fragging question

raynelly23 · #1 09/12/2004, 06:02 PM

im looking to frag pulsing xenia some time soon, this will be my first time ever fragging a coral so im a little nervice that something will go worng and I will kill it. Can someone explain to me how exactly you do this, what tools to use, and how big the coral has to be to frag, i have a pic in my gallery. Hopefuly someone could help me out.
Thanks
Ray

Aquatect · #2 09/12/2004, 06:10 PM

Xenia is pretty easy to do. There are a few ways to do it really.

I always useda the rip-and-band method. Rip a chunk right off the rock, and rubber band it to a small frag rock. After a little while it attaches and then cut the rubber band off. Then let the xenia attach the rest of the way. The whole process takes at most 2 weeks for me. I think this is the easiest and best way.

A more natural, but slower, way is to just put a rock next to your Xenia and let it grow right into it. I find thats the best technique for mushrooms, zoos or anytype of encrusting polyp.

You cant really superglue Xenia, but that works for stony corals after you just snap 'em.

cone9 · #3 09/12/2004, 06:19 PM

I use a needle and thread to loosely attach them to rock rubble. You can work with much smaller pieces of Xenia than you could secure with a rubber band. If you use rubber bands, be sure not to get them too tight on the coral or you cut through it and it floats away before it has a chance to attach.

raynelly23 · #4 09/12/2004, 06:20 PM

so you can just rip a brach right off of the base of the coral? You dont need to cut it with anything?

raynelly23 · #5 09/12/2004, 06:23 PM

o yeah how big does it have to be, there are probobly like 4 branches coming off and its about 4" tall

Aquatect · #6 09/12/2004, 06:29 PM

Mine ranged anywhere from half inch single stalks to 3in double or triples, doesnt matter as long as its big enough to band to a rock. As far as rippign them off, yea, I just peel from the base.

raynelly23 · #7 09/12/2004, 06:32 PM

wow that sounds easy enough...im gonna have to give it a try

reefmarker · #8 09/12/2004, 07:00 PM

What do you mean by pulsing xenia? The pinkish stuff is usually Xenia elongata and it will do fine with just about any method. The whiter stuff is Red Sea Xenia and it will die if you tear it off it's rock. The left behind will grow back though. With the Red Sea you have to get it to grow onto another rock and then cut it free from the original rock.

Michael7979 · #9 09/12/2004, 07:03 PM

Put some current at the xenia if you use the "rock next to" method it worked well for me.