what do u do when it gets too big!

[traco]

So, got your attention. What does a person do when a stony coral gets too big for your tank? I have a large red doughnut coral who is definately cramped on floor space. This poor thing extends every day up the front of the glass and under some rockwork. There is no other place to place this coral in my tank.

What do you do? Anyone interested? I would say that fully extended during the day, is close to a foot around. The hard base is about 3"- 4". Very healthy, eats well. Have no reef tank friends so am kind of stuck on what to do about this.

[Hark]

Can you frag it?

[traco]

Never fragged a stony coral. Can it be split safely; as in how?

Would feel better finding a new home while still whole. Thanks for the quick reply, though :)

[smokinreefer]

shoot troy an email.
he may be interested...i know he has a fairly large tank and is into LPS, though he may nolonger have room now, as he has a carpet anenome.
worth a try.

HTH

[Hark]

you can frag it.....

I would take it but I am in ontario so that makes it tough :)

I will find my info on propogating the stony corals and get back to you if you want

[BCOrchidGuy]

I've got one to that extends out to about 8 inches across.... never seen or heard of how to frag it... Wendell??

[Troy F]

Hey Shao, thanks for thinking of me :) . Fragging stonies like that can be difficult and it takes time involving wedges used to pull the skeleton apart slowly to enable the tissue to seperate as well. The procedure is discussed in TRA vol I .

[BCOrchidGuy]

Troy, will it frag on its own or will it just continue to grow?

[Troy F]

BCOG, I looked briefly for the chapter involving this procedure and couldn't find it. Going by memory of what I read, you split the bottom of the skeleton and insert wedges and then wait. After time you try inserting a larger wedge and keep repeating the procedure until the tissue divides at the mouth of the polyp and seperates on its own. I've never tried this and I think it was described as a tricky procedure.

Traco, what are your tank specs so that someone with a similar lighting scheme could consider it. I'll ask the boss if she's interested but that's a lot of real estate. I assume we're talking about Cynarina sp..

[Aquattro]

I think Troy describes this well when he says "tricky". I certainly wouldn't try it....you could end up killing it.

[Troy F]

Good point Brad, I should've been clearer. That was a big reason I never tried it. I had a huge Plerogyra sinuosa and the thought crossed my mind a couple of times but I was way too chicken.

[BCOrchidGuy]

Thanks, I think I will leave it, I think it is an awesome looking coral.

[traco]

Thanks for the reading. I also have felt leary about splitting. Would like to find a good home, if possible.

My tank is approx 65 gallons. Lights are 4 power compacts, 2 white, 2 blue. The tank depth is 24". 3" sand bed which the coral is on. Good circulation and water changes done regularly. I've had this guy for about 2 years.

[BCOrchidGuy]

Cobble Hill is on the Island isn't it?

[traco]

Yes. It's about a 40 minute drive from downtown Victoria or 20 minutes from Duncan.

[ldzielak]

Traco,
How about a pic?

Lee

[traco]

I am just researching digital cameras so hope to get a pic this weekend.

On an aside, any feedback on digital cameras?

[BCOrchidGuy]

I lived in Victoria for 4 years back around 84... loved it, and I got up to Duncan a fair amount. Lots of good memories fishing on the Cowichan river and in the lake.

[BC_Grl]

Yeah, but Doug- now you're on the "other side of the water" now.. :lol:

[BCOrchidGuy]

Yeah I know I am, it builds character to go slumming for a few decades...wink.

At least I'm close to my favorite fish store(s).

[BC_Grl]

:P
Yeah, I know you lucky ...guy.