Fragging encrusting corals

[Charlie G]

Hi all,

I have a Leptoseris and Cyphastrea that has been growing well, too well. It’s encrusting along my rock. I would like to cut them back so they do not extent onto the adjacent coral like my Acan. I have been trying to find videos or any info on how to successfully cut them back and maybe forage the pieces I cut without hurting the rest of the colony. Only videos I find discuss using a bandsaw and cutting the rock it’s on.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?
I would like to cut it and then safely remove that piece from the rock it’s encrusted on without removing the rock from the tank.

Thank you.

 

[Charlie G]

Here is another pic.

 

[Reefer911]

I honestly don’t think they would overtake another coral. Might be a little warfare but I think the encrusting would end once it reaches the acan.
I have some cyphastrea that is encrusting around a rock except for an area where there’s some bubble algae. It would be helpful if it would grow over it but it won’t

 

[Charlie G]

Ok. Good to know. Thank you.
I’ll keep an eye out for it.
My hopes is that they both live happily and won’t hurt each other. Both are growing well.

Thanks again.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Is it me or are those rocks blanketed with vermetid snails? Yikes!

 

[Charlie G]

Omg. Yes. They are. By the time I realized that something didn’t look right and I found out what they were they were all over.

I tried manual removal (although just a few at a time), KZ snow, bumble bee snails which I think contains them but it’s all over.
I think except for one of my zoa frags the rest of the coral are doing ok despite they are all over.

 

[mook1178]

I doubt you can remove the coral from of the rock without killing it.

 

[Charlie G]

My original though was to cut a piece with something sharp perpendicular to coral but that piece would still be adherent to the rock. I assume it won’t pry off.