New Acro

Mules1 · 06/19/2012, 04:23 PM

This acro just went into the tank. My question is: if you notice the rock it's on is quite large, I was wondering if I could just get out my grinder and cut the rock away almost to the "trunk", then stick it in a hole high up in the rock work with some marine epoxy.

Sisterlimonpot · 06/19/2012, 04:47 PM

You can do that or you can just cut the coral fragment off of the rock and glue it to a hole in the rock with marine epoxy.

seapug · 06/19/2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

You can do that or you can just cut the coral fragment off of the rock and glue it to a hole in the rock with marine epoxy.

+1. Cut it off so there's still a "stump" and you'll have one for the rocks and another mother colony with the rock base (which will likely be overgrown by the coral eventually).

Mules1 · 06/19/2012, 05:08 PM

Cut it with what and how much of a "stump" should I leave? (it is about 5" tall)

illcssd · 06/19/2012, 06:00 PM

Nice hoeksemai acro!

MarcWeaver · 06/20/2012, 11:22 AM

You can use a dremel with a cutoff disc or a pair of bone cutters or even diagonal wire cutters, but be aware that the cutters may frag the coral more than you want and cause the coral to go flying away... If you use them do it underwater in a bucket of tank water and try to cut into the coral and break it off by twisting the pliers. It should break somewhat cleanly at that point. If you do a monster squeeze and try to cut through it will fly into the other side of the bucket and break the tips.

I always use the dremel right over a pan of tank water and try to keep the coral underwater as much as I can, which is safer with a cordless dremel. Then, you can use marine epoxy to attach the acro to the rockwork. Make sure you cover the cut area completely with epoxy. It will quickly (usually within 2 weeks) start growing down over the epoxy and cover it eventually.

By the way try to cut it as close to the rock as possible.

seapug · 06/20/2012, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mules1

Cut it with what and how much of a "stump" should I leave? (it is about 5" tall)

I've had large colonies grow from a 1/4" tall nub, but if you use bone cutters too close to the base it might snap off completely.

Mules1 · 06/20/2012, 12:48 PM

Ok. I think I will go the dremel route, since I can't see how any pliers can make a clean cut without any crushing. I will cut it fairly close to the base and put that back into the tank to see if it will grow - doing all of this after I slowly move it up in my tank over the next while (or should I do it now?).

06/19/2012, 04:47 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	You can do that or you can just cut the coral fragment off of the rock and glue it to a hole in the rock with marine epoxy. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

06/19/2012, 06:00 PM	#5
illcssd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,295	Nice hoeksemai acro! __________________ --Austin 60g Ecotech anemone cube;

06/19/2012, 05:08 PM	#4
Mules1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 381	Cut it with what and how much of a "stump" should I leave? (it is about 5" tall)

06/20/2012, 11:22 AM	#6
MarcWeaver Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Boonsboro, MD Posts: 158	You can use a dremel with a cutoff disc or a pair of bone cutters or even diagonal wire cutters, but be aware that the cutters may frag the coral more than you want and cause the coral to go flying away... If you use them do it underwater in a bucket of tank water and try to cut into the coral and break it off by twisting the pliers. It should break somewhat cleanly at that point. If you do a monster squeeze and try to cut through it will fly into the other side of the bucket and break the tips. I always use the dremel right over a pan of tank water and try to keep the coral underwater as much as I can, which is safer with a cordless dremel. Then, you can use marine epoxy to attach the acro to the rockwork. Make sure you cover the cut area completely with epoxy. It will quickly (usually within 2 weeks) start growing down over the epoxy and cover it eventually. By the way try to cut it as close to the rock as possible.

06/20/2012, 12:48 PM	#8
Mules1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 381	Ok. I think I will go the dremel route, since I can't see how any pliers can make a clean cut without any crushing. I will cut it fairly close to the base and put that back into the tank to see if it will grow - doing all of this after I slowly move it up in my tank over the next while (or should I do it now?).