Bubble Frag Accidental Experiment

[rayjay]

I occasionally frag bubble corals and the last two I started about a year and a half ago. Both started about the size of a fifty cent piece, and up until about 7 months ago, were growing at the same pace. One kept getting knocked over by a pencil urchin, so at last, I stuck it down into the substrate to keep it from being knocked over.
After about 3 months, I noticed this frag growing larger than the one propped in the rocks. Today, I picked it out of the substrate to place in the main tank awaiting sale, and found an extensive part of the bubble had formed over the aragonite substrate. Now I'll have to keep this instead of selling it, to see how long or even if the skeletal growth with go upwards from this "ledge"
I placed pictures on my website and the page link is:
Bubble Frag Accidental Experiment

 

[MarkS]

How do you frag a bubble coral? I might be interested in doing it to mine.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[rayjay]

I've read the best way to cut the skeleton is with a dremel tool. Not having one myself, I cut the skeleton with a hacksaw fitted with a tile cutting blade. I cut through the skeleton from the bottom up towards the flesh, stopping without touching the flesh. Carefully "wedge" the cut to break the remaining skeleton without damaging the flesh. Prop the pieces so that they remain togeather, and over the next few weeks or more, gradually separate the pieces until the flesh eventually parts. GO SLOW.