fragging large toadstool in the tank with SPS

[Marshall]

I can't remove it. It is over 22 inches in diameter and weighs upwards of 40 lbs. Even when ruffled it is almost exceeding the front to back dimension of my tank. I need to frag it but I need to do it in the tank. About 6" away from it are a bunch of SPS corals. Any suggestions?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/mbm28/DSCF1755.jpg

[lgoins]

I've always heard that this was not a good idea to do in tank, but I'm not an expert.

[Lanceafer]

I have no help other than to say man that thing is beautiful. I would almost want to get separate a tank for it and maybe a clown.

[lgoins]

There's almost too much tissue to frag without cutting the crap out of it. And to have to cut that much would definitely release lots of stuff into your tank..that's a big risk.

[WarDaddy]

It is going to slime SO BAD!

but when you go it, cut a couple inches in from the outside edge all the way around. you can then chop that outer ring into a bunch of smaller frags toss them over rubble and you will have dozens of good frags to sell off.

Toad stools are easy and forgiving to frag, but they slime bad!

[timrandlerv10]

pull out everything else for a week?

[Lakmo99]

Use a Chainsaw :p

[oceanarium]

Use a very very sharp knife... have a syphyon hose handy ready to go... turn of the pumps... or at least the main pumps causing turbulence where it is.

The worst of the slime will ooze soon as you cut it. It will contract when you cut it to its minimum size, most of the ooze comes out as it does so.

Try do the cut as neatly and quickly as possible.... Syphon off as much ooze as posible... then turn the pumps back on skimmer will take care of the rest. Avoide keeping its head in the same system as both will continue to ooze for a while.:)

After a few days you can sit the head over a rock to make a monster frag... Good circulation is needed with such big bits or they seem to get a bacterial infection siting on there own weight sufocating.

Pete

[surfjeepzx]

Everything he ^^ said, I use a razor sharp filet knife when I frag my green nepthia in the tank. The trick is to use a razor sharp knife and plan your cut before you make it. Do it quick and then let the coral alone.

[csb123]

I had to remove a similar coral that was about half the size last month.
I used a new 4 inch scraper blade (very sharp) and sliced off as large a chunk as I could with each stroke. I put all these frags into the grow out tank and they have all healed nicely. Next I going to cut the into smaller pieces for trading. My SPS did not seem to be affected at all.

Apparently these softies release more nasties other than just slime (ie terpenoids) that they use as chemical defence.

I would run my skimmer wet, put in some fresh activated carbon, and do a water change after the whole operation.

[kevin1234]

can you remove the sps from the tank? and then cut the coral?
it should work if you take them out.