Removing mushrooms without damaging rock

[Young Frankenstein]

Please post ways you had success removing mushrooms from rock without damaging rock or coral. Cant take the rock out of the tank.

 

[m and m]

do you want to be able to keep the mushroom? if not kalk past, if so I believe there is no way. My mushrooms move so I thinking peeling it off with a razor blade and glueing it down I think they might be very unhappy about.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Yes i want to keep the mushrooms.

 

[mfinn]

If it's something you don't want, kalk paste. Turn off all pumps in the tank. Layer on some kalk paste and let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then syphon off the mess into a bucket, being very careful to not spread the kalk paste into the water.

If it's something you want to keep, I keep a set of cheap wood chisels just for situations like this. Live rock will peel off as easy as wood with just a small amount of pressure from a chisel.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Thanks, but I don't want to chisel the rock or destroy the mushrooms

 

[Pappy]

Never done myself but heard ice cube at base of anemone...maybe work for mushrooms too?


Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[uall8up]

Kinda sounds like it is gonna stay right where it is.

 

[Pkunk35]

I have no idea,
but I'm thinking thin rubber/latex gloves and gentle fingers are going to have the most success. Might have to just peel that mushy off. If it splits then you have two!

 

[mfinn]

Thanks, but I don't want to chisel the rock or destroy the mushrooms

when I mentioned a chisel, don't think of it as having to have a hammer to go with it.
Think of it as a sharp tool with a good handle to hold it. Using the sharp blade ( key point) you shave off a thin layer ( 1/16th to 1/8th inch) of rock with the mushrooms.
I've used them many times to shave zoanthids off frag disks and plugs to reglue on rock.

 

[Pkunk35]

when I mentioned a chisel, don't think of it as having to have a hammer to go with it.
Think of it as a sharp tool with a good handle to hold it. Using the sharp blade ( key point) you shave off a thin layer ( 1/16th to 1/8th inch) of rock with the mushrooms.
I've used them many times to shave zoanthids off frag disks and plugs to reglue on rock.

hmmmm. This sounds smart. Peel off the coralline that mushy is attached to.

 

[ritter6788]

If you can reach them your best chance may be a pair of hemostats to grab the base and slowly peel it off. Even if you tear it up a little it will heal up in no time. If you can't reach them then you could try a powerhead pointed directly at them but as you know there's no telling were they will end up if they do let go.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

If you can reach them your best chance may be a pair of hemostats to grab the base and slowly peel it off. Even if you tear it up a little it will heal up in no time. If you can't reach them then you could try a powerhead pointed directly at them but as you know there's no telling were they will end up if they do let go.

hemostats , I had to google that one lol

 

[Young Frankenstein]

when I mentioned a chisel, don't think of it as having to have a hammer to go with it.
Think of it as a sharp tool with a good handle to hold it. Using the sharp blade ( key point) you shave off a thin layer ( 1/16th to 1/8th inch) of rock with the mushrooms.
I've used them many times to shave zoanthids off frag disks and plugs to reglue on rock.

sorry worked in construction

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Thank you everyone !!! please keep ideas comming

 

[Kbra]

I've used tweezers and just popped them off. Some attach moreso than others

 

[Emi1322]

do you want to be able to keep the mushroom? if not kalk past, if so I believe there is no way. My mushrooms move so I thinking peeling it off with a razor blade and glueing it down I think they might be very unhappy about.

Hello, I’m assuming that you have to pull the rock out of the tank to apply the kale paste?

 

[Dburr1014]

Can we see a picture of the mushroom/rock? It might help.

Once I had an anemone deep in a hole. I filled the hole with sand. Nem didn't like that and let go, easy peasy.

 

[mfinn]

Hello, I’m assuming that you have to pull the rock out of the tank to apply the kale paste?

When I've used kalk paste for invasive polyps or mushrooms I turned off all flow in the tank, including the return pump. Mixed up the kalk paste and applied it over the spot I want to clear, being very careful to only apply it to the one area. I leave it on for 20-30 minutes.
Then using a siphon hose ( I use a python water change hose ) suck off all the kalk paste and as much of the offending coral as possible. The damage the kalk paste does usually kills the polyps or mushrooms. Sometimes a second application is needed.

If you are just trying to remove mushrooms and can easily pull the rock, then do that and use a wood chisel or screwdriver to pry off the mushrooms. Be alot easier outside the tank.