A difficult chalice fragging situation, advice sought

[cee]

I have a Jayda's WM I'd like to frag for a friend. Problem is it is tightly encrusted to a rock at the base of my reef that is supporting several other large rocks and hence would require tearing about half of the reef apart to remove. I'm not willing to do that. It won't pry off the rocks like some will that have recently encrusted; it is stuck good. It is also under about 28' of water and close to the front glass so I can't get a knife in there to score a piece off. It hasn't started to plate out any either so there is nothing to work with that I could take bone cutter to and frag. Does anyone have any ideas on how this might be fragged without destroying the whole colony? If I attempt to pry it off the rockwork I'll end up with a bunch of shards (I've done that with other less valuable chalices and learned that lesson before). Thanks.

Dave

 

[Bubbles_B]

Since you've learned from doing similarly in the past, just let it be before something worse may occur. I'm sure your buddy will forgive you. Heck you bought it as a frag maybe he will be willing to find a frag elsewhere. Just my thought, I don't wanna hear about anything tragic happening to your awesome chalice. But honestly, this is just my opinion. Good luck! :angel:

 

[dougers31]

Just drain the tank and dremel it;) Would you be able to very carefully take a bone cutters and undercut the rock by nipping at it until you can break a piece off??

 

[BlazinNano]

First question will it ever plate or just encrust? It is going to plate give it time. If it is going to encrust glue a disk next to it. Tell your friend he will get a piece when it is ready. I am sure he will understand that you don't want to hurt the colony

 

[VelasCorals]

How much is a frag of that from a vendor? The price can't be worth risking your other colonies and the rock work.

 

[cee]

First question will it ever plate or just encrust? It is going to plate give it time. If it is going to encrust glue a disk next to it. Tell your friend he will get a piece when it is ready. I am sure he will understand that you don't want to hurt the colony

I hadn't thought of this but it is a good idea. Thanks, I think I'll try it. Nothing to lose LOL, just time. This thing grows slow, though. He's been looking for over a year. I know I've had this one for almost 3 now and it is maybe 2" in diameter and has never plated. I rarely see it offered for sale either these days so I don't know how many pieces there are out there.

 

[cee]

Just drain the tank and dremel it;) Would you be able to very carefully take a bone cutters and undercut the rock by nipping at it until you can break a piece off??

All 280 gallons, you wanna help LOL.

 

[dougers31]

How much is a frag of that from a vendor? The price can't be worth risking your other colonies and the rock work.

Yeah, you should buy a frag for your buddy and then thank him for not making you frag your colony:)

 

[MimicOcto8]

I have the same situation with one of my chalices but i glued a frag plug next to it and now its just a waiting game. They sure are slow to grow. get us a pic of it if you can. and if you find a way to frag it other than the waiting game let me know

 

[cee]

Yeah, you should buy a frag for your buddy and then thank him for not making you frag your colony:)

He lives in SoCal so I'm surprised he can't find one there. I think this originated from Jose Casas as I believe his daughter's name is Jayda and hence the name.

 

[clowns101]

I would take and put a frag plug right beside the growth edge and let it grow over it,then brake off the plug later on,safest way to do it with this being a supporting rock.