Gulp... We did it.

[Mrs Smith]

Or I should say, I did it. Did what? Fragged the showpiece, the main attraction, the center stage. Yep, I fragged our 14+" toadstool. Andy just asked that I do it after he left the room.

You know, I dread fragging showpieces, but he was almost reaching the waterline... that and you couldn't see anything behind. So I lopped the top off. It will hopefully attach quickly, and the base will spring forth new ones.

I've just never fragged anything so large I had to use a bread knife!

Here he is, about 5 months ago - and not quite fully expanded:

[Mrs Smith]

And after. The base hasn't re-filled, and I don't expect it to for awhile. The tank just looks so... different. And open. And bare, in that spot...

But might as well grow another.

[Mrs Smith]

And the newest "frag" in the tank:

It's already starting to reexpand, which is a good sign. Change in inevitable, and once things start to settle in, I get bored. Perhaps that's what I love about this hobby - always changing, always modifying - and always learning.

[David Grigor]

Don't really call that fragging but oh well what done is done.

[Mrs Smith]

Well, it was overgrowing its home, so I made 2 from one... that's my definition of fragging. (The fragments are just larger than usual...)

[David Grigor]

I mean lopping off the entire base....... While I am sure it will survive. Typically to frag would be to cut it more vertically.

[Mrs Smith]

I had thought about pie-wheeling the top, but just lopping the top off is how several of our friends have fragged their big toadstools - you still keep the impressive head, or can sell it to the LFS for a chunk of change. Yeah, not any smaller in diameter, but getting the nerve to do it at all was a big step for me. I don't think I could have sliced it all up - not yet, anyway.

PS. I love your aviatar!

[David Grigor]

If I'm fragging just to frag and not to make mother colony significantly smaller, I just snip off a fold or two to make a frag and not cutting up like you mention in a pie.

I definately know what you mean about size.

Here is a pic of one that looked almost exactly like yours in a 90g back in 1999.

http://www.thefloodedbasement.com/images/fullshot.jpg

I did end up just snipping a small piece for me and gave the big one away to a local hobbiest who then eventually sold it to a LFS for something like $20.

[cath]

Hey Danielle-

It's great to see your project! The toad that Rick gave me is fat and sassy again...that is..recovered from the Dec. power outage, so I will need to frag it sometime. Let's see if Rick can add some of his experience to this

Oh Riiiiicccckkkk!

[Rick O]

Hehehe. Careful Danielle. Soon you'll be walking around everywhere with a switchblade and a pair of needle nose pliars in your pocket.

[MsReeReee]

Rick just finished demonstrating on mine for the reef club and it is doing fine..............Thanks Rick

[Mrs Smith]

Switchblade? Nah, I prefer my #4 scalpel with a 20 blade. (15 for delicate work. ) And forceps work better than needlenose pliers...

David - they only gave him $20 for that?!? Heck, I get that for two xenia frags... (Read: that toadstool wasn't the only thing under the knife. Also got a bunch of xenia frags, several anthelia frags, and had a slice and dice a little toadstool that started to disintigrate at its base.)

[Rick O]

Originally posted by Mrs Smith
Switchblade? Nah, I prefer my #4 scalpel with a 20 blade. (15 for delicate work. ) And forceps work better than needlenose pliers...

Oops. I forgot you're a Dr.

[Jeremy1973]

Wow...that will be interesting to see Danielle! I knew it was getting large, bud didn't realize it was so close to the top. Hope it does well!

[Stang69]

rofl

Here is a pic of mine when fully opened it is about 13 inches across.

This one Is goin Bye Bye soon though takes up too much sps room ehheheh

Jeff