Acros: Do you let them grow into colonies before fragging?

[GARRIGA]

No sure if I'll be going acro but if I do then let them grow and trim, only if needed and then to spread to other parts. It's a hobby. Last I want is turning this into a business of necessity vs perhaps trading excess at my LFS or swap. Plus purpose to get a tank is to enjoy it in its full natural beauty vs all chopped up for cash.

 

[thirst]

time to frag the piece on the right

 

[jfitz78]

I used to be more excited to frag them up especially high value corals but now I just let them grow. Market is either too saturated or too thin I can barely give away Oregon torts here in MN.

I am up in Babbitt MN and will take your frags I will even drive to me you.

 

[Jeanette]

I used to be more excited to frag them up especially high value corals but now I just let them grow. Market is either too saturated or too thin I can barely give away Oregon torts here in MN.

Dang! I've been looking for a frag of Oregon tort for over a year now. Its a favorite of mine. I had a nice colony of it and lost it about 18 months ago. I'm in Des Moines, and haven't found anyone in Iowa with a colony of it to get a frag from.

 

[rsumner]

Oh, am I supposed to be trimming these sticks as they grow? I thought you were supposed to buy a bigger tank.

 

[David Gaskins]

Dang... I almost cry when I read such things..
here in my country I cannot even get my hands on a bali green slimer...
market is almost inexistent and I can only buy Maricultured stuff... its a shame..

Too bad you’re not in my neck of the woods. That’s one “Slimer”‘I have to cut back as it wants to grow up out of tank.
I Frag my colonies when they get larger and try and share/trade with our local club (Coastal Georgia Reef Club). In case something goes south with my setup, there’s always someone I can reach out to for a lifeline.

sincerely,

David

 

[Gatorpa]

I'd prefer to wait until they have a number of good sized arms before fragging.
Having said that, does fragging frequently seem to have an effect on how quickly the colony grows?

I find fraggin helps colonies grow and spurs them to split branches.

 

[Topekoms]

I frag as soon as a can but then place the frag near the colony so they grow together is and get bigger faster

 

[fishface NJ]

Old school...it must be a colony to share...but the colony has to grow just a little bit more before I'll trim it....no matter how big it gets it never big enough

 

[mattdg]

In my experience, fragging a frag or small colony is like trying to keep a small camp fire going by removing logs. The little fire will not have the fuel it needs to establish itself. SPS frags and colonies can take a year to acclimate to your specific parameters. While that is happening, it is compromised. Any fragging or paramter / lighting changes, during that time, will likely put the coral at risk, as it channels it's reduced resources towards healing the wound. This is not like in nature, where a fish or storm breaks pieces off that may eventually settle into ideal areas of a reef with the same parameters. This is why I generally only sell / trade frags that are well established on plugs.

That said, the best part of growing a frag into a colony is seeing the true growth forms and color that come with patience. Once settled, you can clip and bonsai your colonies all you want and share frags freely.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

I let them atleast get to a nice mini colony before any fragging. Like 4in diameter and multiple branches. And even then i only frag one or 2 pieces for a back up colony. When those pieces grow ill frag them sooner while i let the mother grow out and only frag the mother when necessary.

 

[Khalilkaram]

i start fragging if they will touch each other or if some one ask for a frag

 

[glennf]

I let them grow untill it's time to frag.

 

[k2reefer]

Anyone who feels the need to frag and toss them out can toss them into a shipping box and send them this way

 

[2Wheelsonly]

I have the same experience of others here, I generally would let them grow. Sometimes I frag and make a new colony somewhere else in my tank. I had a blue Palmer mili that grew into three softball sized colonies and a cherry bomb that grew into a basketball sized colony. I find trading them in exhausting and even if I give them away free people would always turn into high maintenance nightmares treating me like their personal tank support calling me at 3 am and stuff.

I usually end up throwing away frags of my cherry bomb, blue Palmer, pc rainbow and bill murray. I am forced to clip my bubblegum digi almost daily as it has turned into a weed.

I also feel large colonies tend to lose their beauty when they get too large. I feel all sps look their best right as they transition from frag to small colony beginnings. If I had my way my tank would be hundreds of different acropora that max grown to small golfball sized colonies.