Coral Transplant

I love to just sit and look at my reef when I have the time. Its so peaceful and relaxing. I note the fish doing their thing, the corals swaying in the currents. My eyes automatically pick up any points of special note - it isn’t that I’m robotic its just that I know the aquarium intimately.

One of the things I note every time is the corals growth. They never stop. I’ve taken quite a few cuttings (‘frags’ if you like) when the corals have become oversize or have overshadowed something else. Some of these cuttings have gone to Peter who is growing them on. A few cuttings were quite a size.

One cutting was taken from the left end of the tank, as the coral branch was so large it was travelling along the top of the water and a little distance along the back length. This particular branch will have been around 12″ or so.

Having removed the branch I noticed a space that had previously been hidden. There wasn’t anything of note in it, but something needed putting there as it was fairly obvious, and the loss of the mentioned branch had meant a loss of height appeal.

For quite a while I considered various options, choosing a new coral species then changing my mind. However, my mind was made up for me.

Sitting gazing at the tank recently I noticed that a coral, a Kenyan tree (proper name Capnella sp) was not too far from the water surface and appeared top heavy and in danger of falling over because of it. I wondered if a cutting could be placed in the aforementioned gap, thus solving two problems in one go.

This was considered for a while - I like to be sure the impact on the reef would be aesthetically correct. Shape and colour need consideration. It seemed alright to me.

So out came the sharp scissors and, after the cutting point had been decided, off came a section, a fairly big one. The part that had been removed was pressed into a crevice where it appeared to be secure. The mother coral had of course gone into a serious sulk.

The next morning the cutting had moved probably because of the water currents. So out came a cocktail stick, the cutting was pierced, and the cocktail stick pushed firmly into a tiny hole in the rock. It has remained in place this time.

The mother coral has now ceased its 100% sulk, this has been reduced to 25%. The coral is partially inflated and it looks as though all will be well.

The cutting is in the same situation though of course not yet attached to the rock.

All things being equal the reef will be back to its full splendour in a few weeks.

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Tags: coral conservation, Coral Propagation, Coral Reef, coral-frag, marine-aquarium, reef-tank

Reef Gardening - Look At This!

We’ve talked on this website about helping the wild reefs by growing corals from cuttings (“fragging”).

Most of us including me do one or two as and when. But this amateur reef keeper has really taken it on board. Click below:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1215102

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Tags: aquacultured-corals, aquacultured-live-rock, aquarium-coral-propagation-reef, Coral Propagation, coral-frag

Coral Propagation - Why Don’t You Give It A Try

A lot of people especially those who are new to the aquarium hobby are a bit sceptical when it comes to coral propagation.

And I have to be truthful here - it really is not that hard.

The biggest aspect which you need to be sure of before committing to doing some coral propagation of you own is that the water parameters in your aquarium need to be excellent. [Read more]

Tags: aquacultured-corals, aquacultured-live-rock, aquarium-coral-propagation-reef, Coral Propagation, coral-frag

The Coral Propagation Aquarium

A lot has been said about wild [tag-tec]reef conservation[/tag-tec] because of the known concerns on the future of these areas. Marine aquarists will also be concerned as none would wish to see wild reefs reduce. Unfortunately, they appear to be doing just that. I’m not going to natter on about this, but am going to write about propagating corals - not how to cut corals on this occasion, but how to prepare a place to put the cuttings. It is not expensive, and no great skills are required. [Read more]

Tags: aquarium-coral-propagation-reef, Coral Propagation, coral-frag, frag-tank, propagating, propagation

Reef Gardening - Coral Propagation

A reef aquarium is a delight. Hard or soft corals healthy and growing. Fish cruising about, in and out of the rocks, hoping to find something edible. Beautiful coralline algae growing on rocks and on the rear glass. Tiny life forms going about their business. Just as on the wild reef. Except this is a captive reef, assisted and maintained by an aquarist and supported by nature.

The aquarist is proud of the creation, and rightly so. He/she has expended a lot of time on research, and money on equipment and livestock. Time is also spent on maintenance, such as cleaning the glass of unwanted algae, ensuring the reef structure is safe, and checking and removing unwanted items from the sand and/or rocks. Seawater parameters are maintained, with additives where necessary. [Read more]

Tags: aquacultured-corals, aquacultured-live-rock, aquarium-coral-propagation-reef, Coral Propagation, coral-frag

Soft Coral Fast Recovery

My [tag-tec]soft coral[/tag-tec] reef (I love the way soft corals sway in the current and the subdued pastel colours mix together) is growing very well. As Peter has taken on a rather sad aquarium that he has in the process of recovery (see ‘An Aquarium System in Trouble - A Slow Recovery‘), I decided to cut some corals and pass the cuttings on.

Now [tag-tec]coral propagation[/tag-tec] is a worrying thing for most aquarists including me. There they are on the reef healthy and expanded. Then along comes John with a very sharp pair of scissors! First of all what to cut? Decided. Where to cut - what impact on the reef appearance? OK. What about the health of the coral, is the cutting method correct? OK. Hesitation, do I really want to do this? Yes, go ahead. Corals cut, cuttings shrink to a hard small lump that looks as though it will never live again. The coral from where the cutting was taken closes and looks thoroughly miserable. [Read more]

Tags: aquarium-coral, coral, coral-frag, propagation-reef, toadstool-coral