In-tank toadstool fragging (1 Viewer)

[inigomontoya]

I have been debating fragging my tyree toadstool. It has become a showpiece at well over a foot, but starting to get almost too big. I may still let it go for a while, but know there are two possible routes to fragging this: either trimming the lobes off taking it back to a nice round shape or just cutting the full head off.
My concern is that it isn't practical to take the rock out of the tank, I have 50 some odd rics on the same rock and it will need to stay there. So I am worried about the "slime" fouling up the tank after the fragging itself. It seems that the trimming of the lobes, by keeping more of the toadstool in the tank, would actually result in more slime in the tank and therefore more danger to the corals in the tank. Trimming the whole head would leave less area to slime, but also leave a funky looking stump until it recovers. Guess another possibility is doing like one lobe a week for minimal impact.
I will obviously run carbon and do all I can to minimize but has anyone done this in tank and any thoughts on potential dangers? Not as worried about losing toadstool (either method should work fine) but rather just not messing up anything else. I have roughly 350-400g total water volume.

 

[BigRick]

You can trim it all the way around and make a donut frag, leaving you with a smaller round head. Many ways you can do it.

 

[inigomontoya]

Yea, I have seen it done and not concerned about the fragging portion but rather if anyone has done it in the tank and whether the volume of slime would be toxic or an issue for anything else to where I should only do a piece at a time or not. Lot of potential gunk and softies can be rough in what they put out.
The ones I have seen fragged have been out of tank and the bowl they are put in after was full of slime to where I am a bit worried about any effect that might have.

 

[ModAquatics]

When I fragged mine I did the donut method. It made a tremendous amount of slime. I did it outside of the tank, rinsed all of the pieces and put them back in the frag tank. I should have waited awhile because a lot of slime was all over the tank. Everything seemed to be fine the next day except a green slimer that browned out. However it was right next to the fragged shroom. You have way too many nice (and pricey) corals to risk that.

 

[gabe_j]

that slime can be real bad when it lands on other corals. its a defense mechanism of the leather. you don't want too much of that in your tank. take the rock out cut it as needed put it in a slime container, then when it settles down put it back in your tank. good luck.

 

[inigomontoya]

Thanks guys, yea -that is what I was afraid of. Getting that rock out will be a pain. Also tough due to all the rics on the top, they can probably manage being out of the water a while though while I frag it and I can just put it all in a rubbermaid and switch out the water every few minutes to keep the slime at a minimum. Think I may procrastinate this a bit longer- going to be more of a project than just snipping a piece or two off then

 

[andrew7b]

I had frag my son tyree toadstool while in the tank without any issued. I cut about 3-4 pieces around the edge with a sharp razor. Just do it over several week period.