soft coral, leather

Question
QUESTION: I have an established tank with a leather soft coral that is very large.  It has a split in the trunk, almost like a tree that is v shaped.  How do I split it into 2 pieces?  And do I have to medicate the tank?

Thank you Peggy

ANSWER: Hello Peggy,

You can cut the leather with anything sharp.  I usually pull the leather from the tank and use cooking shear/bone cutters.  (not because the Leather is hard, but because they are stainless steel.)

you can cut the leather in the tank if it is stuck to the rocks, but again, i would use something 'stainless steel' to put into the water.

The sharper the tools the better, and less stressed thing will become.

Leathers are 'tempermental' in that they may go into shock and or 'retract' for a while after being disturbed in anyways, 'cutting included'.

But, if you make clean cuts it will not even notice...

The feeling will be like soft leather, or tough bologna.

As for medicating the tank, no need, but you might want to self medicate, (not for any special reason)  :)




Let me know how you do...

bill

And dont forget to share some of the frags with your local reef geeks, cause they may want to share something in return, and to me that is the name of the game...




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Just wanted to thank you and let you know both pieces of the leather are doing extremely well..It took 2 days for it to recover but it is now back to normal but in 2 different locations in our tank...we used a razor and it cut like butter.

Answer
Heheh, I have visions of a SNL sketch with mike meyers, madonna, barbra streisand...


'... Like Buttah ...'

hehehe


Congrats.  You are no longer a fragging virgin... welcome to the club.   Find some friends, and start sharing...  (if you are in SO CAL, I would be glad to share with ya btw)


Bill