250 W heaters.
Thanks! I just changed the order in time.
Where are your GFI outlets????
My blow dryer is hooked up to my GFI. :D
Anthony Calfo
01/08/2004, 02:45 PM
there are some great threads with pics and discussion at length in the ReefCentral archives on this topic if interested :)
I apologize for the brief reply with little else to add, but I just got back from a trip and am catching up with mail.
kind regards :)
Anthony
Tagamet
01/08/2004, 07:00 PM
Originally posted by Anthony Calfo
there are some great threads with pics and discussion at length in the ReefCentral archives on this topic if interested :)
I apologize for the brief reply with little else to add, but I just got back from a trip and am catching up with mail.
kind regards :)
Anthony
Thanks, Anthony. As with most threads within this group "convuluted" is the key term (g), but what term do I search on to find threads about thie hanging propagation techniques? Probably "Calfo" would be a good start...
Tagamet
Anthony Calfo
01/08/2004, 08:08 PM
I did a quick search with the term frag suspension" and got these threads:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=107664&highlight=suspension+frag
and
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80920&highlight=suspension+frag
and
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=269005&highlight=suspension+frag
and
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=89381&highlight=suspension+frag
I also have an article archived on Reefkeeping e-zine with some pics on this topic (last summer?)
Hope it helps my friend :)
Anthony
Tagamet
01/08/2004, 08:31 PM
Originally posted by Anthony Calfo
I did a quick search with the term frag suspension" and got these threads:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=107664&highlight=suspension+frag
and
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80920&highlight=suspension+frag
and
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=269005&highlight=suspension+frag
and
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=89381&highlight=suspension+frag
I also have an article archived on Reefkeeping e-zine with some pics on this topic (last summer?)
Hope it helps my friend :)
Anthony
Thanks. I tried searching on "Calfo AND hanging", but all I found were threads where they wanted to hang you (jK!).
Tagamet
Anthony Calfo
01/08/2004, 09:03 PM
heehee... I need to start throwing more tips and bribe money about apparently :D
best of luck, my friend.
Anthony
Tagamet
01/08/2004, 09:29 PM
Originally posted by Anthony Calfo
heehee... I need to start throwing more tips and bribe money about apparently :D
best of luck, my friend.
Anthony
I'll pm you my paypal address....
Tagamet
musicsmaker
01/09/2004, 09:56 AM
I remember at one time Rob (holeinone1972) had a bunch of frags hanging in a corner tank down in his basement. I should be making a trip up there tomorrow, so I will ask him how it went. Er, maybe he will see this thread?
Tagamet
01/09/2004, 11:03 PM
I took a closer look at the digita frags on the pepsi continer last night and they ahve grown *considerably* since I mounted them. Took some pics tonight, but haven't downloaded or "shrunk" them yet. I'll probably post them in my gallery tomorrow. The one frag went from about a quarter of an inch to 3/4 - 1 inch now. Pretty cool!
Tagamet
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