So I need to kill some corals.... sorta...

nemofish2217 · 02/25/2010, 11:36 PM

I was looking at my fairly young tank tonight, and I was doing some planning, and I realized that there are a couple of corals that I need to get rid of before they become a big problem.

I do have some gsp, but they are on their own little island rock and easily separated from everybody else...

I have one blue mushroom that looks like it is beginning to form another... I have realized that eventually they will dominate my tank.. I need to remove the one in there and kill whatever remains on the rock as stragglers. I was planning on using a razor blade to get the one mushroom off, but what would be the best way to kill what's left?

I do have some ricordea, but I have decided I am going to let them grow and I will trim them as necessary, as they are more attractive and spread less quickly.

This last one concerns me the most, and I'm not even completely sure what it is. I think it is some type of encrusting hydnophora. It was given to me, and while it looks pretty cool, its on a really bad location (aka could get out of control quickly). I need to take care of this one before it really takes off. I am concerned about it blanketing the whole rock and stinging everything in its path. I need to know the best method to get rid of this one. I was thinking about using epoxy or something, but I'm afraid that won't completely kill it. I am also concerned about using kalk paste because the tank is pretty small (37 gal) amd I don't want to spike the pH. I need help with this one.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

AquaReeferMan · 02/26/2010, 12:31 AM

Wow, sell them and get new rock. Dont kill them off.

CWP · 02/26/2010, 12:41 AM

Trade your live rock with stuff on it for live rock without stuff on it. You could probably get some cash in the deal too.

Pohono · 02/26/2010, 01:10 AM

trade, sell, give them away....don't kill any of them. If you have a local store ANYWHERE near you, take them in, I'm sure they will trade you straight across for the equal weight if they are getting coral/shrooms included in the trade.

robs.mark · 02/26/2010, 01:35 AM

Its our responsibility as hobbyists to conserve corals, not kill them. Trade the rocks at your LFS, im sure somebody would love them. Also there is too much hype about mushrooms, they dont spread nearlly as fast as half the people on this site would have you believe..

silverfly · 02/26/2010, 03:24 AM

And whats wrong with blue mushrooms? One mushroom will take a while to colony. Dont worry-let them reproduce then frag for your future corals

nemofish2217 · 02/26/2010, 05:07 AM

well, since everyone decided to jump down my throat instead of help me with my problem, I'll try to re-phrase myself...

I'm not going to kill any of the frags of corals themselves, I am just going to kill the reamains after I have fragged them off of the rock...

It's pretty much the same as anybody else who wants to trim back their corals or get rid of some pesky hitchhikers. Calm down people... I am going to remove the corals from the rock (aka not killing them) and then only cover up/kalk/? the residue on the rock so that it won't spread... that's why the title says "sorta"

silverfly - I understand it takes a while for mushrooms to reproduce...that's why I said I'm planning for the future

We are talking one mushroom and about a 1" x 1" square of this other stuff... we aren't talking about a field of mushrooms and a rock covered in this other coral...

Chiefsurfer · 02/26/2010, 06:11 AM

I don't think people were jumping down your throat, just emphasizing not to kill them.

If you cut the mushroom off the existing rock, cover the remaining stem on the rock with superglue gel and epoxy putty. It might look a bit unsightly for a bit, but whatever corals you want down the road will probably cover it. Whatever the other thing is that you really think could take over, I would suggest trading in the covered rock for fresh new rock. Without knowing what it is, there is no real good way to know how to frag it, or remove it without killing the coral, so that's your best option. If the rock can't come out, post a pic, and see if we can tell you how it is, and hopefully a way to detach it safely.

I agree with you about people getting over-excited. Many people here SEEM to have issues with mushrooms, and see threads about removal all the time.

Tomaric · 02/26/2010, 07:19 AM

I offer nothing of relevance but give the mushroom to the government...

Chiefsurfer · 02/26/2010, 07:30 AM

OH, and if you continue to cut it off and don't cover it up, it will REAAAAAALLLLLLY slow it's spreading, because it will heal itself before it makes babies.

Ron Reefman · 02/26/2010, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomaric

I offer nothing of relevance but give the mushroom to the government...

You're right Tomaric, that was completely irrelevant...

stanlalee · 02/26/2010, 08:30 AM

jumping the gun a little no? EVERY mushroom varient isn't going to run wild and overtake a tank. You have one turning into two and your already to go gun ho. you will have time to tell if thats going to be the case but for every tank with out of control mushrooms from end to end there are 5000 with a mushroom rock for years that never gets out of control (placement and competing coral placement has some to do with it).
If its just one or two use a screwdriver/hammer and chip it off with a little rock underneath where its attached and donate it to somebody.

Ritten · 02/26/2010, 10:35 AM

I've had really good results with both Kalk (I use Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime) mixed into a really thick paste and also epoxy putty. With the lime, just kind of work a small portion every other night or so (I don't know how big of an area you have with that hydnophora). With the putty, after removal of all I can get with a razor blade (I could not take my rock out) I then make a thick "slab" out of the putty and cover the spot where the coral was. I've found if I use a thick piece of putty after a few weeks, it's pretty easy to pry back off. I've never used these methods with hydnophora, but it has worked with mushrooms and hydroids for me. I hope this makes sense, feel free to pm me.

