Mountain of tiny frags

[karimwassef]

A buddy of mine was tearing his reef down and I got most of his corals and rocks. Lots of branch breaking and plate snapping due to the size

So. At the bottom of the bucket was a heap of tiny frags from 1" to 0.25"... All alive and glowing

They're all in the tank in a calm corner but I need to do something quick and need advice.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/66B7CE3E-19F8-4751-AE52-B36A3B701DBA_zpshs5ofuhm.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/66B7CE3E-19F8-4751-AE52-B36A3B701DBA_zpshs5ofuhm.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 66B7CE3E-19F8-4751-AE52-B36A3B701DBA_zpshs5ofuhm.jpg"/></a>

I can start gluing them to little rocks and frag holders but there's no way I'll be able to put them all back in. Do I try to group them by species and put all the same species on a rock? Just lay a coating of superglue and drop them all on the rock?

This also looks like a mountain of work.

Great day for my tank! But help!! Bit off more than I can chew.

 

[karimwassef]

Also, I have a massive surge system (offline now). Unless everything is fastened down, it'll get blown away once I activate my surge again.

 

[karimwassef]

I'm not good at identifying them all either. I'll take pics of the parent colonies

 

[undertai]

Glue them all to 1 rock and see what happens.

 

[karimwassef]

Isn't that ultra violent?

Won't the green slimmer just destroy all else?

I guess I could take one massive rock and glue all the frags far enough to give them room?

 

[karimwassef]

Can you help me identify the parent colonies?

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/EEDB0C4A-690D-4A35-B2DE-CD4BDB226700_zpsu1tal4td.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/EEDB0C4A-690D-4A35-B2DE-CD4BDB226700_zpsu1tal4td.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo EEDB0C4A-690D-4A35-B2DE-CD4BDB226700_zpsu1tal4td.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/1D65E4F2-3750-4E0D-9B6E-889CD8A524FE_zpsx8pjf9ph.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/1D65E4F2-3750-4E0D-9B6E-889CD8A524FE_zpsx8pjf9ph.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1D65E4F2-3750-4E0D-9B6E-889CD8A524FE_zpsx8pjf9ph.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/60317A65-64E9-40BA-8644-4FDE870B018A_zps81ldhcaq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/60317A65-64E9-40BA-8644-4FDE870B018A_zps81ldhcaq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 60317A65-64E9-40BA-8644-4FDE870B018A_zps81ldhcaq.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/D2570F29-0908-45E0-82E6-4F1D98A22689_zpsa1g2eqyv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/D2570F29-0908-45E0-82E6-4F1D98A22689_zpsa1g2eqyv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo D2570F29-0908-45E0-82E6-4F1D98A22689_zpsa1g2eqyv.jpg"/></a>

This one has two:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/F3378B27-96B2-4F44-804F-058A64458428_zpsuhbhqydu.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/F3378B27-96B2-4F44-804F-058A64458428_zpsuhbhqydu.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo F3378B27-96B2-4F44-804F-058A64458428_zpsuhbhqydu.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/21021377-0103-46F1-BF12-860DC7FBC845_zpsmcudetbf.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/21021377-0103-46F1-BF12-860DC7FBC845_zpsmcudetbf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 21021377-0103-46F1-BF12-860DC7FBC845_zpsmcudetbf.jpg"/></a>

Some frags don't look like any of the parents...? Spot any?

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/FB189BBF-F930-494E-ABA1-D8D38656BF5E_zpskqedkhrl.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/FB189BBF-F930-494E-ABA1-D8D38656BF5E_zpskqedkhrl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo FB189BBF-F930-494E-ABA1-D8D38656BF5E_zpskqedkhrl.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

They're all in a bit of rough shape. Should I break off the dead cores or wait a few weeks to see which are alive?

 

[ajcanale]

They're all in a bit of rough shape. Should I break off the dead cores or wait a few weeks to see which are alive?

Yes. There are a lot of portions with large patches of no flesh. These portions will not grow back.

 

[ajcanale]

Can you help me identify the parent colonies?

Montipora capricornis
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/EEDB0C4A-690D-4A35-B2DE-CD4BDB226700_zpsu1tal4td.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/EEDB0C4A-690D-4A35-B2DE-CD4BDB226700_zpsu1tal4td.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo EEDB0C4A-690D-4A35-B2DE-CD4BDB226700_zpsu1tal4td.jpg"/></a>

Montipora spongodes
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/1D65E4F2-3750-4E0D-9B6E-889CD8A524FE_zpsx8pjf9ph.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/1D65E4F2-3750-4E0D-9B6E-889CD8A524FE_zpsx8pjf9ph.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1D65E4F2-3750-4E0D-9B6E-889CD8A524FE_zpsx8pjf9ph.jpg"/></a>

