1. The Propagation and Sale of Corals Robert Vickers Period 4 Mr. Dalke

2. Purpose of Project Prepare corals for sale at a local marine life distributor and record their prices as well as document their growth and survival.

3. Propagation Methods The 4 C’s Clipping Constricting Chiseling Clamping

4. Clipping

5. Constricting

6. Chiseling Video of chiseled Porites branneri propagationpropagation Method used mostly on encrusting corals and brain corals.

7. Clamping

8. Success of different methods MethodSuccessesFailures Gluing22 Putty122 Veil24 Toothpick06 Rubber band50 Chiseling10 Constriction11

9. Website Main Page Coral pictures

10. Questions Which corals grow or reproduce the fastest? Which corals are worth the most? What specific species of coral are present in each tank? What will make corals grow the fastest? What will ensure the survival of corals without having the corals bleach? What are the environmental requirements for each species of coral to thrive in?

11. Which corals grow or reproduce the fastest? Hard corals: tend to grow larger but do not spread as fast. Soft corals: spread quickly yet do not grow as large or last as long.

12. Which corals are worth the most? The average price for a hard coral was higher than that of a soft coral More desirable frags were produced from the hard corals

13. What specific species of coral are present in each tank? 120-Xenia elongata, Porites branneri, Montipora digitata, Pseudopterogorgia sp., Acropora sp., Montipora sp. 72-Xenia elongata, Nephthea sp., 70-Xenia elongata, Acropora sp., Montipora sp., Pachyclavularia sp. 90- Xenia elongata, Nephthea sp., Pachyclavularia sp., Acropora sp., Montipora sp.

14. Acropora sp. Montipora sp. Montipora digitata Xenia sp. Pseudopterogorgia sp. Porites branneri Pseudopterogorgia sp. Montipora sp. Pachyclavularia sp.

15. What will make corals grow the fastest? After testing the best location for the coral is on its own with access to light from different angles. A coral grows more rapidly and bleaches less than when it is left near other corals.

16. What will ensure the survival of corals without having the corals bleach? Bleaching was caused most often by temperature. Other factors in bleaching include proximity to other corals and health of the frag.

17. What are the environmental requirements for each species of coral to thrive in? Most corals require similar conditions in the Lovett tanks. The major factor in their survival appears to be the amount and access to light as well as a constant temperature. The presence of moving water also helps keep corals alive.

18. Hypothesis The soft corals, like the xenia, will reproduce and grow faster and, therefore, will be more profitable than the stony corals.

19. Data CoralOctober total priceApril total price Soft corals$70, 14 frags $5 a frag$95, 3 for $5, 2 for $10, 2 for $15, 1 for $20 Hard corals$50, 6 for $5 2 for $10$145, 2 for $5, 9 for $10, 4 for $15

20. Conclusion The hypothesis was refuted. Even though the xenia reproduced faster the hard corals were more profitable, lasted longer, and grew larger, and were easier to frag than the soft corals.

21. Future suggestions Continue trying new methods for propagation. Eliminate the small anemones in the 70 and 72 tanks. Visit the marine life distributor more often. Produce a lot more frags. Potentially create a frag nursery tank to allow safe place for frags to grow. Keep students constantly observing the corals for bleaching and dead tissue.

22. Bibliography "Coral Propagation -Coral Fanatics." Coral Fanatics - Suppliers of rare sps frags, corals, and zoanthids. Coralfanatics.com. Web. 01 Feb. 2010.http://www.coralfanatics.com/prop_technq.html. "Coral & Anemone fragging - techniques -." Reef Central Online Community. 13 Nov. 2005. Web. 01 Feb. 2010.http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=708423. Sally Jo. “Garf: Save a Reef Grow Your Own”. garf.org. September 28, 2009. “Leather Coral Propagation Using the Glue Net Combo”. garf.org. September 27, 2009. “SPS Propagation”. garf.org. September 28, 2009. Calfo, Anthony. Book of Coral Propagation. Monroeville, PA: readingtrees.com, 2001.http://www.coralfanatics.com/prop_technq.htmlhttp://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=708423http://www.garf.org/sj/PROPAGATE.shtml http://www.garf.org/27/pic/4/sarcopic713.html http://www.garf.org/MPegs/SPSPropagation.shtml