Fragging Acropora: Extreme Edition [video]

by | Oct 31, 2011 | Advanced Aquarist | 0 comments

Machado deSousa posted a new video at ReefCentral sharing his technique for fragging Acropora one polyp at a time.  Watch as Mr. deSousa:

  1. Cuts a “normally sized” Acropora frag from the parent colony.
  2. Snips off a single polyp from this frag.
  3. Transplants the single polyp into the hole located on a rubber cap for a flower stem holder.
  4. Add a disinfecting iodine solution (using Tropic Marine Pro Coral Cure) into a flower stem holder.
  5. Place the rubber cap (with Acropora polyp) over the holder filled with iodine solution.

Mr. deSousa says frags mounted this way are more resistant to infection;  This is because the freshly cut end of the frag/polyp is continually submerged in the iodine solution of the plastic vile.  It normally takes about a mouth for the single polyp to encrust over the rubber cap and produce a second polyp.  The micro-frag grows exponentially from there on out.

This may not be the most practical fragging technique for average hobbyists, but Machado de Sousa is no average hobbyist:  Read more about his incredible 8000L Portugal coral farm.

  • Leonard Ho

    I'm a passionate aquarist of over 30 years, a coral reef lover, and the blog editor for Advanced Aquarist. While aquarium gadgets interest me, it's really livestock (especially fish), artistry of aquariums, and "method behind the madness" processes that captivate my attention.

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