Possibly Acropora nana or Acropora valida
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/60317A65-64E9-40BA-8644-4FDE870B018A_zps81ldhcaq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/60317A65-64E9-40BA-8644-4FDE870B018A_zps81ldhcaq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 60317A65-64E9-40BA-8644-4FDE870B018A_zps81ldhcaq.jpg"/></a>

Some type of Acropora... possibly Horrida... It's really unidentifiable in this poor condition IMO
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/D2570F29-0908-45E0-82E6-4F1D98A22689_zpsa1g2eqyv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/D2570F29-0908-45E0-82E6-4F1D98A22689_zpsa1g2eqyv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo D2570F29-0908-45E0-82E6-4F1D98A22689_zpsa1g2eqyv.jpg"/></a>

This one has two:

Seriatopora hystrix
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/F3378B27-96B2-4F44-804F-058A64458428_zpsuhbhqydu.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/F3378B27-96B2-4F44-804F-058A64458428_zpsuhbhqydu.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo F3378B27-96B2-4F44-804F-058A64458428_zpsuhbhqydu.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/21021377-0103-46F1-BF12-860DC7FBC845_zpsmcudetbf.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/21021377-0103-46F1-BF12-860DC7FBC845_zpsmcudetbf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 21021377-0103-46F1-BF12-860DC7FBC845_zpsmcudetbf.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

But isn't it better to leave it attached so the coral can maybe grow back onto the old skeleton?

 

[karimwassef]

The last three are all seriatapora? The next to parts pic has one coral on the left and another to the right.

 

[karimwassef]

Thanks for the names! Any common names?

I know the seriatapora is birdsnest and the acropora is staghorn. Right?

 

[ajcanale]

But isn't it better to leave it attached so the coral can maybe grow back onto the old skeleton?

Simple answer is that this doesn't happen really, especially when considering the large amount of dead portions.

 

[ajcanale]

Thanks for the names! Any common names?

I know the seriatapora is birdsnest and the acropora is staghorn. Right?

Seriatopora's are commonly refereed to birdsnests, yes. Staghorn refers to certain species of branching acroporas, but not acroporas in general.

 

[karimwassef]

So how do I discern the fully dead areas from the barely living?

This seriatapora has a ton of branches. If I break off the dead base and branches, I'd have 15 branches. So I just create a new colony by gluing them all to anew rock?

Also, do I cut below the living tissue or into it so it grows onto the rock?
Do I glue the branches flat to they becomes a base for more branches or horizontally so they grow up and out?

I've usually glued frags that were accidentally broken. Intentional fragging is new to me.
Here's my recent attachment :

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/24A421FD-4DC2-4EF3-B15E-F2A4C44F0EE0_zps8eedmdhf.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/24A421FD-4DC2-4EF3-B15E-F2A4C44F0EE0_zps8eedmdhf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 24A421FD-4DC2-4EF3-B15E-F2A4C44F0EE0_zps8eedmdhf.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

What's this one?

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/B95D172E-6D4F-48A7-9158-D31274500874_zpsbuf4wpl5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/B95D172E-6D4F-48A7-9158-D31274500874_zpsbuf4wpl5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo B95D172E-6D4F-48A7-9158-D31274500874_zpsbuf4wpl5.jpg"/></a>

What's living? There's red branches, green branches, white branches, brown branches, a different green and a tan...

 

[Piper27]

I am wondering what happened to all the corals? They look like they have been completely neglected. Also second thought would be to watch out for pests since all the corals look so bad. Good luck, I am sure you will get a couple free frags of some nice beginner corals that are easy to take care of.

 

[karimwassef]

He was going through a rough time and the tank was neglected for a year. He literally didn't live there...

Automatic pellet feeder and decent equipment kept things going on auto mode...

 

[karimwassef]

So I thought that unnamed coral was all dead except for the brown, but the tan, white and green glowed under UV. The red didnt so I think that's algae.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/B95D172E-6D4F-48A7-9158-D31274500874_zpsbuf4wpl5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/B95D172E-6D4F-48A7-9158-D31274500874_zpsbuf4wpl5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo B95D172E-6D4F-48A7-9158-D31274500874_zpsbuf4wpl5.jpg"/></a>

The green glowed less than the brown though.

So now I'm hesitant to cut off any of the pieces.

 

[karimwassef]

Also... What's this? It grows straight up in thin fragile branches?

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/21021377-0103-46F1-BF12-860DC7FBC845_zpsmcudetbf.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/21021377-0103-46F1-BF12-860DC7FBC845_zpsmcudetbf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 21021377-0103-46F1-BF12-860DC7FBC845_zpsmcudetbf.jpg"/></a>

Also- is this acropora a "green slimer"?
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/D2570F29-0908-45E0-82E6-4F1D98A22689_zpsa1g2eqyv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/D2570F29-0908-45E0-82E6-4F1D98A22689_zpsa1g2eqyv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo D2570F29-0908-45E0-82E6-4F1D98A22689_zpsa1g2eqyv.jpg"/></a>