I don't trim dead sections unless they start growing hairy algae on them.  The algae will stop the coral from being able to grow.  If that is happening I trim down to just above, or at the live tissue.  If not, the I find the corals grow back faster if you can leave the old skeleton there. 
Dan 
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
		
	
		
		
	
	
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