Best way to remove large SPS colony

[jb61264]

I have a huge ORA Frogskin colony in my 75g sps dominant reef that is to a point where I need to break it down and frag it out...it is blocking light for some of my corals and in chemical warfare with others fighting for space.

My problem is that the base where it is attached to a piece of rock is at least 2 inches in diameter and I'm wondering what the best, least intrusive way to "break" this out without disrupting the entire tank.

I've thought about a long handled chisel of some sort and gently chipping away at the base where it is encrusted...I've already tried to gently grab the "stalk" or "base" where it is attached and gently wiggle it back and forth and it only moves the rock and I'm not interested in starting a landslide

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Badbrad8500]

A tiny hacksaw blade is what I use for large SPS. You're right about the chemical warfare, I was going to buy a bunch of SPS from another member and before I got over there everything was dead. The member broke (purposely and accidentally) a bunch of SPS the day before and his whole tank was a forest of bleached coral. I think your plan will work great, just get as close to the base as possible and try not to break additional branches.

 

[goettner]

I am a toolmaker and believe if I had that problem I would take a long thin chisel set it at the base of your SPS and give it a careful hit with a hammer.Corals are brittle and should snap of at that point.I would not worry about the base.It will sprout new growth very quick.

 

[Mangodude]

I am a toolmaker and believe if I had that problem I would take a long thin chisel set it at the base of your SPS and give it a careful hit with a hammer.Corals are brittle and should snap of at that point.I would not worry about the base.It will sprout new growth very quick.

+1 on this, and if you don't want to use a hammer underwater due to contaminants (I wouldn't) just grab a rock and hit the end of the chisel with it :hammer:

 

[TruReef]

watch these videos and be amazed....
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2117166&highlight=fraging

 

[dvanacker]

The method I always use is to take my bone cutter and make an indent inbetween the base and the rock. Than take a flat head screw driver and put it into the indent and twist.....it will pop right off no problem. Has worked really well for me.