Fragmenting Mushromms . . .

[little]

After starting my tank, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to turn it into a reef and so I did. I picked up some polyps and mushrooms and have enjoyed them ever since. I learned from reading on this board that you can frag mushrooms so I decided to give it a try. So here it goes. This particular mushroom was a free floater that I received at the LFS with the ones on the rock I bought. I placed him on the bottom of my tank with little tiny rocks around him in hopes he would attach to one. He did and I moved him up next to the other rock. As this is my first time to frag a mushroom, it seemed fitting to use the free floater. The one to the far left.

 

[little]

The tools I will be using:
Dish to move mushroom to operation table
New razor blade that you would use in an mat knife
Scotch super glue gel: to glue mushroom to rock. I got this at Wal Fart for $1.50 or so. . .
Quick Count Plastic Canvas: this will go over the mushrooms to hold them in place in case the glue fails. I got this at Wal Fart for $.36 . . .
Rubber bands: hold plastic canvas in place
Paper towel: to dry off the spots on the rock I will be gluing

 

[little]

Here I come to get the subject.

 

[little]

I use the razor blade and a little pulling to get him off the tiny rock he was on and now ready to cut him in half.
*slice*
He was tougher to cut through then I had imagined.

 

[little]

My plan was to cut him into 4 pieces, but after the first and only cut he seemed too small for me to cut again. I read that it is better to have larger frags than smaller ones. Being the first time for me to frag, I am going to play it safe.
:nervous:

 

[little]

Using the paper towel to dry off the spot where I will attach the frags, I am now adding the super glue gel. Why gel over a liquid? That’s a good question, that I don’t know hee hee! Once again, I read that you use gel. I am thinking if it had been liquid, it would have been all over the rock. The little drop size blob I used stayed right were I wanted it to while I got the frags over to it.

 

[little]

Adding the first frag to the rock. I placed him right on top of the glue and gently pushed down until I could see the glue flatten out.

 

[little]

Adding the second frag the same way. . .
:jumping:

 

[little]

Now I cut the plastic canvas to cover the frags and rubber band it in place. You can see it does not take much, but I made sure that if the glue does not hold them down, they can’t float away.

 

[little]

Give them a quick rinse from water from the tank. Yes, I read that the juice from them is poisons and should not go in to your tank.
:joy:

 

[little]

Then I placed them back with the welcome committee standing by.
:cheer:

 

[little]

I am learning here as I go and hope some of you may learn as well from my experience. This type of thread has been done in the past and I will say I followed its style. With that said, I would like to thank Kip4130 for making this information available to use. I will up date every one about my success or failure. And post more pictures as they move along. I plan on taking off the plastic canvas in a week or so.
Thanks to all who spent the time on reading my thread and comments are welcome.
Little

 

[jenni]

Very cool pics and discription of your mushrooms. Hope everything works out for you. :happyfish

 

[crazy4reefs]

looks like you did a good job. i have never been able to glue a mushroom because of all the slime. let me know how it goes.

 

[little]

I can tell that the glue is not holding! Plastic canvas is . . . After looking at them I was thinking they my like it in a lower flow area then the one I have them in now. So I have moved them and there not shacking as much.
I will let you know how it goes.
Little

 

[greatfullreefer]

Nice description, the way i do it is direct a power head at the shroom (they dont like it and will move leaving baby shrooms in their trail

 

[bergamer]

I can't stand seeing a critter cut in half:nope:
It's not like the mushrooms are that expensive!

 

[little]

But if I can help them do what they do best why not. And save a buck or two. You think it’s hard to look at him cut in half. Just think of what it was like for me. I felt bad oh I did I did.

Thank for the complements.
Little

 

[norcal420]

its just like an earthworm. Cut it in half and ya got 2.
or three
or ten
Its not murder its reproduction.

 

[rockcod5]

The glue is not toxic??? I heard using a rubber band placed over the mouth of the shroom will cause it to divide.