Fragging a Torch, too close?

[heuerfan]

Hello everyone, please take a look at the enclosed pics. I have indicated where i would like to make the cut. Do you think these cuts are too close? The torch has two heads, so the cut that would separate the two should be fine, but the cut to make them shorter is in question.

Thanks in advance,
Steven

http://pages.prodigy.net/joie/_uimages/torchfragcut.jpg

[TIGER SHARK]

I have been thinking about the same thing on my hammer coral. Other people have said leave 2" from the tissue to be sure but I think you could cut right where it turns dark, after the live tissue stops. I would make the coral retract completely into the skeleton so it is not damaged then slowly start your cut with a??? are you using a dremel? if you can see any tissue under the skeleton, make a longer cut but it might be ok where you have it. I would try to leave some on the original skeleton and see if it grows back.Let me know how things go, I just need to get a dremel or something so I can frag mine.

[heuerfan]

I've used this for a million different things. I actually fragged this piece with my Dremel, very easy and fast. It was my first time fragging. I think i will follow your advice.

[TIGER SHARK]

Which dremel bit did you use? Or does it come with a bunch?

[heuerfan]

I used the brown disc for cutting. I've used this disc to cut everything from nails, sheet rock, corals:P

[Eric Boerner]

Do the verticle cut up towards the V split.

Definately use a dremel. The large brown cutting disk will make it fast and painless for you and the torch.

[heuerfan]

Hello Eric, thanks for responding. You did not mention any thing about the horizontal cut, so i guess i shouldn't do it? Do you feel this cut would be too close.

Thank you in advance,
Steven

[Eric Boerner]

Sorry for the delay. Yeah you don't want to cut the horizontal cut. You should leave the rest of the skeleton there. That'll give you something to anchor with. I have also seen torches sprout new heads from lower on a branch.

[JakePehrson]

I say forget about the dremel (too hard to handle). Use a nice large pair of wire cutters. The places that you have marked to cut the coral will work fine.

If it helps here is a link to an article I wrote a couple of years ago.

http://www.coralplanet.com/coral_propagation_articles.htm

[TIGER SHARK]

I saw that article a while ago and forgot about it, thanx for showing the link to it. Have you had any experiences with this type of branching coral?

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=155432

[JakePehrson]

The little "buds" that grow on the branches of Euphyllia can be snapped off the branch shortly after they start to grow. I have propagated them many times using this method.