Overgrown leather - what to do?

[otter]

I have a very large leather - toadstool I believe - that is much too large for my Red Sea Max 130. It has grown to probably 12" across and is also taller than I would like. Unfortunately it is also attached to a rock that I really don't want to lose. The whole thing could be removed and traded I guess but I'd rather cut it down and keep my rock and a smaller version of this beast.

I've seen lots of people cutting pieces off of the cap and easily fragging them but what if you also want to cut it down in height?

With that said if there is a market/demand/need for an extra large leather I probably could just go that route and find it a new home and then cut me a small piece off so I grow one more appropriately sized.

Any thoughts or ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

[LCP136]

I would cut the thing off near the base and sell it. I will grow back slowly and once it gets too big you can do it again. Alternatively you could sell the whole thing and just keep a small frag or two for yourself.

 

[jwoyshnar]

Two words--- BIGGER TANK!!! Perfect reason to get one. Any pics of it?

 

[otter]

I'll try to take some pics tonight.

Anyone ever just cut it down to a stump? Will it come back? If so what do you with the large, now baseless, coral? I was thinking of trying to skewer it through the trunk and rubber band the skewer (bamboo most likely) to a small rock that I would give to the new owner.

 

[ReefWhoDat]

I'll try to take some pics tonight.

Anyone ever just cut it down to a stump? Will it come back? If so what do you with the large, now baseless, coral? I was thinking of trying to skewer it through the trunk and rubber band the skewer (bamboo most likely) to a small rock that I would give to the new owner.

I think you just answered all of your own questions.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk

 

[otter]

Is my coral kebab the winning idea or is that more risk than it's worth? I could just cut off some from the top and hope it grows into a new one from me although that would mean my rock has to go.
I'll post a pic later and maybe that will help with the ideas.

 

[MJT82]

Toadstools will grow back wherever you cut... They are really hardy.

 

[otter]

Here are some bad phone pics from the front. It is a great looking piece but it is the main attraction by a large margin.

Thoughts? maybe I should set up a poll...

<a href="http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii76/scb71_2/Reef/?action=view&current=Front072511.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii76/scb71_2/Reef/Front072511.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii76/scb71_2/Reef/?action=view&current=front0725112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii76/scb71_2/Reef/front0725112.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[otter]

In this setup now that you see the pictures - would you sell the whole thing? The rock is that shelf like piece that goes left to right - the brain was on it as well when I took this picture.
Or would you cut it down, or something else altogether?
It's really cool but it does dominate the tank to put it mildly.

 

[otter]

Ok - I found someone who has a better home for this as a centerpiece in their tank.

Can I cut the trunk near the base while it is in the tank? I am just going to give him the coral and not the whole rock.

 

[chezhanks]

A suggestion for future reference would be to place a rock along the column of the coral so that it is touching. The coral will grow on to the rock and branch, eventually it will separate it's self. Also, it has been my experience that if these are placed higher in the tank they won't grow as leggy.