Fragging zoos

[YodaHart]

I have a bunch of zoo's on a rock and was wondering if there is a way to remove them to sell or just get rid of. They're overtaking my rock.

Also, I have a leather toadstool I'm trying to frag. I cut the cap off of it leaving just part of the base. The base is starting to grow a new cap with polyps, but the cap is doing quite as well. I'm having a hard time connecting it to the rock. It's a pretty large piece, about 8" across. I've tried threading it with string and tying it to the rock but that didn't work. I also tried using a rubberband, but the rubberband slowly goes through the coral. Can I cut the toadstool cap into small pieces to put on plugs? Or is there another way to connect the larger piece to my rock? I was thinking of using wedding veil fabric with the plugs, but I don't think there is a way to use that to connect it to the main rocks.

[tendar]

Actually cutting up the cap into several pie piece is the way to go. I better way to get the piece to attach to a rock is to use either something like weding veil placed loosely over the frag to keep in place or another is zip ties but not to tight that it cuts through just snug to keep it in place till it attaches.

[Chuck S]

Now as far as the zoos you can use a razor and scrape off as close to the rock as possible lifting as much mat as possible along with the polyps and slice off a section.

[YodaHart]

Thanks a bunch for the replies. I'm gonna try to cut up my leather tomorrow.

Now I have another question. I have a pretty big plate coral that I'm also interested in fragging. Any ideas on how to do that without cutting it in half? I read some threads about people trying to frag them, but no one had any luck.

[YodaHart]

I guess that last post didn't go too well. Here's another try at the pic.

[Chuck S]

Talking Turbinaria?

Depending on the size a small toothed saw like hacksaw or such.

You might be able to break off very small pieces with some pliers.

[tendar]

There is no fraggin of those unless they spawn on thier own and drop buds that I know of with out killing it.

[Chuck S]

Yeah thats not a Turbinaria thats a Fungia. They reproduce by budding. Otherwise they get as big as they get /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[YodaHart]

Yeah, mine's about 7" across when its fully retracted.

I read on reefcentral about using a nail to scrape the skeleton and getting it to drop buds. Do you know of this ever happening? Like I said, I haven't heard of anyone having luck with fragging them.

[Chuck S]

If I stuck a nail in your toe you going to grow another one? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Nah never heard of that one. I would take serious thought before trying to damage a coral intentionally. The reason SPS corals are so easy to prop is your actually breaking the skeleton and just a thin later of skin. Your not sawing or poking or nailing through a healthy polyp. I would not attempt it as you will host likely develop an infection and you could lose the coral.

[tendar]

Agreed odds are if you do anything to it other than leave it alone it will die. I have not heard of people intentionally scaping of part of one but have heard of people who had a problem with one some times recead back but able to save with lots of luck and part of the dead skeleton is showing and over time it had put out some new buds but is very rare cases.