Splitting live rock

[Taklu]

Ok.. In all my ignorance I picked up two rather large peices of live rock for my 12 g aquapod... & now I would like smaller peices..
whats the best way to break em up? just get a hammer & knock knock?..


:idea: Im open to trading these for smaller peices too...

[coldwaterreefer]

hit them with a hammer

[David Grigor]

I use a flat head screwdriver and hit the end of the screwdriver with the hammer to get a pretty decent break where I want it. Most of the time, I'm pleased with the results with very little chipping.

[mrbill]

I have a brick splitting chisel that I use some times but like David said, a large, heavy duty screw driver, hit with a hammer works well. In some ways it may work the best because you can use it so you end up with a controlled, more natural looking break.

[Sizzlersonthebrain]

if you want it to break along a specific line us a demell to cut that line and or drill small holes just like when they dynamite a ledge, then spleit it with a chisel and hammer.

[Taklu]

if you want it to break along a specific line us a demell to cut that line and or drill small holes just like when they dynamite a ledge, then spleit it with a chisel and hammer.

This sounds like a good way of doing it, but I think Im gonna keep it simple & go the natural way, let the rock split naturally when hit with a srewdriver & hammer.

Do i need to do anything before putting the peices back into the tank? like treat them?

[MNGold15]

rinse them off a bit, you will get a bit of dust and small chunks where you broke it. I have never treated rocks when I break them.

[Taklu]

Alighty... the rock chiselling went fine.. atually I didnt have to break them apart.. a little chipping created a lot more space & open look to the tank.:biggthumpup:

Now for the interesting part.. under one of the larger ships that I broke off.. I noticed a hollow tube formation about 3mm in diameter....so...I looked under the larger peice of rock...& behold there was a comlete tunnel like a U running off through which at one end I could see through to the other side. On the other side of the U there was a worm (looked like en earthworm) :popworm: fulling filling the hole. I could see maybe 2 cm or more of it....Is this something I need to watch out for?

BTW the rock itself is about 9" x 6" x 3"

[smeese]

Probably a peanut worm. They are common in rock. Safe IMO but others may beg to differ.