advice on trimming back cheato, but want to keep fauna that dwells in it

So, I have a good amount of cheato that once started as a fist-sized ball is now about 16"x16"x3" growing in my refugium. It is teeming with life including bristleworms, mini-brittlestars, and pods. I don't mind ridding of the bristleworms, but I'd really like to keep as many pods and especially the mini stars as possible, especially since the mini stars just started showing up in the fuge.

What are some good ways of trimming this back without losing the fauna?

Sea Stars are very sensitive to changes in salinity, so I feel like a hyposaline dip, which is known to encourage a mass exodus, may just kill them anyway... any thoughts?

Thanks!

Will

 

I harvest with a spaghetti spoon and just shake it a little before I throw it.

 

I just grab a clump and cut it with scissors then give it a shake

J

 

cool, I guess I'm just overthinking it a bit

thanks!

 

I wouldn't be concerned about removing the critters..there are plenty more in there that you are leaving behind. All of those things reproduce pretty quick!