fragging encrusting gorgonian

[+KeeperOfTheZoo]

I thought I'd ask for 'how to' tips before I butcher a fragging attempt.

I have a rock with encrusting gorgonian. I'd like to frag off a smallish piece and glue it to my back tank wall in hopes that it will encrust and grow there. Has anyone done it (fragging or growing it on glass)?

I have super neon green GSPs that I got as a mat that finally encrusted onto the glass and are making good new growth now.

As crazy as it may sound, I thought I'd also encourage the gorgonian and some yellow polyps to grow across the back as well. I'm a little concerned that the yellow polyps may be too aggressive for the other two, but I had a couple polyps shoot loose and start growing by the gorgonian and it didn't bother either coral so I'm going to hope they will happily grow in close proximity.

Possible aesthetic offensiveness aside (might look a little wild with all that growing on the back of a 6' tank)... anyone see why it wouldn't be a good idea to allow these corals to run loose on the back wall of my tank? I've seen back walls covered in GSPs and really liked the look.

[wayneb]

Liz, would be interested in buying a couple of small frags of the gorgorian.

wayneb

[Will]

go for it, and when your scraping it off the front of your glass, you could always sell it (much easier to sell flat squares)

[Derekreefer]

One question I would have is how much trace elements, Oxygen etc are the GSP using up? And is that even a big deal........curious minds want to know

Edited May 10, 2010 by Derekreefer

[+KeeperOfTheZoo]

Haha Will, you're funny. Can't be any worse than the dang coraline I'm scraping off all the time. Stupid stuff is growing on my sand bed now too. Grrr. I've been cutting (and tossing) renegade yellow polyps left and right. I keep thinking that maybe if I give them a place to grow they'll agree to grow where I want them. Wishinful thinking I know.

Derek, good question. The gorgonian does make a rather thick hard base for its self. I suspect it's using its share of calcium and trace elements for that. The yellow polyps are just softies so I would think they would be primarily photosynthetic with just trace element use. The GSP I'm honestly not sure. It's mat is flexible and soft... would it fall more into the softies category too?

My intent is to have a softies/LPS tank. I did screw up and add in a few frags of SPS that I was given and they are doing great. My tank is 7 months old with some large frags bordering on small colonies. Thus far I have not had to supplement but I'm getting closer and closer to needing to add calcium (close enough I bought some but haven't had to dose yet, just watching it between water changes). I wonder about trace elements, but hate to add things willy nilly that I don't have tests for.

Wayne, if it frags ok I'll give ya a little frag. Just keep reminding me, ok? I get a little forgetful at times. My kids find it very entertaining.

[wayneb]

Sounds good Liz, just remind me to remind you (I'm getting old too) LOL.

wayne

[Will]

Liz,

im willing to accept any scraps scraped off your aquarium walls in the future

[Timfish]

I think that'll be cool if you can get all three growing on the back along with coraline!

[+KeeperOfTheZoo]

LOL! I think we may be in trouble Wayne.

Will, I'm gonna assume you only want the good stuff but if you'd like the film algae that grows on the glass I suppose I could share that too. Ya want some yellow polyps? I'm having to trim them on a regular basis. Very pretty, but prolific! Same thing applies though... you'll have to remind me!

Thanks for the vote of confidence Tim. I really hope it'll work. Gonna frag and attach everything in the next couple days right before a water change. I always get a little nervous about the toxins released by newly fragged corals.