Removing mushrooms from rock

[I am Maul]

How do I safely remove mushrooms from rock? I have given up on getting rid of the wierd ball sponge in my tank, and I am getting ready to remove my remaining corals and sponge, then boil all the rock in my tank. None of corals are attached to the rock yet, so I can just pop the frag plug off of the rocks. My mushrooms are attached to the rock though, and I don't want to lose any of them. I have never removed mushrooms myself, so I have no idea what to do.

 

[JaimeAdams]

I usually just take a razor and cut under the mushroom foot or I take my bone cutters and cut the rock away at the base of the mushroom.

 

[MaccaPopEye]

I find the easiest way is to use some snips or a chisel to cut away a tiny bit of the rock just under the base of the mushroom (the rock will then also give you something to use when gluing it back down). When I tried to use a razor a) they curled up so small I found it hard to get them all off b) I could never get it in one clean cut and c) there was always the smallest bit left and they grew back, even in the sump with 0 light

I'm also not sure what you mean by "boil" all the LR in your tank, but if you mean actually taking it out and boiling it hot water please don't! There will be many organisms left on and inside the LR which could release very toxic fumes when boiled.

If you just want 100% clean rock free of any organisms then pop it all in a large bin or plastic container (outside) and add water and hydrochloric acid to a 10-1 ratio. It will foam up a lot, leave it for a little while and then add bicarb to neutralise the acid. Rinse the rock and then you can start the cycle again with 100% clean rock. Do a bit more reading up on it to get better instructions but as long as you do it outside and wear basic PPE it's the safest way to clean rocks.