Mushrooms - keep expanding

[bhbbhb]

I have this one nice rock covered in mushrooms. Problem is - the mushrooms keep spreading to other areas of my tank. Anyone have any suggestions on how to control this spreading ?

alt="" />

alt="" />

 

[jdavid]

I'm not sure exactly how to go about solving your problem with the mushrooms but HOLY COW your rocks are purple!

 

[curtismaximus]

Throw away the rock. That's the only way!

 

[j_b_]

You really only have two choices...continually prune the rock of mushrooms, or as Curt said, remove the rock.

 

[bhbbhb]

Umm - thanks for the input. I am not sure how to prune it. I guess I'll think about removing it from the tank.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk -

 

[mikesmith34]

You can prune them if you like. Look up the thread for reef napalm. I had a huge shroom problem and it will put them in check immediately. I read about the stuff on these boards and gave it a try. Now I swear by the stuff just use caution and common sense.

 

[bhbbhb]

Mikesmith34;925340 wrote: You can prune them if you like. Look up the thread for reef napalm. I had a huge shroom problem and it will put them in check immediately. I read about the stuff on these boards and gave it a try. Now I swear by the stuff just use caution and common sense.

Thanks for the input. I had never heard of that. I read some of the articles and might give it a try. So were you trying to get rid of all the mushrooms or just reduce and control them?
Thanks again - Bruce


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk -

 

[acroholic]

Kill them all now before it is too late. Not kidding........they are always one of those "why did I ever put that in my tank" mistakes people refer to when they talk about being new to the hobby, along with crème de menthe palys, and other stuff.

 

[bhbbhb]

Acroholic;925416 wrote: Kill them all now before it is too late. Not kidding........they are always one of those "why did I ever put that in my tank" mistakes people refer to when they talk about being new to the hobby, along with crème de menthe palys, and other stuff.

I was able to remove the rock that was covered in mushrooms from the tank. Now I just have 20 or so misc mushrooms throughout the tank. I think I'll try the napalm on the ones I can reach. Several are stuck in spots I won't be able to reach.

While I am at it - what do those "creme de menthe palys" look like ? I might as well kill them off while I am in the clean up mode. Are you aware of any references to listings that help ID the "other stuff" you mentioned?
Thanks for your input and advice - Bruce

 

[mcphock]

Also teal palys. You can usually tell how obnoxious a coral is by the size of a frag obtained for $5 (or free). The larger the piece, the larger the eventual regret.

 

[picoreefguy]

^my thoughts exactly. those teal palys are tenacious i cant seem to get rid of them

 

[bhbbhb]

Acroholic;925416 wrote: Kill them all now before it is too late. Not kidding........they are always one of those "why did I ever put that in my tank" mistakes people refer to when they talk about being new to the hobby, along with crème de menthe palys, and other stuff.

In reading the older posts - I see where some used a product called Red Devil Lye - which was 100% Lye - if I am not mistaken that was taken off the market - anyone aware of another locally available solution. Otherwise I could try online. Thanks
Bruce

 

[mikesmith34]

You can buy any kind of drain cleaner. Just check the ingredients and make sure it's lye with no other additives. You can find it in any hardware store. Or if you did not know that is sodium hydroxide

 

[bhbbhb]

So I was able to purchase some Sodium Hydroxide - solution N2 Strength. I am looking for anyone who has used this to perhaps give me some advise. I have tried a few experiments on mushrooms and teal palys that I placed in a small 10 gallon tank. I stopped all pumps and gave each a blast. I was expecting to see them sort of disintegrate - or break into particles. Well the one small mushroom did come off the rock - sort of shriveled up - but I don't think its dead. The teal palys - seemed to close up and I am waiting to see if they die off. I am using a syringe and shooting about 5 ML on each. When disbursed - I was expecting a thicker mass to engulf the subject - and while I did get a cloudy white mass - it was not thick - nor easy to sick onto the subject - and it seemed that most of the solution just drifted off to the bottom of the tank. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. Thanks
Bruce

 

[mikesmith34]

bhbbhb;929188 wrote: So I was able to purchase some Sodium Hydroxide - solution N2 Strength. I am looking for anyone who has used this to perhaps give me some advise. I have tried a few experiments on mushrooms and teal palys that I placed in a small 10 gallon tank. I stopped all pumps and gave each a blast. I was expecting to see them sort of disintegrate - or break into particles. Well the one small mushroom did come off the rock - sort of shriveled up - but I don't think its dead. The teal palys - seemed to close up and I am waiting to see if they die off. I am using a syringe and shooting about 5 ML on each. When disbursed - I was expecting a thicker mass to engulf the subject - and while I did get a cloudy white mass - it was not thick - nor easy to sick onto the subject - and it seemed that most of the solution just drifted off to the bottom of the tank. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. Thanks
Bruce

What I've had success with is to inject the shroom. I have never tried putting on top to let it drift off. Take the needle stick it into the body of the subject and inject a very small amount. You should be able to treat//kill 3-4 shrooms with 1ml. What strength are you using? 1tsp for 100ml ro/di??

 

[bhbbhb]

Thanks for your input. I am using what is called 2N strength. This is direct from a chemical supply company and the level recommended in the article I read. I have not used a needle - Just a syringe without a needle. I was concerned about the reaction of the chemical to metal. I thought using a metal needle would be a problem. I believe the 2N is about 80 Grams NaOH to 1 liter of water. The article is at

 

[mikesmith34]

It will not hurt the needle. Draw that bugger up and let it rip. You will the shrooms begin to melt within 5 mins. I always do mine right before a water change so that I can suck them right off the rock into the bucket. Good luck and let me know how it works for ya. Since you have already put 5 mls in the water. Give it a couple days before trying again SH can effect the ph of your water.

 

[bhbbhb]

Thanks - SO far I have been testing this process in an extra tank. Just to get the hang of the process and make sure I am doing it right.

 

[rjrgroup]

^^^Watch your pH^^^

 

[bhbbhb]

Thanks - Good Point - I was also going to apply some to kill off a couple of Ugly Polys - but now that I am reading more about Palytoxin - I am a bit nervous about doing so....