HUGE downside to some of these: 1) zoos - can be toxic if they die off 2) mushrooms look great and grow easily but can kill your SPS. I have a rock covered in electric blue shrooms and I cannot even kill them. They just grow back and continue to propagate all over the tank, killing much more desirable coral around them. THIS has been my #1 issue in a 10 year old SPS mixed tank that is otherwise doing great.
Ah, you've struck a chord with coral propagation! Just as I was about to delicately place a tiny Kenya Tree frag on a rock, let’s delve into the fascinating world of soft coral propagation. This topic is as much about technique as it is about understanding the biology of soft corals. Why Soft Corals Are Perfect for Propagation Soft corals are predominantly composed of soft tissue supported by spicules or a protein-rich matrix, which allows for quick recovery and regrowth after fragmentation. This makes them particularly robust when propagated through asexual means. Unlike hard corals, which require intricate tools to avoid shattering their skeletons, soft corals can regenerate from fragments with minimal stress. Techniques for Propagating Soft Corals 1. Simple Manual Division Best for: Xenia, Kenya Tree, Green Star Polyps (GSP), and Mushrooms. How To: Identify a healthy, well-established coral with multiple branches or polyps. Use clean, sharp scissors or a scalpel to cut off a branch or polyp. (For mushrooms, slice off part of the cap or foot.) Ensure the fragment includes some intact tissue for better survival. Place the frag in a container with tank water to prevent drying out during handling. 2. Rubber Band or Mesh Attachment Best for: Green Sinularia, Leather Corals, and Zoanthids. How To: After cutting a frag, place it on a piece of rock or frag plug. Secure the frag lightly with a rubber band or a piece of plastic mesh. Avoid tightening too much, as it could damage the tissue. Place the rock in a low-flow area of the tank until the frag attaches naturally, which typically takes 1-2 weeks. 3. Super Glue Method Best for: Zoanthids, Mushrooms, and small frags of soft leather corals. How To: Use a gel-based reef-safe super glue. Dry the base of the frag and the target surface (rock or plug) with a paper towel. Apply a small drop of glue to the rock and press the frag gently into place. Allow the glue to cure underwater, which happens almost instantly. 4. Plug and Cup Method (Controlled Environment) Best for: Small, delicate frags like Pulsing Xenia or Green Star Polyps. How To: Place the frag on a small rock or plug inside a plastic cup filled with tank water. Cover the cup with mesh to allow flow but prevent the frag from floating away. Place the cup in a low-light, low-flow area of your tank. Once the frag attaches naturally (about a week), transfer it to your display tank. 5. Cut and Float Method (For Mushrooms) Best for: Mushroom corals and Ricordea. How To: Cut the mushroom coral into several sections using a clean razor blade. Place the pieces in a shallow container with tank water and rubble rock. Let them float in a low-flow area of the tank, ensuring good water quality. Within a few weeks, the fragments will attach to the rubble and form new polyps. Tips for Successful Propagation Use Sterile Tools: Always use clean and sharp scissors, scalpels, or razor blades to minimize the risk of infection. Rinse tools in freshwater or alcohol between cuts. Minimize Stress: Handle corals gently to avoid unnecessary damage. Keep fragments submerged in tank water as much as possible during the process. Ideal Water Parameters: Maintain stable water quality, with parameters suited to soft corals (e.g., moderate light, low to medium flow, and consistent salinity). Healing Zones: Place propagated frags in a healing area with low flow and subdued lighting to promote tissue recovery. Chemical Warfare Awareness: Be mindful of allelopathy (chemical interactions) among corals. Use activated carbon in your tank to mitigate toxins released during fragging. Observe and Adjust: Monitor the frags for signs of attachment and growth. If they look stressed (e.g., shriveled or pale), relocate them to a more suitable spot. Advanced Techniques Tissue Grafting: Combine soft coral fragments of the same species to create unique shapes or colonies. Ensure the fragments are in close contact and let them naturally fuse over time. Controlled Tank Sections: Set up a propagation-specific tank to control flow, lighting, and nutrient levels optimized for coral growth. With these techniques, you’ll be on your way to a thriving soft coral garden-and perhaps even trading frags with fellow aquarists. Meanwhile, I’ll keep working on gluing this Kenya Tree… the art is in the patience! 🌿 Hilary, hi! i loved your video. Here are some comments and additional information provided by my AI Aquarium Assistant. You can reach it and expand on it here: chatgpt.com/g/g-677d526db6a48191b79e70cb9e79d1cf-le-specialiste-des-aquarium/c/677d7327-69e0-8012-babd-a81f008938ad you can also add more questions and use it for more topics.
