Emily Johnson
Mushroom corals are unique in that they lack the feeding tentacles of typical corals and instead derive their nutrition from the surrounding water and their onboard zooxanthellae. They are also able to feed on items that have settled on the disc. While some mushrooms spit out babies, others simply grow bigger and then split on their own. If you want to split a mushroom reef, you can either cut it into pie-shaped pieces or put it in a blender with saltwater and give it a couple of quick blasts. After that, put the mushrooms in a low-flow tank with crushed coral or rubble rock and let them settle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Placement | Shrooms can be placed in lower-flow areas to reduce the chance of them floating where you don't want them. |
| Multiplication | Mushrooms multiply quickly and can become invasive. |
| Fragging | Mushrooms can be fragged by cutting them into pie-shaped pieces, using a blender, or isolating them on "islands" of rockwork. |
| Lighting and flow | Mushroom corals prefer lower-intensity lighting and moderate levels of flow. |
| Healing | It takes several days for frags to heal and a few weeks for them to become smaller copies of the parent. |
| Iodine | Iodine is beneficial for propagating mushrooms. |
| Gloves and facial protection | Although there is no indication that mushroom corals are hazardous to human health, it may be wise to wear latex gloves and facial protection when handling them. |
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What You'll Learn
Cutting into pie-shaped pieces
To split a mushroom reef, you can cut it into pie-shaped pieces. This method is also known as fragging. It involves taking a knife to the mushroom in a life-threatening manner, but these corals are resilient and can take it.
First, set up your workstation. You will need a well-lit table or desk that you can get wet. Use a small chopping board and hold the mushrooms in a shallow bath of aquarium water. Make sure your container is food-safe and free of domestic chemicals.
Next, take the mushroom and cut it away from the stalk. Then, cut the mushroom into pie-shaped pieces, each with a centre mouth-type portion. Place the pieces in a shallow dish, such as a butter bowl, with a layer of crushed coral or rubble. You can also use a deli container with holes poked in the sides and top for water flow.
After a few weeks, the pieces will have formed into smaller circles and attached themselves to the coral. You can then take them, now attached to small pieces of live rock, and attach those small rocks to larger pieces to build up a new colony.
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Using a blender
Next, put a couple of mushrooms in the blender with some saltwater. Give it a few quick blasts, but be careful not to overdo it and end up with mushroom puree. Then, place the blended mushrooms in your container and add crushed coral or rubble rock. You can also put the mixture in a low-flow tank or frag tank. If using a container, poke holes in the sides and top to allow for some water flow.
After a few weeks, you should have plenty of baby mushrooms. This method may not be the most celebrated way to split mushroom coral, but it can be effective. However, some people have expressed concerns about the potential for contamination when using a blender.
It's worth noting that mushrooms can be fragile, and they will often multiply faster than you might expect. They can also be invasive, so be prepared to remove any excess mushrooms that may invade other areas of your tank.
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Letting nature take its course
If you're looking to split mushroom coral and are considering letting nature take its course, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, mushroom corals have a natural ability to survive and prosper from physical damage. They can regenerate quickly and will often multiply faster than you may want, becoming an invasive annoyance if left unchecked.
In terms of specific methods, some people choose to cut their mushroom coral into pie-shaped pieces, each with a centre mouth-type portion. These pieces can then be placed in a shallow dish with a layer of crushed coral or rubble, and they will typically regenerate within a week or two. Another approach is to simply let the mushrooms split and multiply on their own, without any human intervention. This method aligns with the idea of letting nature take its course and can be successful, but it may result in uncontrolled growth and the mushrooms spreading to unwanted areas.
It's worth noting that some mushrooms, like the King Kong variety, tend to spit out babies but don't split on their own. Others, like the golden bounce ricordea, may not split at all and simply continue to grow bigger. Therefore, if you're aiming for specific results or want to control the spread of your mushroom coral, a hands-off approach may not be ideal.
Additionally, when letting nature take its course, it's important to consider the potential impact on the surrounding environment. As mentioned earlier, uncontrolled growth can occur. This can lead to mushrooms spreading to areas where you may not want them, such as adjacent rockwork or decorations. Regular maintenance may be required to manage their growth and prevent them from becoming a nuisance.
In summary, letting nature take its course with mushroom coral splitting can involve simply allowing the mushrooms to multiply and spread on their own. While this approach may work for some varieties, others may require more intervention for successful propagation. It's important to consider the potential for uncontrolled growth and the impact on the surrounding environment when deciding whether to intervene or let nature take its course.
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Isolating mushrooms to limit overgrowth
To limit overgrowth, you can isolate mushrooms to solitary "islands" of rockwork. This limits their ability to move to adjacent rockwork and decorations as they tend to avoid attaching to sand. However, this method is not foolproof, and you should still keep an eye out for polyps that detach and remove them. Removal can be done by brushing them into goo with a firm-bristled tool and siphoning out as much of the tissue as possible. This is important as the dying mushrooms will release toxins that can irritate and stress other inhabitants of the tank.
Another way to limit overgrowth is to frag your mushrooms. This involves exploiting their natural ability to survive and prosper from physical damage. You can use a knife to cut them into pie-shaped pieces, each with a centre mouth-type portion. Then, place the pieces in a shallow dish with a layer of crushed coral or rubble. You can also use a blender to frag mushrooms. Put a couple of shrooms in the blender with some saltwater and give it a couple of quick blasts. Be careful not to create a mushroom puree. Put them in a low-flow tank with plenty of crushed coral or rubble rock and let them settle.
Mushrooms can also be prevented from overgrowing by placing them in lower-flow areas of the tank, as there is less chance that they will let go and blow where you don't want them.
It is worth noting that mushrooms can become invasive very quickly and multiply faster than desired. Therefore, it is important to take proactive measures to limit their overgrowth.
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Removing polyps that detach
Mushrooms have a natural ability to survive and prosper from physical damage. One way to remove polyps that detach is to use a firm-bristled tool to brush them into goo, removing as much tissue as possible with a siphon. This method is important to prevent a nutrient spike and the release of toxins into the water, which can irritate other inhabitants of the tank.
Another method for removing and propagating mushrooms is to use a blender. This involves putting a couple of mushrooms in a blender with some saltwater and giving it a few quick blasts to create a frag mixture. It is important not to over-blend, as this will create a mushroom puree. The frag mixture is then placed in a low-flow tank with crushed coral or rubble rock, allowing the mushrooms to settle and form baby mushrooms over a few weeks.
When removing and propagating mushrooms, it is recommended to wear latex gloves and facial protection to ensure safety and avoid any potential hazards from chemicals and tissues. A well-lit and water-resistant work area is also ideal for the process.
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Frequently asked questions
Some mushrooms will split and reproduce on their own. King Kong mushrooms, for example, spit out babies but do not split. If you are looking for a hands-off approach, you can let your mushrooms multiply and split on their own.
You can use a knife to cut the mushroom away from its stalk. You can then cut the mushroom into pie-shaped pieces, each with a centre mouth-type portion. You can also use a blender by putting a couple of mushrooms in with some saltwater and giving it a couple of quick blasts. Be careful not to create a mushroom puree.
After cutting, place the mushrooms in a shallow dish with a layer of crushed coral or rubble. You can also put them in a low-flow tank with plenty of crushed coral or rubble rock and let them settle.
