Removing Toadstool

So the time has come to remove my 8 year old toadstool. It's just getting to big for my tank. I am getting more into the SPS side of things and it does not fit in very well...

My question: How do I remove the toadstool? It is attached to two large rocks that I would like to leave in place.

 

You have choices IMO

You could use a very sharp knife or scalpel to cut the shrooms away from the rock
but then you would need to cover the flesh left on the rock, with Kalk Paste
or possibly reef putty, otherwise any small amount of toadstool left there would become a new toadstool in time

you could, cut the stem on the existing toady close to the rock, and then leave that stem to develop into a new toady - it would be smaller than it is now, but would grow again over a period of time

you could frag the toady by cutting about 1 inch or so all around the crown (donut)
then slice the ring you have into 4 quarters - and place those quarters losely banded to a piece of rock rubble in an area of slow flow - then in a couple of months they will be toady juniors
the parent toady would then not be as large a diameter as it is now, but again would eventually be as large

if your really wanting SPS - then IMO removal altogether including and traces of the leather is your best option

Steve

 

Thanks steve!

 

One other caveat to Steves' post. When you do cut away the toadstool it will release a lot of toxin into the water. I suggest you have a Poly filter pad and carbon in place before you operate.

 

Can these toxins harm my other corals...?

 

For the short time exposure I would say no. You should be careful but work swiftly.

 

in a case like this is a water change advisable??

 

If your just cutting it off an taking it out of the tank I would not worry about it. Whats left of the base will not hurt anything. I cut mine off and it was at least 10" tall and across and had no issues.

But if you just going to trim it or cut it down to size I would not only plan on a decent water change I would plan on running a pretty good amount of carbon before during and after doing it.

 

hell... mine frag themselves in this manner and and regain size and repeat about every 6 months. The good news is the frags get good money at the LFS. The bad news is my SPS really hate these guys.

I have been thinking about removing mine for a while now. I am in the same situation as you. I still have not made up my mind on the best way to do it.

 

Thanks for all the help guys.

Gazog: when you cut yours at the base, did it come right back or did it take a year...?