Constructing Coral Nurseries

This video shows various methods for constructing coral nurseries. The A-frames and fish houses can also be as an out-planting method, or as methods for growing mother colonies, for annual trimming and out-planting. A-frames are best made of the heavier gage mesh. When using phosphoric acid on the frames (rust kill), dilute to 50%. Our new method stacks ten frames and uses a sprayer for ease of treatment. Rust the frames on land, not in the sea, but spray with seawater once a week to hasten rusting. The rustier the better! An iron phosphate coating is the end result and is inert, and so the A-frames can last over a decade in the water. People who do coral work should be properly trained and they must first get permissions from their local government and/or local traditional chiefs. Always start small in a new site, in case it does not work for some reason, and get a year of results before expanding. A-frame nurseries are best for beginners as they can be left in place and they will become good fish habitat. But in high energy areas, they must be firmly secured by cementing the anchoring slab to the bottom.