HMR Presents: Fun with Fragging ep. 2 - Xenia

[tekknoschtev]

Originally I had posted this in the lounge, but I realized that these episodes were more appropriately placed in the frag tank and in reality, I think more people who are interested in learning how to frag will visit here.

It was reccomended that I setup an RSS feed for these, but I haven't had the time to do so between class wrapping up, work and everything associated with that, but eventually, it'll get done. For now, I present.

Homemade Reef presents: Fun with Fragging 1x02 Xenia:
In this episode, we learn a few methods to frag xenia, as well as how to attach the frags so that they may grow into full sized colonies.
You can download the episode here Approx. size - 8.1mb.

As always I appreciate any feedback or questions. I plan on doing a question and answer episode once I have enough questions so feel free to ask away.

 

[c.rob]

Have you had any trouble with the Coral attaching to the veil.I have only used rubber bands placed directly on the frag.

 

[hamburglar]

Both work fine for me, but I started using the rubber bands after a while. I found out that by not cutting the xenia, it will attach in 3-4 days and then reach a sellable, upright, and healthy condition in 2 weeks.

For mass production, grow the xenia on glass. Then all you have to do is remove individual stalks by scraping them loose with your thumb nail. Rubberband to rock, and your selling within 2 weeks. A mother colony of 100-200 stalks can produce about 10-20 stalks per week.

I am not trying to say that tekknoschtev is wrong in anyway. His method for cutting works just fine, and is recommended when the Xenia is already attached to a rock. His clean cuts are much better than trying to tear the stalk loose.

Thanks tekknoschtev for taking the time to make that video!

 

[tekknoschtev]

I have had a few instances with the xenia attaching to the veil, but with the flow I have in my frag tank and in the display I find it hard to find a spot where the xenia wont weasle its way out of just a rubberband.

Hamburglar, I wish I had more time to think through the video and shoot the different methods (and will likely be doing a revisit of fragging xenia in the future) because, actually I have found greater success in placing rubble near the colony and then letting it grow nto that, but for some reason I didn't include that I also agree with the mass production glass being ideal.

Thanks for the suggestions and compliments. I'm going to see about borrowing work's camera for future episodes, because the color and quality of this one is kind of.... lacking. I'll probably be reshooting some episodes at that point too but that will probably be when I have my prop system setup at the house by school, for these ones I went home for them so I was on a limited time-line and hence, I rushed a bit too much and in this case, overlooked a few different methods that even in my show notes I wanted to include

 

[Mishap]

When I fragged my xenia, I sliced it off the rock with a razor blade. Then I stuck a tooth pick through the bottom of the stalk and rubberbanded the toothpick to the rubble. It attatched fully and removed itself from the toothpick within a week an a half.