rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Ok I have some zoa I need to frag. What's the best way?
Best way to frag zoa
- Thread starter rogergolf66
- Start date
A. Grandis
Active member
1) Get goggles, gloves and close your mouth to prevent any problems with palytoxin!!! Many people don't really care about the protections, but that's the right way to do!!
Make sure you do the whole process in a safe area, where specially kids and pets won't be around. All the tools and materials should be really well cleaned after the process is done and make sure all surfaces are also cleaned afterwards. Avoid the kitchen!
2) Remove the rock with the zoas from the tank and use a sharp knife/scissors to peel them off the rock.
The more polyps you have per frag the better!!!
In fact I would suggest you to plan cutting the polyps in order to fit the same size of the top area of the plug, as much as you can.
You can use a sharp pointed knife to remove them from the rocks slowly. Take your time and be safe, they can stay out of the water for longer than you think. Be careful not to rip them off the rock, but slowly remove the flesh without any injuries.
You should try your best to cut between the polyps when selecting them.
If you want to cut them with the piece of rock attached to them you can use those bone cutters they sell as "fragging tools".
You should leave some polyps on the rock, so they can grow back.
3) Once you get the zoas cut how you want you dip them to prevent infections and then glue them on the plugs. I use Lugol's solution to dip (8-10 oz tank water and 3-5 drops of Lugols' for 3-5 min). People also use ReVive and other types for the dippings...
4) After you glue them to the plugs you leave them alone in the same system they came from and just keep watching for possible infections. Most of the time you'll need to act fast when a frag is infected to dip and prevent it to go any further.
5) If they morph please don't give'm any cartoon names!!! LOL! :spin3:
I believe all zoa farmers should follow this process!!! :thumbsup:
Good luck!
Grandis.
Make sure you do the whole process in a safe area, where specially kids and pets won't be around. All the tools and materials should be really well cleaned after the process is done and make sure all surfaces are also cleaned afterwards. Avoid the kitchen!
2) Remove the rock with the zoas from the tank and use a sharp knife/scissors to peel them off the rock.
The more polyps you have per frag the better!!!
In fact I would suggest you to plan cutting the polyps in order to fit the same size of the top area of the plug, as much as you can.
You can use a sharp pointed knife to remove them from the rocks slowly. Take your time and be safe, they can stay out of the water for longer than you think. Be careful not to rip them off the rock, but slowly remove the flesh without any injuries.
You should try your best to cut between the polyps when selecting them.
If you want to cut them with the piece of rock attached to them you can use those bone cutters they sell as "fragging tools".
You should leave some polyps on the rock, so they can grow back.
3) Once you get the zoas cut how you want you dip them to prevent infections and then glue them on the plugs. I use Lugol's solution to dip (8-10 oz tank water and 3-5 drops of Lugols' for 3-5 min). People also use ReVive and other types for the dippings...
4) After you glue them to the plugs you leave them alone in the same system they came from and just keep watching for possible infections. Most of the time you'll need to act fast when a frag is infected to dip and prevent it to go any further.
5) If they morph please don't give'm any cartoon names!!! LOL! :spin3:
I believe all zoa farmers should follow this process!!! :thumbsup:
Good luck!
Grandis.
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Thanks for info. Any specail tips for glueing? I have had them wiggle there way off the glue after a few days
A. Grandis
Active member
Yep!
The "be$$$t" glues aren't really different from the normal stuff sold!!!!
I came to the conclusion that Loctite gel (Home Depot) brand is one of the most reliable, less expensive and easily found. Others have said that too in another thread. I've tried other brands just to see if what they claim is really worthy. Nope, not worthy the extra money!
If you glue the polyps to new plugs you won't have many problems. Just make sure the part where you'll apply the glue is free of algae and detritus. Clean that really well! Dry the flesh prior to the glue application and glue to the plug out of the water and wait like 10/20 seconds before bring back to the tank. Choose an area with good water flow for the rack. Make sure you keep the plug in a safe place where it won't be knocked off.
If you want to glue the fragged zoas to an existing rock in the tank you'll need to clean the area (rock) really well with a tooth brush or similar tool. Apply the glue to the bottom of the zoas. Put the frag with the glue in the water and wait about 3 - 5 seconds before placing it on the cleaned rock. Hold it for 30 seconds without moving too much!
Happy zoaing!!!!
Grandis.
The "be$$$t" glues aren't really different from the normal stuff sold!!!!
I came to the conclusion that Loctite gel (Home Depot) brand is one of the most reliable, less expensive and easily found. Others have said that too in another thread. I've tried other brands just to see if what they claim is really worthy. Nope, not worthy the extra money!
If you glue the polyps to new plugs you won't have many problems. Just make sure the part where you'll apply the glue is free of algae and detritus. Clean that really well! Dry the flesh prior to the glue application and glue to the plug out of the water and wait like 10/20 seconds before bring back to the tank. Choose an area with good water flow for the rack. Make sure you keep the plug in a safe place where it won't be knocked off.
If you want to glue the fragged zoas to an existing rock in the tank you'll need to clean the area (rock) really well with a tooth brush or similar tool. Apply the glue to the bottom of the zoas. Put the frag with the glue in the water and wait about 3 - 5 seconds before placing it on the cleaned rock. Hold it for 30 seconds without moving too much!
Happy zoaing!!!!
Grandis.
A. Grandis
Active member
I use very sharp steel knives from Wall Mart and the bone cutters from BRS.
You're right, the razors/exacto knives are so fragile and dangerous!!
Besides, they get rusty in a second.
:thumbsup:
Grandis.
You're right, the razors/exacto knives are so fragile and dangerous!!
Besides, they get rusty in a second.
:thumbsup:
Grandis.
cowboy fan
New member
They do rust in seconds. After you glue them make sure they're in low flow orr no flow area for. A few days. You'll ee the base start to root out like a tree. Cutting them actually helps them multiply faster I think. I've glued the whole polyp before and growths was really slow.
A. Grandis
Active member
You simply choose how many polyps you want to frag out and try to cut between the polyps in order to divide them. Each remaining sub colony (also called daughter colonies) will grow out new polyps from it after healed.
Grandis.