Hilary’s the best!!!
precious information. Thanks
I love soft corals I have a nano tank full of them
HUGE downside to some of these: 1) zoos - can be toxic if they die off 2) mushrooms look great and grow easily but can kill your SPS. I have a rock covered in electric blue shrooms and I cannot even kill them. They just grow back and continue to propagate all over the tank, killing much more desirable coral around them. THIS has been my #1 issue in a 10 year old SPS mixed tank that is otherwise doing great.
Ah, you've struck a chord with coral propagation! Just as I was about to delicately place a tiny Kenya Tree frag on a rock, let’s delve into the fascinating world of soft coral propagation. This topic is as much about technique as it is about understanding the biology of soft corals.
Why Soft Corals Are Perfect for Propagation
Soft corals are predominantly composed of soft tissue supported by spicules or a protein-rich matrix, which allows for quick recovery and regrowth after fragmentation. This makes them particularly robust when propagated through asexual means. Unlike hard corals, which require intricate tools to avoid shattering their skeletons, soft corals can regenerate from fragments with minimal stress.
Techniques for Propagating Soft Corals
1. Simple Manual Division
Best for: Xenia, Kenya Tree, Green Star Polyps (GSP), and Mushrooms.
How To:
Identify a healthy, well-established coral with multiple branches or polyps.
Use clean, sharp scissors or a scalpel to cut off a branch or polyp. (For mushrooms, slice off part of the cap or foot.)
Ensure the fragment includes some intact tissue for better survival.
Place the frag in a container with tank water to prevent drying out during handling.
2. Rubber Band or Mesh Attachment
Best for: Green Sinularia, Leather Corals, and Zoanthids.
How To:
After cutting a frag, place it on a piece of rock or frag plug.
Secure the frag lightly with a rubber band or a piece of plastic mesh.
Avoid tightening too much, as it could damage the tissue.
Place the rock in a low-flow area of the tank until the frag attaches naturally, which typically takes 1-2 weeks.
3. Super Glue Method
Best for: Zoanthids, Mushrooms, and small frags of soft leather corals.
How To:
Use a gel-based reef-safe super glue.
Dry the base of the frag and the target surface (rock or plug) with a paper towel.
Apply a small drop of glue to the rock and press the frag gently into place.
Allow the glue to cure underwater, which happens almost instantly.
4. Plug and Cup Method (Controlled Environment)
Best for: Small, delicate frags like Pulsing Xenia or Green Star Polyps.
How To:
Place the frag on a small rock or plug inside a plastic cup filled with tank water.
Cover the cup with mesh to allow flow but prevent the frag from floating away.
Place the cup in a low-light, low-flow area of your tank.
Once the frag attaches naturally (about a week), transfer it to your display tank.
5. Cut and Float Method (For Mushrooms)
Best for: Mushroom corals and Ricordea.
How To:
Cut the mushroom coral into several sections using a clean razor blade.
Place the pieces in a shallow container with tank water and rubble rock.
Let them float in a low-flow area of the tank, ensuring good water quality.
Within a few weeks, the fragments will attach to the rubble and form new polyps.
Tips for Successful Propagation
Use Sterile Tools:
Always use clean and sharp scissors, scalpels, or razor blades to minimize the risk of infection.
Rinse tools in freshwater or alcohol between cuts.
Minimize Stress:
Handle corals gently to avoid unnecessary damage.
Keep fragments submerged in tank water as much as possible during the process.
Ideal Water Parameters:
Maintain stable water quality, with parameters suited to soft corals (e.g., moderate light, low to medium flow, and consistent salinity).
Healing Zones:
Place propagated frags in a healing area with low flow and subdued lighting to promote tissue recovery.
Chemical Warfare Awareness:
Be mindful of allelopathy (chemical interactions) among corals. Use activated carbon in your tank to mitigate toxins released during fragging.
Observe and Adjust:
Monitor the frags for signs of attachment and growth. If they look stressed (e.g., shriveled or pale), relocate them to a more suitable spot.
Advanced Techniques
Tissue Grafting:
Combine soft coral fragments of the same species to create unique shapes or colonies. Ensure the fragments are in close contact and let them naturally fuse over time.
Controlled Tank Sections:
Set up a propagation-specific tank to control flow, lighting, and nutrient levels optimized for coral growth.
With these techniques, you’ll be on your way to a thriving soft coral garden-and perhaps even trading frags with fellow aquarists. Meanwhile, I’ll keep working on gluing this Kenya Tree… the art is in the patience! 🌿
Hilary, hi! i loved your video. Here are some comments and additional information provided by my AI Aquarium Assistant. You can reach it and expand on it here: chatgpt.com/g/g-677d526db6a48191b79e70cb9e79d1cf-le-specialiste-des-aquarium/c/677d7327-69e0-8012-babd-a81f008938ad you can also add more questions and use it for more topics.
You really shouldn't be promoting VCA random flow generators. They stole the design and took it as their own. Very bad business practices.
Printed reef does the same thing
All the 3d printed stuff does that