Coral fragging is the practice of breaking off a piece of healthy coral tissue and growing it into a new colony. Tools needed: bone cutters (for hard/SPS coral), razor blade or shears (soft coral), reef putty + cyanoacrylate gel, frag plugs, dipping solution (CoralRx, Bayer Advanced, Revive). Procedure: 1. Identify a healthy area of the parent piece with visible polyp extension. 2. Make a clean cut - rougher cuts heal slower and invite infection. 3. Dip the frag in the dipping solution per manufacturer instructions (typically 5-10 minutes). 4. Rinse in clean saltwater. 5. Apply a small bead of reef putty to the frag plug, then a drop of CA gel on top. 6. Press the frag base into the putty - the CA flash-bonds, the putty holds long-term. 7. Place in moderate flow at similar lighting to the parent - too high or too low and the frag may bleach or stall. Healing time: SPS encrusts in 2-4 weeks; LPS regrows tissue in 1-2 weeks; soft coral attaches in 1-3 weeks. Pro tip: never frag a stressed coral - wait until parent is fully healthy and growing.
The full Q&A library answers the most-searched aquarium questions. Browse calculators and disease database for related help.
Whatever specific topic brought you here, four fundamentals govern long-term aquarium success: water quality, parameter stability, biological filtration, and species-appropriate husbandry. Skip any one and the others struggle to compensate.
Water quality: ammonia + nitrite at zero, nitrate under 30 ppm freshwater + 10 ppm reef. Test weekly with API or Salifert kits. Use our water parameter checker to score your readings against your tank type.
Parameter stability: stable wrong parameters beat fluctuating ideal parameters. Most fish tolerate a wide pH range if it's stable. Sudden swings of 0.4+ pH or 5+°F kill fish faster than chronic suboptimal values. Use temperature controllers (Inkbird) + automated dosing for consistency.
Biological filtration: the bacterial colony on your filter media + rock + substrate is the engine. Never replace all media at once. Use our filter turnover calculator to size correctly.
Species-appropriate husbandry: research adult size, territoriality, diet, and tankmate compatibility before purchase. Use our tank stocking calculator + compatibility guides.
How long does an aquarium take to set up? 4-6 weeks for full cycling + first stocking. Use our cycle ETA calculator + how long does cycling take.
What's the best aquarium for beginners? 20-gallon long. Big enough for parameter stability, small enough for budget + space. See beginner picks.
How often should I do water changes? 25-30% weekly. See water change frequency Q&A + water change calculator.
Why does my fish keep dying? 5 leading causes: uncycled tank, wrong species pairings, no quarantine, undersized tank, neglected water-change schedule. See full diagnosis.
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