Toadstool hasn't opened since I brought him home

[Peterson88]

i got a new toadstool 2 weeks ago. It looked amazing at the store polyps were 1 to 1.5 and was flowing nicely. I brought it home acclimated for 30-45 mins in bag with temp and water input from my tank. Took him out put it in an open area with good flow not too strong and about 2/3 the way up my tank. It still to this day has never opened and has begun to grow a brownish looking algae on the cap!! All my other corals are doing great. This tank has only been up and running since January 1st corals were added middle of February. The toadstool was added 2 weeks ago.

120 gallon
1.025 salinity
11.2/4.0 kh
435 ca
1200 mg
8.0 ph
80 temp
Lighting 12pm to 6 pm 2x 24" dual t5 high outputs 12k spectrum
6am to 11pm dawn to dusk 1x aquatic life uv led running 80% blue, 30% white

I'll take pics tomorrow when I get off work

 

[Broadfield]

Sounds like it's getting ready to "shed"... but won't know for sure until I see pics. It will build up a clear, matte colored film that will eventually shed off. If the film is on there long enough, sometimes the clear will change to a light brown. Make sure you have good flow on it to help shed this layer. My leathers like tons of flow!.. and up high in the tank. They are actually up higher than my SPS.

 

[Jimbo662]

Some people have seen (myself included) them take up to a month to get settled in and start opening. Like Broadfield said it could also be getting ready to shed.

 

[Tahoe61]

My Fiji yellow took a month to open fully. Mod flow, higher lighting (because it's a Fiji). If possible post an image but it sounds like normal Sarcophyton acclimation. Avoid moving the coral around. I would let your dkh drift down to 9, the current value is at the high end with little room for error.

 

[Peterson88]

Here is a picture of it

 

[Reefing Madness]

He's ok, looks like he's gonna give it a shot. He's not all layed over.

 

[bandj505]

I received mine in a order mixup but it opened up within 10 min of adding it to the tank after acclimating

 

[Peterson88]

Good for you man^^^^^ glad to hear that bandj how did you acclimate and where is it at flow and lighting wise in your tank? How big is your tank?

 

[bandj505]

Drip acclimated for 45 min, t5 lighting, 75g tank

 

[bandj505]

I placed it low in the tank then moved it up to about mid tank after a hour or two

 

[ajcanale]

From experience with the one (and only one) I've had, polyps only extend when it is very low light, mine only looks well in a partially shaded area.

 

[Peterson88]

To give an update on the toadstool i left him be and the alhea got worse im thinking it was a flow issue. So I moved him down to the bottom of the tank and directed a wp-10 toward the cap yesterday. The algea is disappearing and the shiny coat is coming in. So it seems to me he is shedding I'm hoping he will be back to normal I a few days I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Jimbo662]

I think the shiny coat is a good sign. All the ones I've had have done this...now just sit back and watch.

 

[WVReefJunkie]

I was getting ready to tell you to lower it, it was probably getting to much light acclimating. That would also indicate the algae growing on it.

 

[Peterson88]

So here's another update. Today I came home from work and this is what I saw. Not where I want it but definitely progress. I'm hoping by this weekend it will be looking alot better.