How to remove monti capri stuck on tank

[rishu_pepper]

Someone on the local forum is selling me his montipora capricornis (brown). The thing is multi-level and about 8"-10" at its widest point. However, according to him (and the pictures I've seen), the coral is stuck to the back wall of his 29g Biocube.

With that said, what's the safest way to remove it?

Any other things I should look out for, and when I introduce it to my 90g? Thanks!

 

[RockOn681]

Depending on how many layers, you might be able to work a razor blade behind it. Did he glue it to the glass? Maybe you could loosen an end and work a piece of floss or fishing line behind it.

 

[rishu_pepper]

He said it just grew onto the back wall, probably not intentionally glued. I'll ask him to try those options.

 

[Bpb]

In my experience montipora will grow flush against glass, appearing to be stuck to it but they're really not, but will actually encrust to plastic, and you will not be able to remove it without killing it

 

[rishu_pepper]

So if he removes it from the back wall of the biocube forcefully, the monti will be completely dead?

 

[Bpb]

It's worth a shot, but having had to remove montipora from the overflow box I would say no it is Impossible. If someone else can chime in I'd love to hear it, but it took muriatic acid and a chisel to chip away thick montipora encrustment from the overflow. Makes scraping coralline off seem easy. Glass on the other hand...it didn't even attach to. Just grew perfectly flush against bit zero sticking

 

[rishu_pepper]

Is it considered "fragging" if it's completely broken off of the tank wall? I don't want to purchase a piece of rock lol but it'd suck for the guy to have it broken/die and not get any money for it either...

 

[alb_56]

I don't think breaking it from the glass will kill, only frag it. The pieces left on the glass should start growing, at least whenever I break mine from a surface the remaining pieces start growing again. Ive never had much luck removing monti completely from a surface it has grown on so I just break it at a convenient seem.

 

[kevin_e]

It won't die if it breaks off.

 

[rishu_pepper]

Thanks guys for the reassurance. I'll pick it up tonight and provide an update.

Now if I can only take care of this stupid aiptasia problem...:mad2: