| Coral Propagation | | | | be removed from the water for a period of time |
| Welcome to my Dream. | | | | too, for example low tide on a natural coral reef. |
| | | | I do suggest having at least 14 times per hour water |
| In my dream you would buy a coral from an | | | | flow in any tank that you wish to propagate coral in |
| aquarium store, which someone else has propagated | | | | and pay attention to iodine levels. Maintaining an iodine |
| and propagate it yourself and sell multiples of that | | | | level of 0.06pp when propagating will decrease the |
| same piece back to that same store so they can sell | | | | instances of bacterial infection among the new corals. |
| it on to other people. | | | | Before you handle any coral it is important for you to |
| The stores that heavily participate in this program | | | | know what it is in order to avoid handling a poisonous |
| could then wholesale these corals to other stores. | | | | coral that my sting your hands such as fire coral |
| The amazing thing is that this dream is so simple and | | | | Millepora. It is recommended to use gloves when |
| possible yet even now it is just a dream. | | | | handling live rock and coral. Corals are closely related |
| Some corals are very easy to propagate while others | | | | to jellyfish and as with jellyfish, some are more |
| are harder. In my dream, every coral you bought | | | | poisonous then others. |
| would be bought with a view to propagate it. | | | | If you ever are stung by a coral or fish the best |
| If you can learn to keep coral, then you can learn to | | | | thing to do is place it under hot running water, which |
| grow it, if you can grow it then you can learn to | | | | will break down the neurotoxins. |
| propagate it, if you can propagate it then do it. Every | | | | Anemones can also be propagated like a mushroom, |
| person that propagates their coral is a credit to this | | | | but I rarely recommend it. An anemone is a beautiful |
| wonderful industry. | | | | display when coupled with clown fish, but not always |
| The easiest corals to propagate are mushrooms, | | | | successful long term. I would suggest trying an |
| leathers and fluffies. To propagate these corals it is | | | | anemone in the aim of seeing how long you can |
| as simple as cutting a piece off them and securing | | | | maintain it first, if you find you are one of the few |
| the pieces to a new piece of rock. The cutting is | | | | that can keep them long term, give propagating it a |
| most commonly secured to a small piece of live rock | | | | go of sure. If you do propagate it long term then I |
| using fishing line. | | | | believe it is your responsibility to share your |
| When propagating leather coral I have found it more | | | | experience with as many people as you can. There |
| effective to ensure that the cut surface is pointed to | | | | must be something that you are doing that other |
| the direction of the water flow instead of trying to | | | | people aren't. This is a subject I will really be |
| secure the cut surface to the rock. There seems to | | | | experimenting on in the coming years. It is common |
| be less chance of developing an infection and the | | | | for anemones to split by them self in peoples tank. |
| healthy uncut surface will be able to attach to the | | | | Currently coral propagation is the most realistic |
| rock faster then the damaged side which will heal | | | | approach over breeding corals. Corals can be bred in |
| faster if allowed adequate water flow. This also | | | | captivity as moon light cycles and temperatures can |
| applies for acropora, even a stag will attach faster is | | | | be used as a trigger. The problem with breeding coral |
| the health side is the point of contact. | | | | is that they mass spawn which will choke many |
| When ever you are cutting a piece of coral ensure | | | | systems. If you were to breed the coral it would be |
| that there is ample room around the cut so it is not | | | | quite a long period of time until you have specimens |
| stung by surrounding specimens as the coral will be | | | | ready to sell. When they are propagated they will |
| week at this time. Also be wary of fish such as | | | | often be ready in as little as 3 months. |
| Angels that may pick on the damaged coral. | | | | It is not the intention of this article to teach you |
| Don't be a wimp! Many people love the idea of | | | | comprehensive techniques on how to propagate coral |
| propagating their coral but are to scared to cut them | | | | but rather to tell you that it is something that you |
| because they think they will hurt it. Corals don't feel | | | | should be considering doing, yes I do mean you! The |
| pain as we do so be brave and remember that what | | | | internet is full of information and techniques which will |
| you are doing it for the better of the species. | | | | set you on your way to being an enviro-hobbyist |
| Remember that you can't win them all, but you will | | | | coral farmer. Read several articles and obtain a few |
| find that as you get better at it and with practise it | | | | ideas before you try your first. Remember that each |
| will be rare for you to fail in your propagating | | | | person will tell you what works for them, this doesn't |
| attempts. | | | | mean that there is a definitive right or wrong way to |
| Big warning, never cut a mushroom, fluffy or | | | | do it. |
| anemone out of the water. It is better for you to | | | | Please do not let possible failures stop you from |
| cut them submerged in a shallow bowl of water from | | | | succeeding in this. The only way you will fail is to not |
| your tank. We learnt this the hard way as one day | | | | try. Even if the first few go wrong I encourage you |
| my brother was cutting a mushroom coral out of the | | | | to keep trying until you are doing it so confidently |
| water when it sprayed him in the eye with poisonous | | | | that you will wonder why everyone doesn't do it. I |
| neurotoxins. The pain was excruciating and we spend | | | | will tell you now that there is people that propagate |
| the whole night going from doctors, to hospitals to | | | | coral and there is people that are scared to try. The |
| eye specialists. | | | | service that you are doing for your hobby is too big |
| To propagate stony corals is it just a matter or | | | | to not do it. |
| cutting them with a hacksaw or better yet on a ban | | | | Another simple way that you can help is to ask |
| saw. Once again allow room around the cut to it | | | | every time you are in an aquarium store if they |
| doesn't have to also deal with competing with it | | | | stock any propagated coral. If they do I encourage |
| neighbours. After the stony coral has been cut you | | | | you to consider buying it over any wild caught |
| can towel dry the bottom of it and superglue it to a | | | | options. That fact that you are asking will reinforce |
| larger rock to safely secure it. Allow the glue to set | | | | to the retailer that propagated coral is something |
| before returning it to the water. | | | | that people want. Imagine if every person asked at |
| Don't be scared to handle the coral roughly because | | | | every shop they went into, retailers want be doing |
| they are actually very tough, after all they are built | | | | anything to be able to supply such a requested |
| to ensure tonnes of water being dumped on top of | | | | product. |
| them in the form of a wave. Most corals can safely | | | | |