Pruning back 70% of a SPS colony tips?

[design.maddie]

I am planning out a major trim of one of my Montipora and just seeing if there are tips, tricks, or hints on best practices. I have fragged a coral before but to take away well over half is another thing. I uploaded these same photos to my build thread asking for help but...it is a build thread, not the best place to ask for help. My reasoning behind this is to allow more bare rock to start popping in 3-5 more Acroporas. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[fishguy242]

hi,try to get under each layer as deep in as possible, from top down, firmly lift,
may get some good size pieces.
on the other hand ,be ready for many small frags also.

 

[design.maddie]

I am really worried about the small frags falling everywhere. There is a bit of rot at the base of some of the coral and so definitely trying to get most of that off. gonna be digging deep. I am tossing everything in the trash. No frags will be saved. I have no one local to sell to and no idea/clue how to ship.

 

[fishguy242]

sad to see waste of life, where are you located ?
can gift /trade to LFS ?

 

[design.maddie]

sad to see waste of life, where are you located ?
can gift /trade to LFS ?

I'm in Louisiana. I'd totally give away to anyone wanting to come close. Hell, I would just break the whole thing off as one if I can and give it away. I understand I am just "trimming" my plants, but I never felt guilty tossing branches of my tree to the curb or cry over cutting my grass.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Best to break it by hand and try to break it as close to the base as possible. They usually break into a ton of pieces though.

 

[fishguy242]

let's see if we can find some members close to you, trees are plants,corals are animals.
@Fin @Scratch08 @Eagle_Steve ,cannot find other steve in bama ??

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Is it possible to get a screwdriver under the base and gently pry up with the other hand supporting the monti?

I have done that with great success in the past. Especially if there is just dead skeleton at the base.

Also, no worries on screwdriver hurting tank, it would need to be left in there a while to leech or degrade. And just rinse it in tap after, so it doesnt rust when put up.

Outside of doing that, you can place a fish net under one side of the coral and break pieces off. The net will catch any small bits that fall and make them easy to remove. Then when done on that side, just move net to other side and repeat.

 

[design.maddie]

Is it possible to get a screwdriver under the base and gently pry up with the other hand supporting the monti?

I have done that with great success in the past. Especially if there is just dead skeleton at the base.

Also, no worries on screwdriver hurting tank, it would need to be left in there a while to leech or degrade. And just rinse it in tap after, so it doesnt rust when put up.

Outside of doing that, you can place a fish net under one side of the coral and break pieces off. The net will catch any small bits that fall and make them easy to remove. Then when done on that side, just move net to other side and repeat.

Oh I like that fish net idea. Thanks

 

[design.maddie]

trees are plants, corals are animals.

Thanks for that lol I will NOT explain that to my wife. She is already sad about chopping it back.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I'm in Louisiana. I'd totally give away to anyone wanting to come close. Hell, I would just break the whole thing off as one if I can and give it away. I understand I am just "trimming" my plants, but I never felt guilty tossing branches of my tree to the curb or cry over cutting my grass.

What part of Louisiana? I’m in Denham Springs. I take some

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Thanks for that lol I will NOT explain that to my wife. She is already sad about chopping it back.

Well, I am guilty of it as well. I have some acros that get trimmed, fed to some sump starfish and then the skeletons thrown into my CaRX lol. Or they just get tossed in the sump and not eaten, then put in CaRX lol.

At least one of those involves feeding another sea critter lol. Or wait, maybe both do lol.

 

[fishguy242]

Thanks for that lol I will NOT explain that to my wife. She is already sad about chopping it back.

have you reached out to your club?
or post thread on here FREE ? with area code
just please don't throw away.

 

[design.maddie]

What part of Louisiana? I’m in Denham Springs. I take some

I'm in Alexandria.

 

[design.maddie]

This is where I plan to make the big break at.

 

[design.maddie]

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I'm in Alexandria.

A little far,

 

[design.maddie]

A little far,

That is a lot far! lol I lived in Denham Springs till that massive flood a few years back.

 

[J1a]

Why not just glue the acros on the monti? Would be much easier that way. (Assuming the main goal is to add some acros).

 

[design.maddie]

On top of the Monti?