no experience fragging-pic included-is this possible?

[giants4pc]

This may be a stupid question for experienced SPS keepers. However, I just started collected frags a few months ago and this piece has grown so quickly. I love it, but it takes up too much room in my 90. It spans a good 7" in diameter. Is it possible to break it and put it in several areas in the tank? I know it's a great piece, but it doesn't really look natural sitting on the bottom center of the tank. Any experiences...

 

[JamesJR]

Sure it is.

 

[Sk8r]

I'd break the right section off, as per photo, stick that in a nook between two rocks, and you can use your judgement whether to frag the other half into 2-3 pieces. Your local reef shop should give you credit on those if you do. Montipora frags go pretty readily: it frags a lot, but there are a lot of customers. It will break very easily to decisive pressure, as if you were breaking a loaf of french bread. If it breaks otherwise, hey, call it serendipity, use superglue and attach various bits to various rocks and distribute as useful.

 

[menard]

Yup! If U can? Take the whole colony out U use a DREMEL to slice'em it would be awesome. If not U can use the sharp tip of the knife, It will crack then separate. Or surgical bone cutters.

 

[theatrus]

Surgical bone cutters are best. They're basicly stainless steel wire cutters. But the dremel will avoid shattering and is also an option. You're looking for a clean break between the two pieces to speed recovery.

 

[REEF-DADDY]

Those things are really fragile. The dremel would be best IME.

 

[Justin/TiV]

If I were you I wouldn't frag it just yet...especially with the idea of putting it in several spots...it will grow fast in those spots too...

If it were me I'd leave it alone...it will start to curl and twist from here prolly...and that is the neat part IMO

 

[Cody Ray]

If and when u want to frag it use the dremel to score the back, then snap the piece. However if some of the tissue is still conected don't just tear it use something sharp to cut it. Also try to avoid cutting the tissue with the dremel. The tissue will heal quicker if cut rather than ripped or cut with the dremel. Montipora don't have a very thick layer of flesh so I don't think this will be an issue.

 

[bogg]

I would just move it if you dont like it on the bottom. Are their other larger colonies in the tank or is this the only one. If so you might want to frag. This monti does look brittle so grabing onto the side of it with pliers or dikes, bone cutters, then applying pressure away from the coral might leave you with a frag that you might not like how it came out. I do like the dremel idea. Would be very presice.

 

[reefdood]

If it were me, I'd rearrange the whole tank to fit it in somewhere where it can grow on, as is.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Yeah, I wouldn't frag it and move it around simply because it'll continue to grow fast and you'll have a few 7 inch dinner plates in your tank then

 

[Hef]

It's just a cap, it will break very easily with just your fingers.

As everyone says, leave it as is. The beauty of a cap is to let it grow naturally. You can never frag it and have it look good, although with time it will recover and look fine.

One little tip - As it grows it will hide parts of it from the light, and it will lose color. Frag this part - it doesnt take anything away from the look of the main colony and it will recover nicely into a new piece.

 

[rtbm]

I learned if you plan to put more coral in your tank, that splitting up something especialy a cap and putting all over will quickly fill up spaces that could have been a for different coral. Unless you put them on rocks you can move or take out. Not thinking ahead I just glued them right to my larger rocks and wish that I wouldn't have. So unless you really really like that cap and want to see alot of it in your tank I would keep it together. Just my opinion though.

 

[giants4pc]

thanks-advice is well taken...I rearranged some rock and found a nice spot for it.

 

[Frankysreef]

I have one that is almost 2 feet wide right now, you will frag eventually....

Break it with you hand...