Easy Frag Methods

tomsfish · 01/26/2011, 02:11 AM

Any easy methods for fragging leathers such as toadstool?

Can I frag under the water in the display or should frag out of the tank or even a separate bowl of water.

I assume razor blade would be the ideal choice but are there alternatives?

Should i cut right down the middle or can i do many pieces?

Any aftercare such as dips or high flow from wave maker to help with healing?

Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

dahenley · 01/26/2011, 09:38 AM

my friend just reaches in with a pair of SS scissors and snips off some. he does it with finger, toad stool, carco, and misc other softies.
as long as the coral is happy in your tank, it should be fine.

dendronepthya · 01/26/2011, 09:51 AM

I made a video of myself cutting a Lobophytum leather on youtube that might be helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/user/tidalgar.../6/-l1rABUNlnU

[email protected] · 01/26/2011, 01:11 PM

Single edge razor under water works fine.

Jeff

firstlight10 · 01/26/2011, 06:49 PM

I just use a razor blade in the tank. If I am doing a lot of fragging I will change out the carbon in my reactor before cutting then change it again after the corals have had a chance to heal for a few days.

tomsfish · 01/26/2011, 11:53 PM

Thanks for all the responses I'm gonna have a try at using a razor blade.

tomsfish · 01/26/2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dendronepthya

I made a video of myself cutting a Lobophytum leather on youtube that might be helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/user/tidalgar.../6/-l1rABUNlnU

Awesome video, thank you for sharing. The text makes it even easier to understand!

Would elastic bands be a better choice than lets say crazy glue?

tomsfish · 01/26/2011, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstlight10

I just use a razor blade in the tank. If I am doing a lot of fragging I will change out the carbon in my reactor before cutting then change it again after the corals have had a chance to heal for a few days.

Ya I was thinking of running some carbon as well but i would only cut like one or two pieces at a time.

dendronepthya · 01/27/2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsfish

Awesome video, thank you for sharing. The text makes it even easier to understand!

Would elastic bands be a better choice than lets say crazy glue?

I tend to have better success using rubber bands on soft corals while using super glue on stony corals. Soft corals I've noticed slough off glue very easily and can detach, especially if they are in a good bit of water movement.

SPSEMPIRE · 01/27/2011, 12:29 PM

use a razor blade when propagating leathers. after you have fully cut them, you can stick a tooth pick through them and then use super glue gel the tooth pick a rock.

dahenley · 01/27/2011, 12:33 PM

I have had many come off toothpick s. The rubber band works way better.

tomsfish · 01/28/2011, 04:17 AM

I was thinking of the mesh method commonly used for newly fragged mushrooms. Do you think that this will return good results with leather frags?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dendronepthya

I tend to have better success using rubber bands on soft corals while using super glue on stony corals. Soft corals I've noticed slough off glue very easily and can detach, especially if they are in a good bit of water movement.

tomsfish · 01/28/2011, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPSEMPIRE

use a razor blade when propagating leathers. after you have fully cut them, you can stick a tooth pick through them and then use super glue gel the tooth pick a rock.

That is a great idea, I will definitely give that a go!

tomsfish · 01/28/2011, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahenley

I have had many come off toothpick s. The rubber band works way better.

Really? I figure if you stick the toothpick deep enough then it'd be pretty hard to come off toothpicks. Is the flow in your tank very strong?

tomsfish · 01/28/2011, 04:22 AM

I just did some reading around the internet and heard of some issues due to cutting and fragging leathers in display tanks. Supposedly they release toxins into the water that can possibly be the demise of certain types of SPS or LPS. Have any of you had this happen?

