To cut or not to cut

[beadlocked450r]

I have a big birdsnest colony that is about 18"long and 12"deep. The underside that doesnt get light is all dead and it looks crappy. Do i cut it and get rid of the dead stuff or leave it be?

 

[Psiber_Syn]

Nice colony I would say cut it but not my coral lol

 

[Reeferdood]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder my friend... Sure you could frag it out but you won't have the big colony anymore... BTW, many of the big colonies of birds nest eventually get that way because of how rapidly they will intertwine choking out the light below....

 

[Tahoe61]

Flow and lighting gets tricky when corals get that large (congrats on the growth), myself I would trim it back but as already posted that is a personal preference.

 

[ShaneTweedz]

Another thing to consider would be repositioning your power heads as the coral may also be chocked in flow. As for cutting it unless it is endangering the rest of the coral I would not touch it.

 

[Bozoman]

Looks like Pocillopora to me. All reef tanks need pruning eventually. Especially with fast growing SPS like that.

 

[Salty1962]

I'd trim back just to have less opportunities for algae to grow. Major killer of bird's nest.

 

[Joshky]

I'd personally frag it up, leave a big chunk in there to regrow, and then sell off the rest if it were mine.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I would not frag it because I love the look of those giant colonies. But I would find a place lower in the tank so you couldn't see that dead spot.

 

[happyhourhero]

I would let it be..think if the thriving ecosystem living up in those branches.

After you cut it....

 

[bif24701]

I have a big birdsnest colony that is about 18"long and 12"deep. The underside that doesnt get light is all dead and it looks crappy. Do i cut it and get rid of the dead stuff or leave it be?

Looks like a very nice colony to me. The underside it practically covered anyway.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I would let it be..think if the thriving ecosystem living up in those branches.

After you cut it....

HAHA perfect!

 

[najer]

Looks like it would be on a reef to me, I'd leave it, light can't be perfect for everything! :)

 

[wowkingjames]

Cut some of the back and do some trades for other frags.

 

[rovster]

I thought that was inevitable with huge birds nest colonies lol.

 

[beadlocked450r]

Well thanks for confirming what my girlfriend didnt want me to do. It will stay as it is. If anyone is going to the swap in lancaster let me know and i can get you a chunk of the trimmings