Is this Rhodactis happy?

[mackmrtn]

Got this guy about a week ago.. I put on the top at first then learned it would better to start them lower to acclimate to my light. It’s my first coral… I didn’t realize. But I think it’s been doing pretty good so I just left it. I’m gonna glue it down soon so I want to make sure it actually looks okay before I do.

I can take a picture in whiter light if needed.

 

[Fishnut]

Is that attached to a plug? I never glue them down. Place it in a low flow area and hope it doesn’t move.

 

[mackmrtn]

Is that attached to a plug? I never glue them down. Place it in a low flow area and hope it doesn’t move.

It’s on a plug glued to a piece of rock. I just thought that what you were supposed to do. Does it eventually just grow and attach to my rock??

 

[mackmrtn]

Here’s a better pic

 

[mackmrtn]

Here’s a better pic

 

[muzikalmatt]

It definitely doesn't look unhappy but it doesn't look as fully expanded as it might in lower light. Corals are pretty adaptive though (especially rhodactis mushrooms), so they can acclimate to higher light without much issue. I'd probably just leave it where it's at as long as it doesn't start closing up on you. Moving corals around hits the reset button so you kind of undue the acclimation they've gone through already.

My green hairy mushrooms (also rhodactis) have climbed up the rockwork to where some at the top are probably sitting in 300+ PAR when the lights are at peak intensity.

Here's a top down shot of them. They climbed up top by my SPS corals (monticap, stylophora and green slimer), so they can definitely tolerate higher intensity lighting.

 

[TnFishwater98]

Mine sometimes does that “mushroom cup” look. They do spread out also. Might be wanting a little more light but not sure. How much light does it get? Doesn’t need a lot. My RFA make those shapes sometimes also.

Not a great pic but there are 4 mushrooms in this pic. You can see they all are kinda shaped definitely. I believe they change as my light changes through the day.

 

[mackmrtn]

Mine sometimes does that “mushroom cup” look. They do spread out also. Might be wanting a little more light but not sure. How much light does it get? Doesn’t need a lot. My RFA make those shapes sometimes also.

Not a great pic but there are 4 mushrooms in this pic. You can see they all are kinda shaped definitely. I believe they change as my light changes through the day.

I’m not sure if mine is cupped up. I think it’s just glued kinda at an angle and may look like that. Here’s a different angle from the side and back. It’s at the top so it’s as much as it could get.

 

[mackmrtn]

Ok

It definitely doesn't look unhappy but it doesn't look as fully expanded as it might in lower light. Corals are pretty adaptive though (especially rhodactis mushrooms), so they can acclimate to higher light without much issue. I'd probably just leave it where it's at as long as it doesn't start closing up on you. Moving corals around hits the reset button so you kind of undue the acclimation they've gone through already.

My green hairy mushrooms (also rhodactis) have climbed up the rockwork to where some at the top are probably sitting in 300+ PAR when the lights are at peak intensity.

Here's a top down shot of them. They climbed up top by my SPS corals (monticap, stylophora and green slimer), so they can definitely tolerate higher intensity lighting.

okay thanks I was leaning more towards leaving it. Do you recommend leaving on plug as well or taking it off? Does it make a difference?

 

[SlugSnorter]

Ok

okay thanks I was leaning more towards leaving it. Do you recommend leaving on plug as well or taking it off? Does it make a difference?

you cannot take it off. I disagree with the plug being bad, if the coral is sticking to it by itself it can crawl off without difficulty.

 

[bnord]

I think it looks like it is settleing in. How long have you had it there? I have a pair of Yumas that just mosey on up around the rock, often to lower light, and leave little babies in their path

 

[Just John]

Moving to higher light slowly should be fine, as others have said. That has worked for me. Most of these actually moved themselves higher up the rock over a couple of months. Put the plug where you want it to be and it may stay there or wander a bit eventually. Only put a little glue on the plug so you can pull it off easily if you want to later.

An old picture

 

[mackmrtn]

you cannot take it off. I disagree with the plug being bad, if the coral is sticking to it by itself it can crawl off without difficulty.

Even though it’s glued to it?? Will it just grow and cover the plug up? So everyone just has these plugs underneath all there original pieces?

 

[mackmrtn]

I think it looks like it is settleing in. How long have you had it there? I have a pair of Yumas that just mosey on up around the rock, often to lower light, and leave little babies in their path

About a week. I just have the plug stuck down in a hole. I had thought you were supposed to get it off and glue the piece of rock down but I guess I was wrong on that. Glad I didn’t do it!

 

[SlugSnorter]

Even though it’s glued to it?? Will it just grow and cover the plug up? So everyone just has these plugs underneath all there original pieces?

Grow over or it will move away.

 

[bnord]

About a week. I just have the plug stuck down in a hole. I had thought you were supposed to get it off and glue the piece of rock down but I guess I was wrong on that. Glad I didn’t do it!

have had them look like this for a month or more - if there is a shady spot to move to to easily consider that, but otherwise let'r rest

 

[mackmrtn]

have had them look like this for a month or more - if there is a shady spot to move to to easily consider that, but otherwise let'r rest

I tried and there’s just no good spots to stick plugs into. I don’t understand how y’all do it without taking them off and gluing them down. I feel like I made him mad so I just put it back. But I don’t see how I’m gonna fill up my rock without gluing them.

 

[Just John]

I tried and there’s just no good spots to stick plugs into. I don’t understand how y’all do it without taking them off and gluing them down. I feel like I made him mad so I just put it back. But I don’t see how I’m gonna fill up my rock without gluing them.

Did you remove the post from the plug? That make it a lot easier

 

[mackmrtn]

Did you remove the post from the plug? That make it a lot easier

no I didn’t remove post because there’s not many flat spots that the base would just sit. My rock is roundish with lots of knobs and crevices.

 

[mackmrtn]

Grow over or it will move away.

When it grows over will you always be able to see the shape of the base of the plug underneath?