Struggling mushrooms

[reeftankforme]

Hello. I set up a new tank about 6 weeks ago. The rock and corals were from another tank (not mine) so I had no cycle.

I have seen these mushrooms decline in their form. They appear both folded and stretching, which from my searches could mean different things. Salinity and PH are in good range and nitrates are 0. Running small phosphate pad and small carbon pads currently. Lighting is current orbit IC with blue on full and white on 40%.

any ideas? Thanks for the help.

 

[PBnJOnWheat]

Hello. I set up a new tank about 6 weeks ago. The rock and corals were from another tank (not mine) so I had no cycle.

I have seen these mushrooms decline in their form. They appear both folded and stretching, which from my searches could mean different things. Salinity and PH are in good range and nitrates are 0. Running small phosphate pad and small carbon pads currently. Lighting is current orbit IC with blue on full and white on 40%.

any ideas? Thanks for the help.

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but from my experience LPS and softies prefer dirtier water could be lack of nitrates I’m not sure

 

[HD_Reefer]

Hello. I set up a new tank about 6 weeks ago. The rock and corals were from another tank (not mine) so I had no cycle.

I have seen these mushrooms decline in their form. They appear both folded and stretching, which from my searches could mean different things. Salinity and PH are in good range and nitrates are 0. Running small phosphate pad and small carbon pads currently. Lighting is current orbit IC with blue on full and white on 40%.

any ideas? Thanks for the help.

What lights were they under before?

 

[reeftankforme]

What lights were they under before?

Probably something more powerful if I had to guess. I am hesitant to turn the lights lower because of other corals (hammers). Maybe I should try turning the lights up?

 

[DirkCourage]

I just watched the BRS/WWC Hybrid tank episode on coral nutrition and you might want to give it a watch. I kind of agree with PBnj and think your tank nutrients might just be too low. A low nutrient tank is different from a no nutrient tank. Corals and their zooxanthellae need nutrients from the water column as much as light to build tissue and function. Are there fish in the tank? Fish and fish waste are also beneficial. Go ahead and feed them a bit more. Also look into adding some coral food like Reef Roids or Reef Chili. Even though they don’t direct feed, they would probably benefit from some nutrient availability in the water column. I just starting adding some Reef Chili every other day and I think it’s showing results in at least some of my coral. Just monitor your parameters as you ramp up.

 

[JosephM]

I just watched the BRS/WWC Hybrid tank episode on coral nutrition and you might want to give it a watch. I kind of agree with PBnj and think your tank nutrients might just be too low. A low nutrient tank is different from a no nutrient tank. Corals and their zooxanthellae need nutrients from the water column as much as light to build tissue and function. Are there fish in the tank? Fish and fish waste are also beneficial. Go ahead and feed them a bit more. Also look into adding some coral food like Reef Roids or Reef Chili. Even though they don’t direct feed, they would probably benefit from some nutrient availability in the water column. I just starting adding some Reef Chili every other day and I think it’s showing results in at least some of my coral. Just monitor your parameters as you ramp up.

Just to add to your point. It's not fully dependent on what your tests are showing you but also what you are importing into the system. I have undetectable nitrates (working on getting them up) But I dose nitrates twice a day and feed Reef Roids every 3 days, seeing some growth in my shrooms and zoas. In no way I am saying undetectable nitrates are good because IMO they aren't especially for softies but I also believe if you're importing enough the corals will have a chance to take in some nutrients and not be starved.

 

[reeftankforme]

I just watched the BRS/WWC Hybrid tank episode on coral nutrition and you might want to give it a watch. I kind of agree with PBnj and think your tank nutrients might just be too low. A low nutrient tank is different from a no nutrient tank. Corals and their zooxanthellae need nutrients from the water column as much as light to build tissue and function. Are there fish in the tank? Fish and fish waste are also beneficial. Go ahead and feed them a bit more. Also look into adding some coral food like Reef Roids or Reef Chili. Even though they don’t direct feed, they would probably benefit from some nutrient availability in the water column. I just starting adding some Reef Chili every other day and I think it’s showing results in at least some of my coral. Just monitor your parameters as you ramp up.

Thanks for the tips. I did watch that video you suggested. The whole series is really well done. It very well might be too clear of nutrients. I’ll feed the fish a little more and take it slow. Even though it was rock moved from an existing tank maybe also the newness is a factor. They talked a lot about that in the series.

 

[Casket_Case]

As everyone said keep the system dirtier. Feed them bits of shrimp. Also sometimes mushrooms look weird like that due to protecting babies, moving, flow, et cetera.

