newbie's first shroom propagation - Page 4

shoddyk · #76 02/10/2006, 11:57 AM

How large do the mushrooms and rics have to be in order to cut them?

r00onmac · #77 02/10/2006, 12:27 PM

i sliced up a 1.5"-2" green last week... both halfs are now almost whole again...

Catharsis70 · #78 02/16/2006, 12:41 PM

What would one use for the cutting? Sharp scissor? Scalpel? If seeting up a small frag tank on its own should it be cycled?

coraline401 · #79 02/16/2006, 03:01 PM

I use a scalpal because the mushrooms are generally not extended. However, if you place them in a dim area of the tank they, as plants do will extend toward light. At that point if you choose use scissors. The stalk will form a new mushroom and the head can be transplanted. Use a hair net and place the shroom in a crevice with low water flow and they generally attach to subject rock. Second question: If you use the same water from a parent tank it would be fine. Remember 101 basics with the need for all coral to have zooanthalia (sp?)? Shrooms are hardy as well as any Lpf. I have done what you want to and have kept sps in a small 10 gallon under cf's yet VHO would be ideal... hope this helps.

vest0830 · #80 02/16/2006, 07:53 PM

I used a razor blade when i did mine, and it turned out to be dififcult. I recommend using SHARP sissors.

Catharsis70 · #81 02/16/2006, 08:01 PM

Thanks for the info all. I am excited to try this out.

shay2005 · #82 02/19/2006, 09:14 AM

Thanks to every one for all info. I wanted to let every one know that this page has very good info . I have a question on the super gule thing. All I need to do is to pull the shroom from the tank gule him to a rock and let drie for how long before puting back in the tank?

coraline401 · #83 02/19/2006, 12:01 PM

I think the shrooms as a rule don't like glue. I found it's better to let them attach naturally by using a net or something against the rock and place in a low flow area. Think like the environment they come from for fragging. Hurricanes and big waves constatly displace and they just attach...

shay2005 · #84 02/19/2006, 06:30 PM

After they have attached to a small rock or sand how do you get them in a group? Most post say to glue them with super glue?

coraline401 · #85 02/20/2006, 12:03 PM

I found out after the shroom has fixed itself to a location start cutting the heck out of it in a pie shape and let it heal. Use a scalpel and cut deep recutting to be sure it is seperate so it won't regrow back together. Each part of that original shroom will regrow. The end product will look like a multi disc clover.

Caution: Be careful cutting so not to slice and hit your hand holdling the rock. I have come close. Just use small firm slices. You will feel the rock being cut aswell... Good Luck!!!

3f_p@L · #86 05/22/2006, 03:16 AM

well, i hope this thread will be usefull for anyone who will start their first shroom propagation

waldend · #87 05/22/2006, 09:30 AM

I have fragged my shrooms several times and instead of using the bridal veil method I used one of the clear plastic floating fish breeding containers that you can buy. It is cheap and has the slots for water flow but is small enough that nothing can get in or out. I just covered the bottom of it with small rubble and cuts the heads off the shrooms and dropped them in. It is very easy to see if they are attached as there is no top on the container.

racrumrine · #88 05/30/2006, 05:40 PM

It's been awhile since I've seen this thread.

Here are some additional thoughts/comments:

I use a cheap Exacto knife knock off to cut the mushrooms. If possible, I like to take the rock they are on out of the tank (which makes the mushrooms denser and easier to cut or dig out). Additionally, if they slime up after being cut, they won't affect anyother critters. If you use this method, toss the water they slimed in. Cutting the mushrooms in the tank is harder and more slime is produced. I try to do my best when I'm cutting in my tank and I try to keep the slime from hitting my prized corals. I once lost an $80 coral to a sloppy cut on a $5 mushroom that was only about 4" upcurrent from the coral.

My Exacto blade is old and rusted and the mushrooms don't seem to mind (as they seem to slime the same whether or not the blade is new). If I have a mushroom I want to remove completely, I have always been able to dig it out with the Exacto knife or the corner of a small metal putty knife. Fortunately, most live rock is pretty forgiving if you are trying to cut out the base of the mushroom. Once removed with some liverock attached, they are easy to glue.

No matter how hard you dry them, I've never been able to super glue a mushroom. However, once they have attached to anything (even grains of sand), you have a surface you can glue. I buy 2 tubes of super glue gel from Big Lots for $1. Works great I don't feel bad when the tube dries up.

The smallest mushroom I have fragged has been about 1/2 inch. If you don't use the bridal veil method, I'm sure you could go smaller.

It sounds like this thread has helped a lot of people.

Best of luck,

Roy