Tidal Gardens - SPS Propagation

Step 1: Selecting an appropriate coral for propagation
Most SPS can be propagated easily by way of fragmentation. It is still a good idea to do a little bit of research since every once in a while there is a coral that falls into this category that does not take fragmentation well. The other item to consider is the health of the specimen to be fragmented. Unless your situation is of dire emergency, choosing a healthy specimen is recommended. Sometimes though, a SPS colony suffering from rapid tissue necrosis (RTN) can be saved by breaking off the unaffected tips and attaching them elsewhere.

Step 2: Gather the necessary items
The following items should be dedicated for aquarium use only. It is unwise to use household items used in other applications for fear of contamination.

A pliers to break off a fragment. This is optional since many aquarists are perfectly happy using their fingers.
A Tupperware container
Substrate (piece of live rock, cement plug, floral tube, etc.)
Gel super glue
Clean cloth towel

Step 3: Cutting the coral
First take the coral to be fragmented and place it in the Tupperware container with some tank water. Break off a 1" piece with your fingers, pliers, or a hammer and chisel if necessary.

Step 4: Mount the fragment onto the substrate
At this time, pat dry the fragment, and put several drops of gel super glue at its base. Place the fragment on the substrate so that the glue makes contact. Sometimes it helps to put a dab of glue on the substrate as well. Leave the fragment and substrate in the open air for roughly ten minutes so the glue can harden. The coral can handle being out in the air much longer, so don't worry.

Step 5: Placing the mother colony and the fragment back into the aquarium
Hopefully by this time the mother colony has stopped producing copious amounts of mucus. Remove the mother colony from the Tupperware container and reintroduce it into the tank in a location where it receives adequate flow. Current is essential to removing the excess mucus and aiding the regenerative process. Discard the water in the Tupperware container.

Place the fragment back into the tank in a location where it is unlikely to get knocked over. A spot of higher flow would speed up the regenerative process. In a week, you should see the fragment begin to encrust the substrate at the base.