Advice on removing toadstool

[reeferfoxx]

Hey reefers, I need advice on removing my toadstool. After years of having tank issues not related to this coral, and now not having any issues other than sps growth, I've narrowed my issue down to coral warfare. The culprit being this toadstool. Now, I understood the risks when I impulsively purchased this coral. Even prepared to vigorously change out GAC on a weekly basis. However, I originally placed this toadstool down towards the sandbed and it irritatingly grew upwards soaking up a whopping 360 par. It's not exactly growing how I anticipated it and is taking space.

Sorry for the poor picture quality. I cropped it and lightened it for this purpose.

You can see how its 5 inches of stalk is grown onto the rock. So, what is my plan of action here?

#reefsquad

 

[Greybeard]

You can peel it from the rock. If you're careful, and don't leave chunks behind, chances of having it grow back are pretty slim. Coral is likely to recover... I'd leave the detached coral in your tank, with the peeled surface pressed between a couple of (non-essential) rocks for a few weeks, let it recover in water it's apparently happy with, and you'll be able to give/sell/trade it in.

 

[Tahoe61]

You want to totally remove it?

Take a sharp pair of scissors and cut it off as close as you can and pull the remain portion off. Run some new charcoal and remove the large portion quickly to prevent slimming into the tank. Consider a water change the next day.

 

[reeferfoxx]

You want to totally remove it?

Yeah.

I'd leave the detached coral in your tank, with the peeled surface pressed between a couple of (non-essential) rocks for a few weeks

remove the large portion quickly to prevent slimming into the tank.

These two are conflicting and both have very valid points to them. ;Facepalm The chemical toxins released could cause some harm as well as complete removal. Hmmm....

 

[Tahoe61]

I have done it both ways. I have pulled smaller ones off and cut large ones right at the base, for fragging them. What I do know is that they really really slime when cut. I had LPS and Sps in the tanks at the time and saw no adverse reactions to the other corals.

 

[cloak]

I would just cut it as close to the base as you can with some scissors and then smother any remaining tissue with some epoxy. (all the way down) I'm not sure how your rock structure was built, but if you start pulling on that thing you run the risk of having the rocks shift and perhaps collapsing.

 

[Greybeard]

IMHO, if chemical warfare is ongoing, the animals in the tank are used to it. I'd rather save the leather, if I could. Chemical warfare, if any, will end once you remove it, give the poor thing some time to recover.

In my experience, you'll get less slime from a coral carefully torn from it's substrate than you will if you take a knife to it. Probably less likely to leave chunks of it behind, as well. Good flow and a decent protein skimmer should take care of anything it does release. GAC wouldn't hurt, either.

Honestly...

I've narrowed my issue down to coral warfare. The culprit being this toadstool.

I know you didn't ask, but I'm not sure I'd agree with this bit. I've kept many toadstool leathers just like that one, right next to SPS corals, without issue... just as you appear to be doing! The SPS corals in the photo, nearly touching the leather, look bright, healthy, and obviously are encrusting the rockscape. In my experience, that's not what stressed out corals look like. Hey, your tank, you want the leather gone? By all means, get rid of it! I'd even agree... you've got some lovely SPS growing around it, and the fast growing, less than spectacular leather kind of detracts from the look you seem to be going for. It'll only get worse, that leather is going to GROW! That said, I'd tend to doubt that's the cause of your slow SPS growth.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Yep, I've used a razor blade in the past to cut them. Small pieces remaining can regrow. GAC and water change after.

I'll have to do something with mine at some point, it's getting huge!

 

[reeferfoxx]

Ok, so I finally had the time and the nerves to remove the toadstool. I have a hard time personally giving any living life form stress, so I was sort of shaking through the process. Don't laugh... Anyway, I meticulously pulled from the top as well as the bottom trying to remove as much tissue and preserve as much leather as possible. I think it was a success.

Excuse the tank. I stirred up a bunch of detritus and performed a water change after the removal.


I didn't put the coral back in the tank, I temporarily set it in another tank I have setup till I can get it to the lfs. I also forgot rubber bands to attach it to a rock ;Facepalm



Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Success!

 

[reeferfoxx]

Looking at my red planet acro, this afternoon, I already see PE twice the size as well as new growth. I haven't seen this coral do anything in over a year! I'll post pictures later

 

[MrPike]

I didn't put the coral back in the tank, I temporarily set it in another tank I have setup till I can get it to the lfs. I also forgot rubber bands to attach it to a rock ;Facepalm

Rubberbands can end up slowly cutting leathers, which often leads to infection. Personally I prefer zip ties, or just letting it float till it naturally attaches.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Rubberbands can end up slowly cutting leathers, which often leads to infection. Personally I prefer zip ties, or just letting it float till it naturally attaches.

That is something I'm familiar with. I know it doesn't take long for them to attach so its intentions were always temporary.