Coral Fragging Workshop and Raffle 4-22-17

[JaimeAdams]

It is that time of year again. On April 22nd at 4:00 pm we will be doing our annual coral fragging workshop and raffle. If you have never been to one of these classes I would highly suggest showing up early as it will be standing room only. As you all know we usually meet the 3rd Saturday of the month, but due to conflicts with Easter this year we have pushed the meeting to the 22nd being the following Saturday. This event will be held at Elmer's Aquarium in Monroeville PA located at 4005 William Penn HWY 15146.

We will provide a wide selection of coral colonies and demonstrate the safe and proper way of dividing those into mini colonies. At the end of the presentation we will raffle off all of the coral that we cut up. We strive to have varieties of coral for beginners to advanced reef keepers so that there is something there for everyone. I am not talking about cutting up 3 or 4 colonies here folks I am talking closer to 20. In fact I believe we had about that last year with over 100 mini colonies leaving at the end of the workshop. You do not need to be a member to attend the class or to participate in the raffle, but if you find value in what we do we would greatly appreciate your support. Tickets for the raffle are just $1 with added tickets for $50 and $100 ticket packs. We are always looking for donations of coral to increase the variety and to help offset the cost to the club. If you have something to donate please do and we will give out free tickets for every item donated to this event and you may also request a chunk of the coral to take back home with you as well.

I always look forward to our largest meeting of the year and the ability to fill a tank for pennies on the dollar so please mark your calendar and take off work because this truly is an event not to be missed. You may find more information about this and other upcoming events on our website www.pmasi.com See everyone there.

 

[jsker]

Bump

 

[JaimeAdams]

I have procured us 3 colonies of Australian Acropora thus far. If anyone has any suggestions on what types of coral that they would like to see us cut up by all means please post your suggestions. We will continue looking for donations from members and stores and we will make the final selections the week before the meeting.

 

[acer]

Torts, Tenuis, Bounce mushroom ... LOL - ya probably not real feasible. How about Goniopora, Singularia for softies/LPS. Montipora and Stylophora are usually the easiest SPS - although I have seen some Styo that is hard as rock. I wish we knew how many people and how many tickets will be sold so we could determine type ,level, etc. of the corals to get for the meeting.

I will be bringing a large piece of my Hollywood stunner chalice to make several frags from for the workshop.

 

[fetta]

Ill be bringing a big frogspawn

 

[JaimeAdams]

We are also at the mercy of what we can find at our supporting stores locally and what people are willing to bring to donate, but we will certainly try to get things that people would like to see.

If you are bringing something to frag you can ask for a piece of it back as well, just so everyone is aware. Even if you want half of a colony back after we cut it, we are fine with that.

Thus far we have
Frogspawn
Yellow Toadstool
Hollywood Stunner Chalice
Acropora Millepora
Acropora sp.
Acropora sp.
We will also certainly have a mushroom rock, a zoa colony, Micromussa lordhowensis (Acan) and a bubble tip anemone not yet sourced. We can probably procure a green Sinularia and a nice chalice from a different genus as the Hollywood Stunner.

I was thinking maybe a Duncan or Candy Cane. A Lobo would be nice if I can find a decent one. I would love to find a Blastomussa colony or a Scolymia that we can afford. I wouldn't mind doing another Fungia.

We hope to have around 2 dozen colonies for this class and workshop through donations and purchasing.

If you are not a member now is also the time to join, while the workshop is free and open to the public as well as the raffle we are going to have some spectacular member's only raffle prizes. If you are interested in joining the prorated membership fee from now until December is only $20!

 

[JaimeAdams]

Bump!

 

[Wieloch89]

Hey it was nice to meet you today Jamie, you helped answer a lot of questions that I had. Thanks again for your patience! Anyway, work schedule permitting I'll be at the workshop on the 22nd and hope to sign up!

 

[JaimeAdams]

It was nice meeting you as well @Wieloch89

 

[JaimeAdams]

Well guys, I got a call from a buddy that most of us know, who offered to donate us allot of large colonies for the frag workshop next weekend. He only deals in "designer" corals so you know they are going to be nice, acros, montis and chalices oh my...

 

[Pola0502ds]

Very cool! Getting excited!

I made a post about this but if anyone has any sponges for sale/trade that they can bring to this meeting PM. Dont post in here about it.

On another note, i can bring cheato if anyone needs it. BRS just did a video on cheato and about how well it works. Almost too good in my opinion.

 

[chomoney]

This is awesome! Super bummed that I won't be able to make it

 

[JaimeAdams]

You know I guess I forgot to mention it here but last week I got a call from a guy who is friends with a few of us in the club and he is going to re-scape his tank and as a result offered me some chalices, montipora and acropora for the workshop. He said the one acro, forget the name, something from Jason Fox was so big that we could get a few hundred frags off of it. The person who is giving us these things only deals with high end "designer" corals, so this should be a nice upturn for our event. Also this year we will be having allot more beginner coral than last year. I know that I have already secured or have been promised a variety of toad stools, a large colony of Bubble Gum Bounce mushrooms aka Lava Lamps, green nepthea (leather), certainly some other mushrooms or ricordeas. I will know more after @ReefQueen and I go shopping this evening

 

[Pola0502ds]

Do you guys need a fragging saw? Mine should be in before Friday

 

[Pola0502ds]

Do people ever buy tickets and walk away with nothing?

The club in Cleveland does this same exact thing but just gives the coral out. Before something is fragged they ask how many people want a piece and then they divide that colony into that amount.

 

[hybridazn]

Well here is my hopeful promise that I can make it Saturday.

 

[Pola0502ds]

Well here is my hopeful promise that I can make it Saturday.

With tons of your lovely colonies! Jk! Lol.

 

[Wieloch89]

I plan on being there Saturday and officially joining the group as well. I do have to leave early for work and I have 1 other huge problem. I just started cycling my tank yesterday

 

[JaimeAdams]

Do you guys need a fragging saw? Mine should be in before Friday

We do have a saw. It's just an inland and not a gryphon. We also purchased a new diamond coated wet tile saw for cutting through thicker stuff.

Do people ever buy tickets and walk away with nothing?

The club in Cleveland does this same exact thing but just gives the coral out. Before something is fragged they ask how many people want a piece and then they divide that colony into that amount.

All the times that i have been there we have had excess coral that were given away at the end, so no one has left empty handed.

Well here is my hopeful promise that I can make it Saturday.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Just a reminder that the meeting is at 4pm, not at 5pm like usual. Last year this meeting took at 3 1/2 hours, so we are starting early as to not be there after close.