Thanks in advance!

dahenley · 01/28/2011, 07:22 AM

carbon and some good skimming will take care of it.
yes they do slime when cut, but there are a lot of corals that slime. softies just slime more.

i have tried the toothpick method a few different times. high flow, and slow.
the rubberband never lets go. plus its a little easier on the coral that you just cut..

it not like you just amputated a limb and then speared a hole through it. so its a little easier on the coral with the rubberband, plus after a week, the rubberband will fall off or you can take it off. with a toothpick, the coral will attach to it and the rock and then you have to break the toothpick off or pull it out of the coral and thus hurt it again and have slimming all over again.

rubberbands can be purchased 1000s for a dollar at cheap store or hobby store. i use the colored ones!

Rhodes19 · 02/16/2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dendronepthya

I made a video of myself cutting a Lobophytum leather on youtube that might be helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/user/tidalgar.../6/-l1rABUNlnU

Great videos and nice web site.

01/26/2011, 02:11 AM	#1
tomsfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ocean Deep Posts: 53	Easy Frag Methods Any easy methods for fragging leathers such as toadstool? Can I frag under the water in the display or should frag out of the tank or even a separate bowl of water. I assume razor blade would be the ideal choice but are there alternatives? Should i cut right down the middle or can i do many pieces? Any aftercare such as dips or high flow from wave maker to help with healing? Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

01/26/2011, 09:38 AM	#2
dahenley Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lubbock, Tx Posts: 3,031	my friend just reaches in with a pair of SS scissors and snips off some. he does it with finger, toad stool, carco, and misc other softies. as long as the coral is happy in your tank, it should be fine. __________________ Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-) 240display, reef in progress Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....

01/26/2011, 09:51 AM	#3
dendronepthya Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Akron, OH, USA Posts: 3,756	I made a video of myself cutting a Lobophytum leather on youtube that might be helpful. http://www.youtube.com/user/tidalgar.../6/-l1rABUNlnU __________________ - Than (dendro) Current Tank Info: 5000-gallon greenhouse system

01/26/2011, 06:49 PM	#5
firstlight10 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Groton, CT Posts: 656	I just use a razor blade in the tank. If I am doing a lot of fragging I will change out the carbon in my reactor before cutting then change it again after the corals have had a chance to heal for a few days. __________________ Current Tank- 29 Gallon Mixed Reef with 2 tank raised clownfish.

01/27/2011, 12:33 PM	#11
dahenley Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lubbock, Tx Posts: 3,031	I have had many come off toothpick s. The rubber band works way better. __________________ Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-) 240display, reef in progress Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....

01/26/2011, 01:11 PM	#4
[email protected] Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,352	Single edge razor under water works fine. Jeff

01/26/2011, 11:53 PM	#6
tomsfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ocean Deep Posts: 53	Thanks for all the responses I'm gonna have a try at using a razor blade.

01/27/2011, 12:29 PM	#10
SPSEMPIRE Moved On Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 491	use a razor blade when propagating leathers. after you have fully cut them, you can stick a tooth pick through them and then use super glue gel the tooth pick a rock.

01/28/2011, 04:22 AM	#15
tomsfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ocean Deep Posts: 53	I just did some reading around the internet and heard of some issues due to cutting and fragging leathers in display tanks. Supposedly they release toxins into the water that can possibly be the demise of certain types of SPS or LPS. Have any of you had this happen? Thanks in advance!

01/28/2011, 07:22 AM	#16
dahenley Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lubbock, Tx Posts: 3,031	carbon and some good skimming will take care of it. yes they do slime when cut, but there are a lot of corals that slime. softies just slime more. i have tried the toothpick method a few different times. high flow, and slow. the rubberband never lets go. plus its a little easier on the coral that you just cut.. it not like you just amputated a limb and then speared a hole through it. so its a little easier on the coral with the rubberband, plus after a week, the rubberband will fall off or you can take it off. with a toothpick, the coral will attach to it and the rock and then you have to break the toothpick off or pull it out of the coral and thus hurt it again and have slimming all over again. rubberbands can be purchased 1000s for a dollar at cheap store or hobby store. i use the colored ones! __________________ Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-) 240display, reef in progress Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....

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