Gozer_1

After about a week of researching and thinking and reading some more I decided to try building a "zapper". I don't have any pest anemones but I've been looking for away to remove stray mushrooms without pulling the rock and chiseling them off. After all my reading and thinking I went out and got some supplies. I dug out some non-copper speaker wire and some used oxygen tubing out of my grandpa's garage. I purchased a 12V 600mA power supply, an on\off switch, marine epoxy, a carpenters pencil and some zip ties. I split the wire in to two individual wires and ran them through sections of tubing. At the end of one wire I attached a tapestry needle and pulled the wire back until 1\2 inch of needle stuck out of the tube. At one end of the other wire I attached a piece of graphite recovered from the pencil. This too I pulled back until only the graphite stuck out. With my electrode and anode in place I sealed both ends of the tubing with epoxy. I left my self more than enough wire at the dry end of the tubing to attach the power supply. To attach I simply twisted the positive (graphite) wire so that it would fit snugly into the center (positive) of the power supply plug. I taped it off and wrapped my other wire (needle) around the outer portion of the plug making sure the wires were well insulated from one another. I used zip ties to tie the two tubes together and let everything sit for a day. I haven't yet installed an on\off switch but have put the thing to use. Small mushrooms are gone in a day, the larger strays require a couple treatments. So far I've been zapping 3 or 4 every couple days and things are really looking good. I've seen no impact on water quality. It's not a cure for the bad maintenance that got me here but it certainly makes me feel better knowing I can get them back under control. Together with good water management and the new light bulbs I put in I think my mushroom woes are over.

Disclaimer: I was raised by an electrician and I have pretty good knowledge of electricity. Please do not try this unless you are completely comfortable. The power from the tool is not enough to hurt you but you must ALWAYS respect electricity especially around water. Leave enough wire to have a drip loop before the outlet and be sure to seal everything that may be exposed to water. Be safe Addicts but have some fun too!

Added some pics of the "device" and an area of aftermath. I noticed a bristle worm seemingly munching on the leftover shroom guts. Really shaky picture but you can see it fairly well. It's an area between some lavender shrooms and the overbearing reds.