skippy Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I have a dilemma. I have a quite large dead mans hand (devils finger) that is outgrowing my tank. While it looks cool at the moment it is taking up some serious room and preventing me getting other corals Have thought about "fragging" it (if that is the right term for a softie) but I reckon it is too nice a specimen to chop up. What do you reckon. It is a serious size - about 45cm dia. See photo below. I am thinking about selling it but am torn between keeping a showpiece or making space for new stuff. Is there anyone out there that may be interested? You will need a big tank Be interested in any thoughts folks out there may have (oh the last photo is mainly cause the goby is so cute :lol: ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Cut it up. I think you will find that it will regain it shape very quickly. I have two massive finger corals that need to be hacked up as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 agreed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Aren't they missing a couple of those in Wellington?? Maybe you should report it to the authorities. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 This is a stunning coral. It would certainly make a show piece in someones tank, and Skippys right, needs to be in a big tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 nice coral, not worth the risk to cut it, might loss the whole coral. keep it. Looks like you still have lots of room for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 wow thats impressive. Could take off someones arm. I vote single piece. Makes a really big feature 8) 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Time for a bigger tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Rogan wroteTime for a bigger tank :lol: :lol: oh, if only Thanks for the comments. All useful feedback but doesn't help me decide I think I will need to ponder for a bit Any more thoughts welcome cheers Skippy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I have cut frags off my devils finger before and it hasn't hurt it at all. But have never done a major trim. After seeing Bourneman's fragging video I wouldnt worry about it having problems. I would have ever be worries about the toxins it might release, most references say they are toxic to SPS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I think it would look better lower down, straight down the front from where it is now. May have to resize it to do that though. Leathers are funny things you never know how they'll react to getting chopped, most of the time you can butcher them up no worries, but sometimes they can pack a sad and just nothing you can do will save them. One thing you could do is spread your risk by chopping up several pieces & distributing it among several friends, that way it's pretty much guaranteed at least some of them will survive & grow. Just done that myself with a coral I was worried about losing, given some frags away the deal being the person will chop it in 1/2 & give me some back in a year or so when it's grown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacific blue Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 if you eally wana get rid of it im keen!!!! but if i was you id frag it, then sell it to me!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slappers Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Me to i will have a piece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted August 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Have been thinking more about it. I think that first I may redesign my reefscape so it is not so "wall like". This should give me more places I can put new stuff. Think I might have a lower level in a corner where I could try the devils finger as it is and see how it looks. Should help improve the tank flow and the lighting lower down, although this shouldn't be so much of an issue when I get my new lights up and running (hopefully next week). Need to get into the ceiling to look at reinforcing so I don't end up with my lights and ceiling in the tank Have been playing with new layouts on paper. Thinking about a couple of small peaks and mini benches so that should give me a bunch more horizontal places to put stuff. Will also look at putting my leathers and mushies in one area of the tank so they don't kill my other stuff (which has happened in the past ) Good opportunity to start a new thread - tank re-reefscaping Suggested to her who must be obeyed that there is plenty of room for a bigger tank, sump, skimmer, etc She was less than enthusiastic :-? Next time we build a house she reckons. Going to the architect this arvo Well at least I can dream about it Thanks again for the advice. If I do decide to frag the big beastie, will advise in due course. Skippy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Yes, good thinking. by the pic, anyway, you have got quite a bit of rock in there, opening it up by removing some may look good. Also there is debate, and contradicting anecdotal evidence about toxins, but for me anyway I would tend not to have such a large leather relative to water volume. There may be no discernable effect on other corals, but it may just simply slow growth of them generally. Something I've been wondering, due to the conflicting stories about this, perhaps a coral will not manufacture much toxins if all is well, but may start to do so in response to certain triggers, such as detecting encroachment of competing corals? Just a theory , but I know for certain that some land dwelling plants do it that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Next time we build a house she reckons. Going to the architect this arvo Well at least I can dream about it I am so looking forward to this part of the shift - designing new tank, tank room, sump arrangements etc. House going on the market Oct. Noticed another couple of interesting properties Skippy, but still may build. (The access road place is still on the market, and dropping in price) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted August 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Nice, there is still plenty on the market up here and I think the number of properties available may be starting to slow the price explosion. Land is still relatively cheap (certainly compared to Auckland ) I reckon you should build then you can design in fishrooms, inwall tanks, all the power and plumbing stuff, etc, etc, etc. If I had thought more about it when we built our place could have done that. Mind you, place is mighty big even without extra fishrooms, etc but I so wish I had done it in this place as we are likely to be there for a bit. Maybe I should throw my Dad out of the flat and convert it to a fish tank - I could dive in it Imagine a 110m2 fish tank Happy to give you a hand to smash walls down when you start up here :lol: I have to build a storage shed in the big shed soon. Lock up for the gardening stuff so we can get them out of the garage/store room in the house. Have already got the timber, etc so no real excuses not to get into it (apart from hanging my new lights :lol: ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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