Fragging sun corals

[LordJoshaeus]

Hello everyone! My sun coral is doing fantastic - all the polyps have grown noticeably in the week I have had it. However, this also means the ravenous sun coral colony will eventually get too large for me to manage/afford. How do you frag sun corals? The entire colony of somewhere over 20 polyps (the largest being more than a centimeter in diameter when open...they're all open right now and thus are hard to count) is on a 2 inch long piece of reef rubble. Thanks!

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

You should be able to cut in between the polyps, don't cut the polyp opening itself or you may damage it so much it won't grow back.

 

[LordJoshaeus]

Thanks! How do you detach them from the rock?

 

[declanisadog]

Thanks! How do you detach them from the rock?

Carefully...

with a hammer and a chisel/flathead screwdriver

 

[LordJoshaeus]

Carefully...

with a hammer and a chisel/flathead screwdriver

AHHH...thanks.

 

[TheHarold]

@LordJoshaeus here are some resources I found for you on the interwebs.

https://www.ultimatereef.net/threads/sun-coral-fragging.211341/

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/98676-fragging-sun-coral/

 

[LordJoshaeus]

Sure hope I won't ultimately need power tools for this!

 

[TheHarold]

Sure hope I won't ultimately need power tools for this!

You've had it for a week. I dont think you need to worry about that for a long time LOL

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Sure hope I won't ultimately need power tools for this!

A chisel or flat head screwdriver, some bone cutters, and some patience will go a long way

 

[LordJoshaeus]

You've had it for a week. I dont think you need to worry about that for a long time LOL

True true...but it has already grown visibly in that week and I may encounter that problem sooner rather than later.

 

[TheHarold]

True true...but it has already grown visibly in that week and I may encounter that problem sooner rather than later.

Well, it has opened. You are seeing the polyps opening up more as it gets used to the new environment. Growth takes time, it needs to build up its skeleton etc.

 

[LordJoshaeus]

Well, it has opened. You are seeing the polyps opening up more as it gets used to the new environment. Growth takes time, it needs to build up its skeleton etc.

Even closed the polyps look considerably bigger than they did when they arrived...

 

[TheHarold]

Even closed the polyps look considerably bigger than they did when they arrived...

Right, because it is getting used to the tank. Initially it was unhappy due to new parameters. Hence closed tighter, etc. Then it starts to open more. Im just saying, "growth" is a more long term thing than having it for a week. It has a skeleton. Its not growing by visual amounts in 7 days.