Reply to a question on how to propagate large polyp stony coralsPropagating LPS corals is usually not as easy as it sounds IME, but one method you can use is to break the skeleton base, yes you read correctly, break the skeleton base, and then place it with a little offset so that the two parts are not at the same level.
Breaking the skeleton is not easily done and you need to be careful not to harm the polyp itself. One way to do so is to keep the coral under water, upside down, so you see the skeleton in its entirety, and gently tap it with a pointed object along a line where you would like the cut to occur. You can use a pick or similar sharp pointed tool to do so. Another method is to use a small hand saw that will cut the skeleton and make a small groove along the lines where you want it to break. Then, after that is done, whichever way you did it, you tap with a small hammer until the skeleton breaks. Remember to do so under the water.
Now you have one polyp with a broken skeleton and you can place the coral Back with the two parts of the skeleton at a slight offset. Something looking liket this: ...__ (where the three dots are one part of the skeleton and the underscores the other one).
Gradually lower one of the pieces. Keep doing so about every 4 to 5 days.
After a while you should start to see the separation of the polyp take place.
The split in the polyp will gradually get larger and larger. Soon you will actually have two polyps on two pieces of skeleton.
This has worked for me on Elegance and Meat corals and even on Fox corals without any losses.
See the other document on Propagating Elegance Coral too. Note that it is very good idea to dose the tank with Vitamin C while the split is taking place (see Propagating Catalaphyllia).
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