question

[futureeyedoc]

Ok so this is going to make me sound like a total beginner, but I'm going to ask it anyways. I've fragged a couple of different types of corals before but never zoas unless they just fall off of a colony on their own. Right now I have probably 12-15 different large colonies btw my two tanks with anywhere from 35-150 polyps per frag. So needless to say I'd like to do some fragging.
What's the easiest/best way to frag zoas w/o obliterating the parent colony? Just rip them off a few polyps at a time? Cut them? Cut them 1/2 way up the stalk to the polyp? I've heard a lot of different opinions on this, just wondering what works best for most of you!

 

[timrandlerv10]

yes.

i've cut them in half horizontally (cool, but slow, tedious and the razor scared me using it that way). pulled polyps off because i could. put disks or rubble next to them, let them grow onto the new rock and then cut the rock free. chipped zoos off the rocking taking chunks of rock with them.

the only thing i heard that i did each time i messed with something was to do a small partial water change after or run some carbon to help keep it clean. dont know if thats necessary, but i did it anyway.

good luck

 

[8BALL_99]

Best way is to break the rock they are on or just place a rock beside them and let them grow onto it. A hammer and chisel makes short work of it.. If you have a old pair of PVC pipe cutters laying around they work pretty good cutting up smaller rocks.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I second a hammer and chisel for making a few small frags off the mother colony.

I am sure that some of you have seen this site before. It explains how to frag zoa including all the safety gears and tools that we should use. The advice is very sound and the technique is good.

Tomoko