Hairy Mushroom Splitting Question

[01Buckeye]

Good day to everyone.

I have a quick question about Green Hairy Mushrooms and splitting. I purchased a rock from my LFS with 5-6 green hairy mushrooms on it almost 8 weeks ago. One of the mushrooms that was being shaded by a larger mushroom did detach and relocate itself to get more light, and it looks like there are about 2 more smaller mushrooms that will likely have to do the same. My question though is regarding these mushrooms splitting. I have yet to see any noticible splitting occuring and some of these are easily 5" in diameter and are looking rather healthy with fantasic green tips. How long does it typically take before I will see splitting and spreading of these mushrooms? My last test readings are SG - 1.0215, Temp - 76F-80F, pH - 7.8-8.0, Ammonia - 0, Nitrite - 0, Nitrate - 5ppm, KH - 143.2ppm, Ca+ - 420mg/L, Phosphate - 0ppm.

Here is a small picture

Just curious on the splitting. It is my first attempt at a coral in this 72 gal bowfront. Lighting is 2 10k 65W daylight and 2 actinic 65 W compact flurescent bulbs. If successful, I can see adding some more mushrooms and other polyps, but want to make sure I can "grow" mushrooms before investing in other corals.

Tanks for any help and advice,

[Reefing Madness]

Mushrooms are one of the easiest coral to maintain. As far as them splitting and how long that takes, no one can answer that. They will when they are ready. And as far as adding more corals, I'd say your good to go. Softies and Button Polyps are the easiest.

[kevinpo]

Hello,
Coral reproduction is closely linked to nutrition uptake. The coral you are referring to is one of the slower reproducing mushroom species. This process can be sped up by target feeding small meaty foods such as mysis shrimp or finely ground raw shrimp for then market. Some species of mushrooms (such as yours) can capture small food items but most species can directly adsorb nutrients from the water column and therefore do not require high light. Mushroom corals will reproduce by pedal laceration quickly in high nutrient environments but typically we try to maintain a rather clean tank to prevent unwanted algae growth.

Regards,
Kevin

[chrisfont23]

+1 on feeding. But placement too - spacious placement (ie. not crowding it's full expansion) is also important. I originally purchased two hairy mushrooms, about the size of a quarter. One of them is about 9 inches in diameter now and the other a little over 5. I use cyclopeeze, which when they get, turn almost inside out. I have also cascaded rock to allow them to expand, leaving a load of room either way. I don't know either one of those did the trick, but something I am doing is right.

In addition to splitting, mushrooms can leave behind some "remnants" - or example in the case of a pedal laceration or such that it leaves behind these remnants when the shroom cascades across your rocks. So again, the notion that spacious placement is important.

HTH

[chrisfont23]

Here is a before and an after pic. This is why I stress proper placement:

Sun, June 26 2011:



20 Minutes Ago:



The second mushroom (top, first pic) is not even visible in the second picture. It literally moved over the rock onto the other side. The picture of the shroom in #2 is completely of the lower mushroom.