Fragging Encrusting Corals?

[BlazinNano]

If you have encrusting corals say a Sunset Monti that is on a main rock that can not be removed from the tank, is there a way to frag it anyways? I just got a small frag of Sunset ad I don't know where to put it. I want to put it on one of my tonga branches but it can not be removed from the tank because it is one of the main support rocks. Should I put ti somewhere else for can I frag it when it gets bigger from inside the tank?

 

[BeakerBob]

If you have encrusting corals say a Sunset Monti that is on a main rock that can not be removed from the tank, is there a way to frag it anyways? I just got a small frag of Sunset ad I don't know where to put it. I want to put it on one of my tonga branches but it can not be removed from the tank because it is one of the main support rocks. Should I put ti somewhere else for can I frag it when it gets bigger from inside the tank?

I have had success with putting gel superglue on the bottom of the frag (or frag plug) and immediately placing it against the rock that is underwater. You have to hold it there or, if lucky enough, let gravity do its job to hold it in place until it sets enough that it will not fall down.

 

[hudson2212]

I do not know if this helps, but I will throw it out there.

The way I have seen it done at the LFS is they put pieces of frag plus right up against the coral and as it grows onto it they can snap it off and mount it elsewhere.

The issue there is it takes a while to get any frags. If you are looking to get frags now, I am unsure how that is done.

 

[Nanofins]

If you want to mount it to a rock you can't move, but still want to be able to grow out frags, I would suggest growing the frag out first, splitting it, and then glueing part to your rock and keeping the rest for frags. Underwater fragging is difficult at best. It can be done, but is riskier to your rockwork and the coral, and it can be messy.

Depending on how high the rock in question is, you might wait till a water change and then bring the water level down to expose the rock. It would be much easier to adhere at that time. Superglue cures quickly under water and forms a skin in a second, making it less-than foolproof to attach something underwater. On the other hand, if waterchanges don't expose the rock, then that might just be your only choice.

HTH, Zack

 

[Jonreefer]

I have had success with putting gel superglue on the bottom of the frag (or frag plug) and immediately placing it against the rock that is underwater. You have to hold it there or, if lucky enough, let gravity do its job to hold it in place until it sets enough that it will not fall down.

I do the same thing..With superglue gel you got some time..I put a glob of glue under the frag..when you put it in the water it crust over but no big deal..you push it onto the rock..and give it a wiggle back and forth to break the crust and then the new glue adhears to the rock..I do it this way for all my frags. I never mount any outside the tank unless I am gluing them to a small rubble piece