Abstract

Coral aquaculture and the reef aquarium industry in general are multi-billion-dollar industries. With certain export bans on corals from places such as Fiji and Hawaii, the demand for aquacultured coral has increased exponentially over the years. Culturing and husbandry of coral has allowed for advances in coral restoration projects and research on coral biology in relation to climate change without affecting wild populations. This project highlights the process of propagating coral and allows for further research projects to be involved in understanding these organisms. Building the aquacultured coral farm encompassed many important processes including water chemistry, filtration, lighting, and the coral fragging procedure. Understanding these key elements are essential for proper care of corals. Water and light parameters are measured and adjusted to mimic natural oceanic conditions that are ideal for coral growth. Corals are added to the aquarium as fragments from mother colonies and are given time to grow more polyps. Throughout this development, these fragments, also referred to as "frags", will be moved to colonize in other systems. Corals from the main frag tank can be used for scientific research and experiments, be sold to hobbyists, added to exhibits, or used in outreach programs. The creation of this farm and understanding the biological and chemical aspects of aquaculture allows our club members, faculty, and students to learn about and research coral biology, husbandry, aquaculture, and conservation.