How to Frag

[Zack33]

What do i need to start fragging? Where can i get those items?

I have a colony of Zoas i want to try fragging but they have grown onto a large rock in my tank that cannot be removed....how would i seperate them from the rock inside the tank without having an issue?

What is the average selling price for a frag of 20 green zoa polyps? How do i know what to price the zoas when i wish to sell them?
Is there a price list or some kind of formula to use?

Thanks and sorry for so many questions...just want to know from the best and i want to know the newest info as i've never fragged anything before

Zack

[nueveforever]

i've seen some demo on fragging in youtube

[Zack33]

thanks for the reply but i'm looking for a little more detail than what youtube can offer me:)

[deeznutz]

Zoa can be tricky sometimes. You have to find a loose piece and peel the mat off the rock. From there you can cut the zoas to a desired size. Be careful, ZOAS CAN BE VERY TOXIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a sticky on it somewhere here on AP. Wear gloves and eye wear.
Price is up to you. Common ones should be about $10 for 15-20. More for rare zoas and so on.

Good luck.

-dan

[Zack33]

will the toxic injury the tank or just me?

Thanks for the advice :)
Zack

[tattoo282]

the toxin can harm you i had a zoa squirt me in the eye and my eye went like a snooker ball for about a week plus the pain was just unbearable as well i think they can harm your tank also

[DbleG]

As far as prices go, you must not have heard about Gregg's All in one pricing guide, out soon in an area near you ;) This guide can be yours for the low low price of your rarest zoa frag ;)

New guides out every time you get a better frag ;)




Zach, wing it my man. When in doubt put up an auction and see what you can get, otherwise just take your cues from what other stuff is selling for.

GG

[shrimpchips]

Like Greg said, it's all up to you. You may feel a higher or lower price is warranted for certain pieces, but there are always corals that fetch a certain price based on what's hot and what's always in demand, just like anything else.

As for fragging off zoas from a rock in your tank, use a razorblade to scrape them off - but do it so you're more scraping the surface of the rock off, not the zoa off the rock, if that makes sense. It'll result in less damage to the polyps. Once you have one or two peeled up, the rest come off easier.

[J_T]

What do i need to start fragging? Where can i get those items?

I have a colony of Zoas i want to try fragging but they have grown onto a large rock in my tank that cannot be removed....how would i seperate them from the rock inside the tank without having an issue?

What is the average selling price for a frag of 20 green zoa polyps? How do i know what to price the zoas when i wish to sell them?
Is there a price list or some kind of formula to use?

Thanks and sorry for so many questions...just want to know from the best and i want to know the newest info as i've never fragged anything before

Zack

That all depends on how much fragging you intend on doing! Here is a picture of my kit. I am missing the wet saw (tile saw) It didn't fit in the picture, and the wife wasn't thrilled that I had my whole kit on the table as it was :) Another thing not in here that I have now, is a big plastic tray. I found it on a jobsite my Brother in law was at. It is meant for under washers/hot water tanks. I do my fragging in that to contain the mess.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/Jammor/frag%20pics/Fragtoolsfullshot.jpg

[Zack33]

thanks for the replies guys

JT my fragging intent is minimal so far i just have this colony that is over taking my tank...(faster grower i've ever seen)....but from the looks of the stuff on your table i can find the majority of it in my dads workshop (hes a carpenter so no shortness of tools and such)....also JT what is the bottle of what looks like seachem in the middle of your picture?

Gregg i will be sure to purchase this guide of yours ;) lol we will see maybe i'll be generous;) lol

What kind of superglue should i use to stick them to the liverock rubble they will be going on??
Does anyone know anywhere in hamilton or close to hamilton that i can go and pick up some frag plugs?

Thanks in advance
Zack

[J_T]

That would be "reef Dip" by Seachem. I know there are better dips out there, but I am not treating an infection, hopefully just preventing them :)

As for the tools you use for fragging.. I would buy new ones. Do you know where all your dads tools have been? Any oils and such on them? I know my chisels have seen better days, but I actually sand them down, and clean them up before I use them again. They also don't rust up so much now that I have the moisture absorbers in the box (The ones you get with electronics and such, I toss them in the tool box)

If you are going to glue zoo's to rock/plugs, you will need to get some of the rock they are on. They will slide off otherwise (or atleast in my opinion) I use bridal veil (bottom left of my picture) I got those at a craft store, pre cut in circles (which fit around rocks and plugs real easy) After a week, the coral will have attached, and I take it off and discard.

I like to cover the coral to prevent it from being blown away. I put my fresh cut corals in a stronger current for the first day or so. This helps blow away any dead tissue that may have resulted from cutting.

[Zack33]

okay so do i but them in a container in my dt? will that work....i don't have a frag tank set-up and none of my other tanks have strong enough lighting for them

[J_T]

Containers work, just make sure you can get the water circulating. That is key when fraging corals. I think you will find that it is easier than you think :) Just make sure you have some goggles and gloves on. Zoo's and Pally's are nasty buggers. Take care when fragging them!

[Zack33]

Okay I'll take good care....will latex gloves be okay or do I need rubber gloves?

[Zack33]

i'm going to be cutting them off the rock while still in the DT so will latex hurt the tank?

[J_T]

Latex shouldn't cause a problem in the tank. I know that you can get the coralife gloves that will almost make it up your armpit (depending on how long your arms are obviously) which are great for in tank work. I would recommend taking the rock out if you can. I will bet that you are talking about a base rock which the rest of your aquascaping sits on top of... Just be careful not to disrupt your rock work. Hate to see it tumble, and crack the glass (water pressure + hit from rock = mess :( )

[Zack33]

Yes unfortunately it is on a 15 pound base rock which just about evry other rock in the tank is located on

[frankthetank]

What kind of superglue should i use to stick them to the liverock rubble they will be going on??

I like the super glue Gel, but for more control of the glue you can get the loctite gel, it's a couple of bucks more.

Make sure it's the Gel :D

[Zack33]

....get the loctite gel. Make sure it's the Gel:D

Well i successfully (at least i hope) fragged my zoas today, i was able to make 3 10 polyp frags and 2 5 polyp frags...they are already starting to open for the most part. I did use the glue frank suggested and it worked perfectly. But i do have one more question. I understand that the frags need high flow to help them recover but what about lighting? do they need high lighting, low lighting, whatever lighting they had before they were fragged?

Thanks
Zack :)

P.S. i will post some pics of the recovering frags tomorrow or later tonight once more are open.