Harvesting/trimming corals Removing the cookies Transporting corals We find a heavy tool like a hammer or chisel is best to knock the branches from ropes, making a clean break, vs. any cutting tools. A knife works best, as there is often other growth around the cookies. Cool, calm overcast (or shaded in the boat) days are best. We transport in seawater and add more continuously to keep them cool. Photo: Stephanie Wandke Photo: Stephanie Wandke Transferring corals Substrate preparation Out-planting with cement Large containers of corals and water are quite heavy; lift bags (underwater) or more than one set of hands is necessary.
Even large dead corals are sometimes loose, make sure where you plant will not be shifted in the next storm. Wire brushes remove turf algae. We use a ‘porcupine’ or ‘rosette’ method, putting many fragments of same genet in a cement mound. Large ziplocks are used to dispense just the right amount of cement. Cable ties Nailing ropes Counting out-planted corals Large, heavy fragments may not need cement, only cable ties to prevent any shifting. Acroporids quickly grow over the plastic ties. Ropes can be pegged onto certain (not all) substrate with 3- 4” cement nails. Older ropes or brand new ones, the key is not to allow any shifting (peg in many places).
Each person counts their own out-plants. Over time you and your team will get more efficient and faster. We went from ~ 400 to > 2000 corals a day (also depend son number of people of course). 14