Scared to Frag

[Cherry Bomb]

I’m am overwhelmed and intimidated by fragging I have a Kenya tree that needs it and some zoas I would like to remove off the plugs they are on.

I’ve watched videos and tutorials and I just freeze up when I have free time to do it

Like right now, I could be frickin fragging but I’m trying to build up courage posting here.

 

[hijinks7]

kenya tree is the perfect coral to learn on. I grows like weeds if you screw up. All you need is a steady hand if you don't have a coral saw and use something like a dremel.

 

[Dsnakes]

I frag my Kenya tree often. I used to remove it and cut with scissors, now I just stick the scissors in the tank and cut away.

I do run a bit of carbon afterwards though.

They are a great coral to start with fragging.

 

[sbash]

The Kenyas are easy, you can even use scissors if it is just a small branch. It feels weird to cut through, but mine have always recovered.

Zoas require a bit more delicacy, I recommend reading up on palytoxin. Not all zoas have it, but it is best to treat them all as if they do (aside from fancy lab tests, there is no way to know if yours do or not).

Use gloves for both (non powdered vinyl are fine, nitrile is good too). Eye protection is also wise when working with zoas.

There is some risk when fragging or removing zoas from plugs. Even if you glue the polyp down, it can still take off. Even from the stores, I find, say, 1 in 20 drop off their plug in the first few weeks (sometimes I find them, sometimes I don't). So instead, I cut the base off the plug (i.e. leaving just the disc) and glue the disc to the rock where I want them. If your conditions are good, they will over grow the disc in a short period of time.

 

[Cherry Bomb]

The Kenyas are easy, you can even use scissors if it is just a small branch. It feels weird to cut through, but mine have always recovered.

Zoas require a bit more delicacy, I recommend reading up on palytoxin. Not all zoas have it, but it is best to treat them all as if they do (aside from fancy lab tests, there is no way to know if yours do or not).

Use gloves for both (non powdered vinyl are fine, nitrile is good too). Eye protection is also wise when working with zoas.

There is some risk when fragging or removing zoas from plugs. Even if you glue the polyp down, it can still take off. Even from the stores, I find, say, 1 in 20 drop off their plug in the first few weeks (sometimes I find them, sometimes I don't). So instead, I cut the base off the plug (i.e. leaving just the disc) and glue the disc to the rock where I want them. If your conditions are good, they will over grow the disc in a short period of time.

Yes the horrors of toxins is very freaky!

 

[Cherry Bomb]

I dove in after my post. Chickened out on the Kenya tree after I ended up with superglue everywhere from the zoas and sps. Need a new razor.

Zoas are so weird to cut through. Like rubbery bits. I did chicken out and snapped off the plug on one set of zoas, then glued the disc on. The zoas are mad at me now. I wore gloves and my glasses which was hard because I don’t need my glasses to see up close. Going to have to get some fake glasses for fragging.

Should I throw some carbon in my filter?

Thank you everyone!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Carbon would be good to soak up any toxins released. Glasses are a must. Plastic safety glasses are pretty cheap.