My chunks are too large.

[Anonymous]

Hey so I'd like to do some damage to my reef for the greater good. I have 4 chunks of LR that are way too large. I was noob when I bought'd them. I want to smash them with a big hammer or something to make them into workable smaller chunks to work with in my buhquarium.

• They're COVERED with living things like purple and green 'shroomie corals, featherdusters etc. I am assuming smashing the rock with a hammer will likely kill all these cool little guys, so that may be the prime reason I have to just trade the LR back for smaller chunks. Can I peel a large (8") green mushroom coral off the rock? Will it reattach to a new rock?

• Is there a properly tested method for breaking up the rocks? Tips, tricks, suggestions?

I fear that in the end I will be just buying new smaller chunks of LR

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't try to "peel" the mushie off, some others have suggested methods of anemone removal that might work with the mushies.

What I've done is take a drill with a suitable bit and drilled a few holes along the lines I wanted to break the rock (to reduce impact/shock to whatever's on there, usually an anemone!). Then carefully taken just about any tool I could find (screwdriver, cold chisel, et al) to both pry and split it apart. I think that if you start from the bottom you might have better luck.. and get a bunch of chunks of styro to help support it during this work. A tub you can keep the rock slightly submerged in might be helpful, too.

So, don't smash, drill and pry/split.

 

[Anonymous]

Life rock is generally brittle so a chissel or screwdrives should work to break it up. If you have some of the harder stuff do what SW suggested.

 

[Anonymous]

cool thanks

 

[Anonymous]

well that didn't work so well. one huge expensive chunk of LR and all the life on it wasted.

the rock was brittle enough, and if i had a stone saw (is there such a thing?) or anything better than a screwdriver and a hammer, i coulda done it.

i don't think that stone will split/fracture tho - it just crushed a bunch.

*sigh* i already miss the green mushroom corals that were on the rock ...

 

[GSchiemer]

What the heck are you doing? The rock was fine. IMO, larger pieces are preferable to smaller pieces. as far as stability and aesthetics. The aquarium looked fine. If you felt that you had too much rock, remove one or two of the base pieces and stop making yourself crazy. As you found out, you're not going to "cut" live rock very well with a hammer and chisel.

 

[Ostavanger]

Any angle grinder with a rock blade should do it but it creates a lot of heat and dust and if you cut yourself it scars like H#ll :wink: so be careful

 

[Anonymous]

Gscheimer -

the chunk of rock was HUGE. it alone dominated my aquarium and pretty much killed any aquascaping posibillities. i should have learned from my freshwater aquascaping experience that i should stick with smaller shapes in my aquarium (it's only a 30gal. using smaller rocks gives a better visual effect, the aquarium doesn't seem so crowded).

i think if i would have had a real chisel, it would be workable.

 

[shr00m]

man that is jsut crazy. you just killed a giant piece of l/r because it didnt "look right" that is the craziest/stupidest freaking thing ive ever heard.

 

[Anonymous]

well at least you are nice about how you express your opinion. i had a similar reaction when i read your post about using chemicals to battle hair algae. lol. perspective ...

 

[Anonymous]

man that is jsut crazy. you just killed a giant piece of l/r because it didnt "look right" that is the craziest/stupidest freaking thing ive ever heard.

You need to chill out and take a bong hit :wink:
_________________
Multiple Sclerosis Forum

 

[Anonymous]

Heh.. or let the bong hit him?

Hwa! The drill, man.. it really works that technique. It's like what masons do when they need to split rock.. but, I guess no one wants to listen to me cuz I'm a GIRRRUHL!

 

[shr00m]

i have never used chemicals or additives in my tank, what post are you referring to?

 

[Anonymous]

The Phosguard, mate.

 

[shr00m]

i never used that only asked about it, and its not really the same... i dont think of that as an additive. it is something that absorbs phosphate.... not a chemical additive. their is a clear difference to some chemical added to kill hair algae.

 

[hillbilly]

8O

 

[Anonymous]

Wow with all the fighting I'd think I stumbled into a RC 'DSB vs Barebottom' debate!

Hwarang - I can understand what you are trying to do but it's hard to 'cut' live rock cleanly. if you have access to volume 1? I believe of the modern coral reef aquarium there is a great series of photographs of a european reefer that did it though - there were technical details in the book - he had set up a huge overhanging cave / slope and hund some of the liverock from wires/zip ties.

Even had a disco ball over the tank to make sunspots - kid you not!

 

[Anonymous]

i never used that only asked about it, and its not really the same... i dont think of that as an additive. it is something that absorbs phosphate.... not a chemical additive. their is a clear difference to some chemical added to kill hair algae.

I know that, and I happen to agree. Never heard anyone call chemical filtration (of which foam fractionation can also qualify ) synomymous with chemical usage.. just not quite the same in my book. Of course, that's just how I see it.

 

[shr00m]

and sorry about coming off as a jerk, its mainly due to the fact the guy killed the stuff on the rock, i can understand wanting to break up a rock... but to just kill the corals on it... i dunno to me it just seems nutty.

 

[Anonymous]

You talkin' to me? He didn't do it to kill the stuff he had on the rock, though, mate. He just didn't listen to me is what went wrong.. :lol:
<sm assumes the position>

And now y'all know, don't try the hammer and chisel bit.. use the DRILL bit! Or.. don't.
<sm re-assumes the position>