best way to frag a kenya tree

[shalegac]

I recently got a frag of kenya tree. I had a rubber band around it to get it to attach to a rock but it was to tight and started cutting it in half. I loosened the rubber band placed it in a low current area and it is getting good light. Are there any better ways to get the tree to attach? Is supper glue an option? Thanks,
SHAUN

 

[ScottC]

Super glue will work, as will the loose rubber band. You could try to do both, just be sure the rock is dry before you start to glue.

 

[LorenzoDM]

I have had some success fragging my kenya tree using a cable tie (zip tie?). I attach the cable tie around the branch I want to frag and slowly tighten it over the course of about a week until the branch practically falls off on it's own. Then take a razor blade to whats left.

As far as attaching my frags, I just use a needle and thread. I take the needle right through the base, about 1/2" to 3/4" up. Then wrap the thread around the rock, not too tight but just tight enough to hold the frag firmly in place. The kenya tree frags seem to take about a month to attach.

 

[esmithiii]

I have had some success fragging my kenya tree using a cable tie (zip tie?). I attach the cable tie around the branch I want to frag and slowly tighten it over the course of about a week until the branch practically falls off on it's own. Then take a razor blade to whats left.

Why would you want to do that?!?? I simply use a small, sharp set of stainless steel scissors (man, talk about aliteration!) and snip the section off that I want to frag.

As for attaching them, I use rubber bands or I simply drop it in a low flow area of the tank with gravel sized pieces of LR and in a week or so it is attached.

Ernie

 

[Anonymous]

Then there is always the toothpick method:
Stick a toothpick (preferably plastic) through the base and loop a rubberband around both ends of the toothpick and around a small rock. I have also heard of wedging one end of the toothpick into the rock and rubberbanding the other end of the toothpick...

 

[tinyreef]

LorenzoDM,

do you wrap/tie the thread around the frag at all or is it the lone suture holding the frag in place?

 

[LorenzoDM]

LorenzoDM,

do you wrap/tie the thread around the frag at all or is it the lone suture holding the frag in place?

Usually I run the needle through the base about three times so there are three sutures holding the frag in place. And no, I never bother to wrap the thread around the frag.

Why would you want to do that?!?? I simply use a small, sharp set of stainless steel scissors (man, talk about aliteration!) and snip the section off that I want to frag.

The rock that my Kenya Tree has attached itself to is far too large to remove from the tank each time. I use the zip tie method to try and minimize any chemical warfare the Kenya Tree might inflict on nearby corals.

 

[esmithiii]

The rock that my Kenya Tree has attached itself to is far too large to remove from the tank each time. I use the zip tie method to try and minimize any chemical warfare the Kenya Tree might inflict on nearby corals.

Obviously if you like doing it there is no harm in that method, but I think it is excessive. I routinely cut my tree in the tank using stainless steel scissors and have yet to have a problem. I have about 20+ species of SPS in my tank.

Ernie