Anyone use a laser on mushrooms?

Slicktop · Jul 30, 2018

I have had issues with mushrooms for a while. About 3 months ago I tore down my tank and actually scraped mushrooms off of rocks. I had to completely remove some rocks that were covered and put them in the sun and let mother nature take care of them. I used eye protection but did not use anything on my arms. I looked like I got poison ivy a few days later but thats not the issue here.

My tank and corals have bounced back well from the tear down but I also see some mushrooms making a return. I do not want to tear down my tank again and hoping a laser would work before they start taking over again. My concerns and questions about using a laser if it will work on mushrooms.

Will the toxin released from the mushrooms hurt my corals and fish ? Can you shoot it through the aquarium glass or do you have to use top down?

Diesel · Jul 30, 2018

Any pics of these so called poison ivy

shrooms?

Reeferdood · Jul 30, 2018

Slicktop said:
I have had issues with mushrooms for a while. About 3 months ago I tore down my tank and actually scraped mushrooms off of rocks. I had to completely remove some rocks that were covered and put them in the sun and let mother nature take care of them. I used eye protection but did not use anything on my arms. I looked like I got poison ivy a few days later but thats not the issue here.

My tank and corals have bounced back well from the tear down but I also see some mushrooms making a return. I do not want to tear down my tank again and hoping a laser would work before they start taking over again. My concerns and questions about using a laser if it will work on mushrooms.

Will the toxin released from the mushrooms hurt my corals and fish ? Can you shoot it through the aquarium glass or do you have to use top down?

If the laser is powerful enough it will kill them, no need to go top down.
If that does not work you can inject them with kalk paste.

mcarroll · Jul 30, 2018

Reeferdood said:
If the laser is powerful enough it will kill them, no need to go top down.
If that does not work you can inject them with kalk paste.

I do not think they are injectable — is there a video of somebody actually doing this?

Reeferdood · Jul 30, 2018

mcarroll said:
I do not think they are injectable — is there a video of somebody actually doing this?

I have done it to several brown mushrooms, they wither away shortly afterwards.

BigAl07 · Jul 30, 2018

Laser should work splendidly. Lots of caution needs to be taken (for you and your family/pets etc). Here's a top notch video about it:

Slicktop · Jul 30, 2018

Here is a pic of the poison Ivy shrooms ... When i say that, I mean the when I scrap them with a knife they spray a toxin out and if you dont wash off your skin quickly you will get a rash like Poison Ivy. I would like to hit a few of these with the laser and melt them

Slicktop · Jul 30, 2018

Here is the tank,

46gReef · Jul 30, 2018

Just a heads up, you should be wearing some sort of eye protection when your scraping them out of the tank. I’ve had Zola’s & shrooms “squirt” during removal & the last place you want it to get is in your eyes. You prob should be wearing gloves too. Just my $.02

Slicktop · Jul 31, 2018

Oh i had on eye protection, been there done that lol...back to the original questions, will using a laser on the mushrooms release toxins and hurt other corals and or fish. Is there any risk to the tank itself using a laser from the sides of the aquarium? I would like to fight these a little at a time, thinking if the laser will work, burning a few right before each water change to keep them in check.

Daroberts87 · Jul 31, 2018

Slicktop said:
Oh i had on eye protection, been there done that lol...back to the original questions, will using a laser on the mushrooms release toxins and hurt other corals and or fish. Is there any risk to the tank itself using a laser from the sides of the aquarium? I would like to fight these a little at a time, thinking if the laser will work, burning a few right before each water change to keep them in check.

Do you run activated carbon? If not you may want to grab some as that will help with any toxins. Maybe double up on your carbon, burn a few shrooms, do a water change and you should be fine.

Slicktop · Jul 31, 2018

Yes, I do have a carbon reactor, so can replace with fresh carbon before each laser treatment. Have you ever used one? Any issues with the glass on the aquarium itself? Where is the best place to purchase a laser that will do the deed?

Scrubber_steve · Jul 31, 2018

Reeferdood said:
If the laser is powerful enough it will kill them, n

Reeferdood said:

If the laser is powerful enough it will kill them, no need to go top down.
If that does not work you can inject them with kalk paste.

Click to expand...

o need to go top down.
If that does not work you can inject them with kalk paste.

Inject it into their mouth?

Daroberts87 · Jul 31, 2018

Slicktop said:
Yes, I do have a carbon reactor, so can replace with fresh carbon before each laser treatment. Have you ever used one? Any issues with the glass on the aquarium itself? Where is the best place to purchase a laser that will do the deed?

No glass does not react with any form of light. Lasers are very focused beams of light. They pass through glass with no harm to glass. Im not sure how strong of a laser you would need. I’ve seen videos of guys burning aiptasia. Maybe check what kind they are using.

Daroberts87 · Jul 31, 2018

Also be sure to wear dark sunglasses as to avoid any laser reflection from blinding you. The power needed would probably be > 1000 mw and a long wavelength >600nm.