Best way to frag my duncan

[pammy]

Hi. I have a duncan that I'd like to frag to trade a head with another reefer. What is the best method of fragging it? I fragged it several months ago, but lost 2 heads in the process because I used wire cutters from home depot that someone suggested would be just as good as bone cutters. I ended up crushing two heads in the process of trying to frag off one. The 3rd head did beautifully after I fragged it. The whole colony looked very unhappy after I fragged it, but recovered quickly in a day or two. That was my first attempt at fragging anything.

My duncan colony is now attached to my live rock with aquamend. Should I buy specific bone cutters and try to frag it underwater inside my display, or should I detatch the colony off of the rock and use a dremel outside of the tank to frag off a head?

Any specific type of attachement that works best on a dremel to frag a hard LPS like a duncan?

Once you pull a coral off of live rock, how do you remove the hardened aquamend? I have a few LPS frags that didn't do well, and it seems impossible to remove the left over aquamend now from the rock.

Thanks, Pam

 

[stunreefer]

Duncans can be like Caulastrea sp. (candy cane) when trying to frag in that their skeletons will sometimes crush like that. You can frag them with side-cutters (wire cutters), but you have to be carefull and do it at the right angle to prevent crushing etc., etc. To avoid this cut further down towards the base (away from head), and choose a branch thats skinny (wider ones will crush no matter what). Your better method will be to use a dremel. I dont remember what the attachment is called, but it looks like a little circular saw.

In regards to bone cutters, any other side-cutters will do the same thing if used in the same manner.

To remove the excess aquamend, just pry it off. Generally it'll just pop right off, but you could try prying with a flat-head, or just epoxy/glue another frag to it.

 

[pammy]

Thanks stunreefer !!

 

[andrewkw]

imo diamond wheel is your best bet. Bone cutters can shatter the skeleton as already mentioned.

I just fragged one yesterday and theres nothing else I'd use. I fragged about 5 seperate small frags and I only cut one head in half.

 

[pammy]

Thanks Andrew. I won't take a chance with bone cutters then. Off to buy a diamind cut wheel. I have a dremel kit with a million different attachments. Not sure if any are diamond cut wheels. Are they better than any other standard wheels that come in the dremel attachement kits?
Thanks again. Pam

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12803146#post12803146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by andrewkw
imo diamond wheel is your best bet. Bone cutters can shatter the skeleton as already mentioned.

I just fragged one yesterday and theres nothing else I'd use. I fragged about 5 seperate small frags and I only cut one head in half.

 

[Amoore311]

+1 for the diamond wheel.

Buddy of mine just fragged me off 2 heads from a large colony this passed Thursday and used the Diamond Wheel.

 

[andrewkw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12803245#post12803245 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pammy
Thanks Andrew. I won't take a chance with bone cutters then. Off to buy a diamind cut wheel. I have a dremel kit with a million different attachments. Not sure if any are diamond cut wheels. Are they better than any other standard wheels that come in the dremel attachement kits?
Thanks again. Pam

The standard cutting wheels will shatter probably.

Honestly the diamond wheel is the only attachment you'll ever need for fragging.

Try and find a larger wheel then the standard 3/4" dremel one. Auto part stores are your best bet for finding the bigger wheel it makes cutting a lot easier. However the standard size wheel will also do.

 

[pammy]

I'll definitely try the diamond wheel. I felt so bad when I crushed two heads! Another had was badly damaged, but it completely healed itself (the mouth was intact. The colony is bigger and happier than ever.
Pam

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12803367#post12803367 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by andrewkw
The standard cutting wheels will shatter probably.

Honestly the diamond wheel is the only attachment you'll ever need for fragging.

Try and find a larger wheel then the standard 3/4" dremel one. Auto part stores are your best bet for finding the bigger wheel it makes cutting a lot easier. However the standard size wheel will also do.

 

[InLimbo87]

Are all the diamond wheels created equal for the dremels? Are there brands to watch out for that aren't good quality, or are they all the same? I know one person mentioned auto parts stores, where are most of you buying your wheels from?

Thanks!

 

[Sk8r]

Another tip: when fragging anything like fox, caulestra, etc, that has a hollow structure, cap the cut end with putty: prevents worms from finding a way in. While bristleworms are good guys, they can annoy the exposed 'foot' of such corals, and it's just best to protect it.

 

[Reefer07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12803146#post12803146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by andrewkw
imo diamond wheel is your best bet. Bone cutters can shatter the skeleton as already mentioned.

I just fragged one yesterday and theres nothing else I'd use. I fragged about 5 seperate small frags and I only cut one head in half.

Agreed. I believe you want to make a fast, clean cut.

 

[pammy]

I bought a diamond wheel cutter for my dremel last night, and fragged my duncan. That was MUCH MUCH easier and a much cleaner cut than using the wire cutters!! Thanks for the suggestion Andrew!!

Do you clean the wheel after using it to frag a coral? I should have bought it on ebay. It was $15 at Home Depot, and I see you can get 5 diamond cut wheels on ebay for less than that.

Pam

 

[ct_vol]

I rinse mine off and reuse them... I got the e bay special... Just make sure that it remains coated with the diamond dust... After it wears off, toss it and get a new one...

 

[pammy]

Thanks Randy.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12817735#post12817735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ct_vol
I rinse mine off and reuse them... I got the e bay special... Just make sure that it remains coated with the diamond dust... After it wears off, toss it and get a new one...