Cutting coral with band saw?

[EntitledSushi]

I've got this green star polyp in my tank. I learned the hard way that these things are like weeds, and they have to be kept on an island to keep them from spreading. But I want to change up my aquascape and I'm feeling like this one big rock covered with green star polyp is too big and distracting. I'm thinking about breaking it into two smaller pieces somehow. Does anyone know if you can cut an aquarium rock with a bandsaw? And will the process kill the coral?

 

[fishguy242]

hi hammer and chisel,tap a score line then split gsp will be fine,don't ruin your saw,would need diamond blade to cut rock or coral ,prob will not break exactly where you want,wear eye protection,happy fragging

 

[T-J]

hi hammer and chisel,tap a score line then split gsp will be fine,don't ruin your saw,would need diamond blade to cut rock or coral ,prob will not break exactly where you want,wear eye protection,happy fragging

I literally did this yesterday to my GSP rock. Cracked out a flat head screwdriver (couldn't find my chisel!) and the hammer. I broke off all the rock that didn't have GSP on it and spread it around the tank. Now I have a nice GSP island on the sandbed.

 

[EntitledSushi]

Thanks! Silly question maybe but ... how long will the GSP survive out of water while I work on the rock?

 

[Fishbro]

I’m sure your GSP will be fine for however long it takes that stuff is indestructible

 

[PicassoClown04]

Probably about 10 minutes or so (idk this is the rule for most zoas so I’d assume it applies here too). I got a tank off craigslist and it unknowingly had a huge frag of gsp in the rock (it was super abused so I didn’t see it) and I left it in a dark box with the rock to cycle for about a month... they’re big and beautiful now.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Wet bandsaws are used by many coral fraggers

 

[Martyd]

I use an old tile saw. Cuts like butter

 

[KrisReef]

Drop it from about 4.5 feet onto a concrete slab or sidewalk. After the rock breaks, you may have to use a knife to cut the GSP along the break. The whole operation could take less than a minute. but GSP can probably spend the winter above the hide tide line and still grow back fine after 3 months on the beach. That last part I made up, but it might be true. I think it could easily last an hour on a bench in the garage if ambient temperature is between 60-85F,

The bottom line, the stuff is almost indestructible with only minimal caution needed. GL

 

[EntitledSushi]

Thanks. I guess coral is is a lot more tolerant of being out of water than I thought. Is this generally true? For examples, I have some rocks with Zoas on them and I would like to break the Zoas off at some point too.

 

[mfinn]

I keep a cheap set of wood chisels ( harbor freight) just for doing exactly what you need to do.
GSP will stay alive as long as you keep it wet.
Same with zoanthids.

 

[fishguy242]

CAREFUL with zoas ,google palytoxin,treat all as worst,do not touch ,eyes ,mouth,wash hands 3x,trust me i've been there

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Just some anecdotal FYI, I had some GSP that was stranded high and dry due to a power outage for 31 hours straight. After it was resubmerged it was retracted for a couple days but bounced right back.