Coral Growth and Fragging

[ThatGuy]

My question is, Is it better for the tank and corals health if you frag? I'm not at that point yet, but when I am, could I just let things go or will fragging help corals fill out(like trimming a bush) and be healthier and stronger overall?


Josh

 

[Classklown90]

some people say fragging stimulates growth in some corals but idk if thats a fact. I think most people do it to keep things undercontrol so that one coral doesnt invade the tank and its also useful to achieve a shape youd like. You could either let things go or frag both would be fine IMO

 

[redfishbluefish]

Trimming plants cuts off the apical meristem (the end of the plant), that otherwise inhibits lateral plant growth. You don’t have this mechanism with corals. They are individual animals in a colony.

However, that being said, fragging some corals will cause for branching, and I’ve also read that they could cause for stimulating cell division.

So there are potential similarities (in appearance of branching), but certainly not the same mechanism.

Classclown said it, you frag to shape and control the growth of your corals.

 

[ThatGuy]

So if I cut the tip of say my green slimer stick(zero branches) it might help branch it out?

 

[dan_k]

My brother inlaw came over and wanted a frag so I cut the top off of my green slimer and out grew 3 branches not saying that will happen to yours but thats what mine did.

 

[ThatGuy]

Whats the smallest I can go? I don't want to cut to much as I want it to get big.

 

[grink]

Think of it as trimming a shrub or tree for defined growth.

 

[Classklown90]

Whats the smallest I can go? I don't want to cut to much as I want it to get big.

depends sps i usually try to make a inch at least for a frag, zoas only take a polyp same with mushrooms.. really everything just needs a healthy head or polyp to be a frag

 

[Baxreefs]

If you are talking SPS only, the answer depends upon type of SPS coral, size of tanks, placement, flow lighting and so much more.

 

[ThatGuy]

If you are talking SPS only, the answer depends upon type of SPS coral, size of tanks, placement, flow lighting and so much more.

Its more to try and get it to branch than have a frag.