02/25/2010, 11:36 PM	#1
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	So I need to kill some corals.... sorta... I was looking at my fairly young tank tonight, and I was doing some planning, and I realized that there are a couple of corals that I need to get rid of before they become a big problem. I do have some gsp, but they are on their own little island rock and easily separated from everybody else... I have one blue mushroom that looks like it is beginning to form another... I have realized that eventually they will dominate my tank.. I need to remove the one in there and kill whatever remains on the rock as stragglers. I was planning on using a razor blade to get the one mushroom off, but what would be the best way to kill what's left? I do have some ricordea, but I have decided I am going to let them grow and I will trim them as necessary, as they are more attractive and spread less quickly. This last one concerns me the most, and I'm not even completely sure what it is. I think it is some type of encrusting hydnophora. It was given to me, and while it looks pretty cool, its on a really bad location (aka could get out of control quickly). I need to take care of this one before it really takes off. I am concerned about it blanketing the whole rock and stinging everything in its path. I need to know the best method to get rid of this one. I was thinking about using epoxy or something, but I'm afraid that won't completely kill it. I am also concerned about using kalk paste because the tank is pretty small (37 gal) amd I don't want to spike the pH. I need help with this one. Any suggestions are appreciated!

02/26/2010, 12:31 AM	#2
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	Wow, sell them and get new rock. Dont kill them off. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

02/26/2010, 01:35 AM	#5
robs.mark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 1,461	Its our responsibility as hobbyists to conserve corals, not kill them. Trade the rocks at your LFS, im sure somebody would love them. Also there is too much hype about mushrooms, they dont spread nearlly as fast as half the people on this site would have you believe.. __________________ knowledge is power! Current Tank Info: Lagoon

02/26/2010, 03:24 AM	#6
silverfly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: england Posts: 579	And whats wrong with blue mushrooms? One mushroom will take a while to colony. Dont worry-let them reproduce then frag for your future corals __________________ Take care, Richie Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

02/26/2010, 06:11 AM	#8
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	I don't think people were jumping down your throat, just emphasizing not to kill them. If you cut the mushroom off the existing rock, cover the remaining stem on the rock with superglue gel and epoxy putty. It might look a bit unsightly for a bit, but whatever corals you want down the road will probably cover it. Whatever the other thing is that you really think could take over, I would suggest trading in the covered rock for fresh new rock. Without knowing what it is, there is no real good way to know how to frag it, or remove it without killing the coral, so that's your best option. If the rock can't come out, post a pic, and see if we can tell you how it is, and hopefully a way to detach it safely. I agree with you about people getting over-excited. Many people here SEEM to have issues with mushrooms, and see threads about removal all the time. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

02/26/2010, 12:41 AM	#3
CWP Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 123	Trade your live rock with stuff on it for live rock without stuff on it. You could probably get some cash in the deal too.

02/26/2010, 01:10 AM	#4
Pohono Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 60	trade, sell, give them away....don't kill any of them. If you have a local store ANYWHERE near you, take them in, I'm sure they will trade you straight across for the equal weight if they are getting coral/shrooms included in the trade.

02/26/2010, 05:07 AM	#7
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	well, since everyone decided to jump down my throat instead of help me with my problem, I'll try to re-phrase myself... I'm not going to kill any of the frags of corals themselves, I am just going to kill the reamains after I have fragged them off of the rock... It's pretty much the same as anybody else who wants to trim back their corals or get rid of some pesky hitchhikers. Calm down people... I am going to remove the corals from the rock (aka not killing them) and then only cover up/kalk/? the residue on the rock so that it won't spread... that's why the title says "sorta" silverfly - I understand it takes a while for mushrooms to reproduce...that's why I said I'm planning for the future We are talking one mushroom and about a 1" x 1" square of this other stuff... we aren't talking about a field of mushrooms and a rock covered in this other coral...

02/26/2010, 07:19 AM	#9
Tomaric Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 239	I offer nothing of relevance but give the mushroom to the government... __________________ Life, 90 Reef, 30 fuge, 20 Sump 48 Freshwater and an acre pond in my back yard! Concentrate on what you're doing not how you are doing. Ars longa, vita brevis

02/26/2010, 07:30 AM	#10
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	OH, and if you continue to cut it off and don't cover it up, it will REAAAAAALLLLLLY slow it's spreading, because it will heal itself before it makes babies. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

02/26/2010, 08:30 AM	#12
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	jumping the gun a little no? EVERY mushroom varient isn't going to run wild and overtake a tank. You have one turning into two and your already to go gun ho. you will have time to tell if thats going to be the case but for every tank with out of control mushrooms from end to end there are 5000 with a mushroom rock for years that never gets out of control (placement and competing coral placement has some to do with it). If its just one or two use a screwdriver/hammer and chip it off with a little rock underneath where its attached and donate it to somebody.

02/26/2010, 10:35 AM	#13
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	I've had really good results with both Kalk (I use Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime) mixed into a really thick paste and also epoxy putty. With the lime, just kind of work a small portion every other night or so (I don't know how big of an area you have with that hydnophora). With the putty, after removal of all I can get with a razor blade (I could not take my rock out) I then make a thick "slab" out of the putty and cover the spot where the coral was. I've found if I use a thick piece of putty after a few weeks, it's pretty easy to pry back off. I've never used these methods with hydnophora, but it has worked with mushrooms and hydroids for me. I hope this makes sense, feel free to pm me.