Cutting live rock?????

kawasaki · 10/04/2006, 10:22 AM

Okay so I got this piece of live rock with an order that weighs about 20lbs & is about 6 to 9 inches in diameter. The problem is there is a nice open brain on the top. He is no where near the sand bed since the rock is so big. I want to cut the rock so I can get him on a smaller piece & put him where he belongs. The only place in town that can cut rock is a tile & granite dealer who has a rock cutting saw. Is this even safe??????

Myrphie · 10/04/2006, 10:27 AM

It should be just fine. Honestly, if you're not too concerned about the precision of the cut you could easily do it yourself either with a hammer and chisel or by perforating the rock by drilling several holes in it then breaking it where you'd like. Live rock is typically very porous and easy to break.

plandy · 10/04/2006, 10:31 AM

That's right, these porous rocks break very easy. However if you do require very precise, geometric cuts it can be done with a rough edged hack saw.

xtm · 10/04/2006, 10:37 AM

Dremel works well for me

vanmo92 · 10/04/2006, 12:14 PM

It should be ok. Maby if you are worried then rinse it off in some saltwater after you get it home from being cut.

sjfishguy · 10/04/2006, 12:30 PM

The coral should be fine, if that is what you are really worried about. If you really want to cut it off though, I have used a chisel and hammer like described before. I have also used a tile wet saw. It works great but unless you know someone with a constuction company, they are tough to get a hold of to use (my grandfather owns a constuction company).

kawasaki · 10/09/2006, 09:13 AM

Well, I went to the hardware store got a rock cutting bit & a chisel. Most of the live rock in my tank is very porus but not this puppy, it was solid. It would have taken over an hour just to drill a couple holes. If I would have chiseled it I probably would have done more harm than good. So I just had to rearrange a few things in my tank. Thanks for the all the replies, they were good ideas.

10/04/2006, 10:22 AM	#1
kawasaki Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: La Grande, OR Posts: 59	Cutting live rock????? Okay so I got this piece of live rock with an order that weighs about 20lbs & is about 6 to 9 inches in diameter. The problem is there is a nice open brain on the top. He is no where near the sand bed since the rock is so big. I want to cut the rock so I can get him on a smaller piece & put him where he belongs. The only place in town that can cut rock is a tile & granite dealer who has a rock cutting saw. Is this even safe??????

10/04/2006, 10:31 AM	#3
plandy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 411	That's right, these porous rocks break very easy. However if you do require very precise, geometric cuts it can be done with a rough edged hack saw. __________________ Peter Landy Schenectady, NY Recent Returnee to the Marines! 12gl Aquapod New "custom euro" 90 gallon under construction!

10/04/2006, 10:37 AM	#4
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,703	Dremel works well for me __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

10/04/2006, 12:14 PM	#5
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	It should be ok. Maby if you are worried then rinse it off in some saltwater after you get it home from being cut. __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

10/04/2006, 12:30 PM	#6
sjfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 2,212	The coral should be fine, if that is what you are really worried about. If you really want to cut it off though, I have used a chisel and hammer like described before. I have also used a tile wet saw. It works great but unless you know someone with a constuction company, they are tough to get a hold of to use (my grandfather owns a constuction company). __________________ Rich nanoTOTM May '08 29 years saltwater, 19 years reefs Current Tank Info: 65 mixed reef

10/04/2006, 10:27 AM	#2
Myrphie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: El Paso, Tx Posts: 177	It should be just fine. Honestly, if you're not too concerned about the precision of the cut you could easily do it yourself either with a hammer and chisel or by perforating the rock by drilling several holes in it then breaking it where you'd like. Live rock is typically very porous and easy to break.

10/09/2006, 09:13 AM	#7
kawasaki Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: La Grande, OR Posts: 59	Cutting rock Well, I went to the hardware store got a rock cutting bit & a chisel. Most of the live rock in my tank is very porus but not this puppy, it was solid. It would have taken over an hour just to drill a couple holes. If I would have chiseled it I probably would have done more harm than good. So I just had to rearrange a few things in my tank. Thanks for the all the replies, they were good ideas.