 

[LRT]

Strive to at least achieve 5ppm Nitrates and .05 Phosphates.
Its absolutely true some prefer and actually do better in higher nutrient based system. One size dont fit all but you definetely want some nutrients at all times so system keeps its balance.
I've grown shrooms with cheap black boxes around 50par and I've grown them in dialed system up to 125par. Could probably push some of the closer to 250 par as some just cant get enough light.
That being said. Its not your problem.
I acclimate all new shrooms in low light low flow area of tank until they adjust to my system, start inflating and I gradually move them out to more light until I hit sweet spot.
I determine sweet spot by what my shrooms tell me. Reaching up and cupping like a flower they are asking for more light. Laying down sprawled out basking in sun they are in correct light.
This process can take a few weeks with newly acquired shrooms getting over initial shipping or just being introduced to new system with different water parameters shock.

High flow will also make them shrivel up.

They need to adjust to your particular system.

 

[reeftankforme]

Strive to at least achieve 5ppm Nitrates and .05 Phosphates.
Its absolutely true some prefer and actually do better in higher nutrient based system. One size dont fit all but you definetely want some nutrients at all times so system keeps its balance.
I've grown shrooms with cheap black boxes around 50par and I've grown them in dialed system up to 125par. Could probably push some of the closer to 250 par as some just cant get enough light.
That being said. Its not your problem.
I acclimate all new shrooms in low light low flow area of tank until they adjust to my system, start inflating and I gradually move them out to more light until I hit sweet spot.
I determine sweet spot by what my shrooms tell me. Reaching up and cupping like a flower they are asking for more light. Laying down sprawled out basking in sun they are in correct light.
This process can take a few weeks with newly acquired shrooms getting over initial shipping or just being introduced to new system with different water parameters shock.

High flow will also make them shrivel up.

They need to adjust to your particular system.

I wonder if perhaps I should try to turn my lights up. I did turn the lights down a few weeks ago and if anything they are more closed up now. They are also in a higher flow area but that is relative...this isn’t a high flow tank now with just the stock pump.

 

[LRT]

I wonder if perhaps I should try to turn my lights up. I did turn the lights down a few weeks ago and if anything they are more closed up now. They are also in a higher flow area but that is relative...this isn’t a high flow tank now with just the stock pump.

It could very well be flow some of my shrooms act totally different in higher especially direct or turbulent flow.
Otherwise idk. Only other reason I've seen shrooms do that is shock when major disruption or change in stability to system they are acclimated to.
Some shrooms can take a good while to acclimate and some show up still inflated and sprawled out and ready to roll. Just never know.

 

[DirkCourage]

I wonder if perhaps I should try to turn my lights up. I did turn the lights down a few weeks ago and if anything they are more closed up now. They are also in a higher flow area but that is relative...this isn’t a high flow tank now with just the stock pump.

They’re pretty tolerant of light and flow. Normal reactions will be fluffy vs tight polyps... to me this looks a little different.I don’t think they really do that “reach for the light” that zoas/palys do (also not an expert)

 

[Tofu Brady]

Hello. I set up a new tank about 6 weeks ago. The rock and corals were from another tank (not mine) so I had no cycle.

I have seen these mushrooms decline in their form. They appear both folded and stretching, which from my searches could mean different things. Salinity and PH are in good range and nitrates are 0. Running small phosphate pad and small carbon pads currently. Lighting is current orbit IC with blue on full and white on 40%.

any ideas? Thanks for the help.

I think you should try to use the defalt lighting and see what that does

 

[reeftankforme]

I think you should try to use the defalt lighting and see what that does

I am not even sure what the default lighting was, the current USA app doesn’t have a return to that. Right now I have it at blue 100, white 58, red 79, green 87, which is a bit more white than I had been running. Also have a 10, 12, and 14k option.

 

[Tofu Brady]

They’re pretty tolerant of light and flow. Normal reactions will be fluffy vs tight polyps... to me this looks a little different.I don’t think they really do that “reach for the light” that zoas/palys do (also not an expert)

I think you should try to use the defalt lighting and see what that d

I am not even sure what the default lighting was, the current USA app doesn’t have a return to that. Right now I have it at blue 100, white 58, red 79, green 87, which is a bit more white than I had been running. Also have a 10, 12, and 14k option.

What i mean is like some of each for rgb i think have them somewhat even

 

[reeftankforme]

Quick update. I put in a new purity pack (gfo bag, carbon bag, floss balls) with a water change the other day and the mushrooms are even more closed up now. So perhaps the Gfo or carbon is pulling too much from the water. I may remove half the contents of those bags and put them back in and see what that does.