Hammer Receding - Any suggestions?

[Jasontkd]

The red line crosses good tissue. Do I just cut through the tissue and the skeleton?

 

[45ZoaGarden]

If it’s tissue from the infected heads, yes. Just make sure to dip afterwards.

The red line crosses good tissue. Do I just cut through the tissue and the skeleton?

 

[Jasontkd]

Well, my attempt to save part of the hammer coral was a complete disaster. I removed it from the tank and prepared to frag off two heads. Inspecting it, I noticed that the flesh/tissue on a third head had begun to recede as well. So, I figured I would try to frag off the single head that was somewhat isolated from the rest of the colony.

I used a dremel with a diamond wheel and everything was going smoothly. However, right befog the cut was complete, the head skeleton cracked and split the head in two pieces. I attempted to glue the two pieces to a new frag plug to see if somehow it would survive. I dipped it and put it back in my tank. Unfortunately, within a few hours, all the tissue was falling off and it was a goner.

So, although I know the coral was probably going to die in the next few days/weeks anyway, I definitely hurried it along. So, I have officially lost my 4 head hammer

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Well, my attempt to save part of the hammer coral was a complete disaster. I removed it from the tank and prepared to frag off two heads. Inspecting it, I noticed that the flesh/tissue on a third head had begun to recede as well. So, I figured I would try to frag off the single head that was somewhat isolated from the rest of the colony.

I used a dremel with a diamond wheel and everything was going smoothly. However, right befog the cut was complete, the head skeleton cracked and split the head in two pieces. I attempted to glue the two pieces to a new frag plug to see if somehow it would survive. I dipped it and put it back in my tank. Unfortunately, within a few hours, all the tissue was falling off and it was a goner.

So, although I know the coral was probably going to die in the next few days/weeks anyway, I definitely hurried it along. So, I have officially lost my 4 head hammer

You have to go the slowest speed possible and cool both the wheel and piece every few seconds to keep it from fragmenting. I also use the cutting wheel designed for “metal” because it isn’t quite as rigid as a diamond blade. It doesn’t bite into the corals as much and is a much smoother cut. The cut also has to be as flat as possible. If you cut at an angle, the structure is compromised.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Well, my attempt to save part of the hammer coral was a complete disaster. I removed it from the tank and prepared to frag off two heads. Inspecting it, I noticed that the flesh/tissue on a third head had begun to recede as well. So, I figured I would try to frag off the single head that was somewhat isolated from the rest of the colony.

I used a dremel with a diamond wheel and everything was going smoothly. However, right befog the cut was complete, the head skeleton cracked and split the head in two pieces. I attempted to glue the two pieces to a new frag plug to see if somehow it would survive. I dipped it and put it back in my tank. Unfortunately, within a few hours, all the tissue was falling off and it was a goner.

So, although I know the coral was probably going to die in the next few days/weeks anyway, I definitely hurried it along. So, I have officially lost my 4 head hammer

Sorry for the loss. Well, on the bright side, you have more room for other corals now

 

[Millwright]

Sorry for the loss!
Look at it this way. You gained experience in diagnosing a problem. You now have firsthand experience fragging a LPS coral. Whether or not it was successful, it was a learning experience. The loss sucks but could you imagine if your first time fragging was with a 10 or 15 head hammer and Splitting multiple heads.

 

[Jasontkd]

It is a bummer. I know the coral was going to die anyway, it just sucks. But, I am pleased that the issue does not appear to be widespread in my tank and does not seem to be caused by a water chemistry issue or something else. So, there is some silver lining.