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Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:13 am
by frogpond
I've got a few LPS corals in my 40-gallon tank, mostly Hammers and Torches. They're doing great, but I wanna try fragging them. Any tips on the best way to do it without stressing them out too much? My tank's been stable for about a year, params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate, 8.2 pH, 1.025 salinity. Running a Kessil A360X for lighting.
Re: Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 11:53 am
by sageSe
Fragging LPS can be sketchy if you're not careful. First, make sure you've got sharp bone cutters or a scalpel. Dull tools can crush the tissue. I usually do it during water changes so the stress is minimal. For Hammers, cut at least an inch below the head to avoid damaging the polyp. Keep the frags in low flow for a few days to let them heal. Your params sound solid, so they should bounce back quick.
Re: Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 1:05 pm
by tidal
sageSe wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 11:53 am
Fragging LPS can be sketchy if you're not careful. First, make sure you've got sharp bone cutters or a scalpel. Dull tools can crush the tissue. I usually do it during water changes so the stress is minimal. For Hammers, cut at least an inch below the head to avoid damaging the polyp. Keep the frags in low flow for a few days to let them heal. Your params sound solid, so they should bounce back quick.
Totally agree. Also, dip the frags in iodine after cutting to prevent infection. I've lost a few to bacterial issues before I started doing this. Your lighting's good, but maybe dial it down a bit for the first week post-frag. LPS can be finicky with light after trauma.
Re: Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 1:33 pm
by creekline
I've only fragged my Duncan once, but it went okay. I used super glue gel to mount the frag on a plug. It's kinda weird how they just kinda chill and then start growing again after a week or two. My tank's smaller, 30 gallons, but same params as yours. Maybe try one frag first to see how it goes?
Re: Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 3:17 pm
by pondera
Yeah, go slow. I rushed my first time and messed up a Frogspawn. Took months to recover. Now I only frag when I'm sure everything's stable. Your setup sounds good though, so you'll probably be fine. Just don't cut too much at once.
Re: Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 4:46 pm
by sunsetra
I've fragged a ton of LPS, mostly Acans and Blastos. The key is to keep everything clean. Rinse your tools with RO water before and after. Also, don't frag if your corals aren't fully extended. Wait for a good feeding response so you know they're healthy. Your salinity's spot on, which is huge. Low salinity can mess with their healing.
Re: Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 5:48 pm
by wiredonfish
I've seen people use a dremel for larger colonies. Seems overkill for a beginner though. Stick to cutters for now. Your lighting's strong, so maybe shade the frags for a few days. Too much light right after can stress them out more.
Re: Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:45 pm
by luminam
Never fragged before, but this thread's got me thinking about trying it. My Torches are getting huge. Gonna wait till my next water change like sageSe said. Sounds like the safest bet.
Re: Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 9:38 pm
by frogpond
Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Gonna start with one Hammer frag and see how it goes. I'll dip it in iodine and keep the flow low. Appreciate the tips!
Re: Tips for fragging LPS corals
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 11:27 pm
by tidal
frogpond wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 9:38 pm
Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Gonna start with one Hammer frag and see how it goes. I'll dip it in iodine and keep the flow low. Appreciate the tips!
Smart move starting small. Let us know how it turns out. Hammers are pretty resilient, so I bet it'll go smooth.