Toadstool, Lighting and Rock Questions?

[Lalaallieu]

Hey guys, I got a toadstool a few weeks ago when I was in Chicago and for the past week it quit coming out. I changed my flow and moved it to a higher spot in my tank because I saw a few people say high flow high lighting. I really can’t get it to come out. I just did a water change and turned my light on so it’s still early. I had gotten lazy about cleaning my glass and it got a bit of the brown orangish algae from my glass on it so last night I removed it the best I could and moved it. Everything else in my tank is thriving. I got some Zoas a couple weeks ago and it’s already went from 8 to 11! I also have some brown spots still on my glass that my sponge scrubber won’t get off? How do I get it off? It just looks like little brown dots on the glass. Not too noticeable but I see it. Also, there’s green on my rock (started with dry rock from BRS) and now it’s green. I tried to brush it off with a toothbrush and it will NOT come off. So is this just a natural change for my rock? Sorry for all the questions. I always started with established live rock before and never had any issues like this before, but I didn’t want all the pests coming from that stuff. My gsp hasn’t come out this morning. It’s fine though. It hides and then comes out when the lights are on for a bit. Question about my lights. I’m using stock lights for the Fluval 13.5, and the options are only white and blue, no inbetween. I’ve always kept it on white, but I don’t know what blue is for? When do I use it? Should I be using it instead?

Lauren

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Our leathers would go through a shed every so often. Maybe that's what yours is going through. I do see what looks to be a aiptasia on the back in picture 3. That could also irritate it.

 

[Doctorgori]

yup (just adding to the sample size)

Our leathers would go through a shed every so often. Maybe that's what yours is going through. I do see what looks to be a aiptasia on the back in picture 3. That could also irritate it.

 

[mta_morrow]

The green on the rocks is normal algae. As your tank matures. That’s good.
Agree with @Lovemyreef2015 on the aiptasia. Remove the Frag and scrape it off and rinse it well!
Doing this will upset the toadstool even more, but it is necessary.
then, place it back where you had it and don’t touch it then for a while.
All leathers will pout and get grumpy from time to time, especially when shedding. They also like some nutrients vs a super clean tank IME.
As an FYI, I keep my leathers at near 200 par and moderate flow.

 

[sfin52]

The more you mess with the more upset it gets. That aptasia could make it upset. I agree with @mta_morrow pull it scrape it off.
I would put it back in that same spot but not in a heavy flow but a moderate flow area. To much flow and they will stay closed in

 

[motortrendz]

This is probably, most likely, almost definitly your problem. Lol

 

[BeejReef]

Agreed with all ^

The blue lights are where it's at. They put out the spectrum most important to the coral. You def want to use them. Since stuff is doing well, I'd be gradual. Lighting is a whole nuther topic, but most will do roughly 12 hours of blues with the whites mixed in for 4-7 hours mid day.

 

[Lalaallieu]

Agreed with all ^

The blue lights are where it's at. They put out the spectrum most important to the coral. You def want to use them. Since stuff is doing well, I'd be gradual. Lighting is a whole nuther topic, but most will do roughly 12 hours of blues with the whites mixed in for 4-7 hours mid day.

Right, but I don’t have a “mix in” option. My lights are not customizable. The only options are all white, or all blue, or off. So I should start using the blue lights instead?

 

[BeejReef]

Right, but I don’t have a “mix in” option. My lights are not customizable. The only options are all white, or all blue, or off. So I should start using the blue lights instead?

Jeez.. I don't know for sure then. Don't change anything on my say so if the tank is doing well. I hope a lighting expert can give you a good answer.

 

[jeffchapok]

To begin with, I agree with the others that you want that aiptasia off of your leather's stalk. Even if that's not the reason he's not opening up, you don't want that stuff spreading throughout your tank.

Here's what one did to my acan...

As for your lights, I'm sorry to tell you but if you're going to get serious about keeping corals, you're going to need to invest in some better lights that can be adjusted by the individual color channels, rather than just all blue or all white. I bought a set of used LEDs here and didn't spend a fortune on them ($200 IIRC) and they are working well for me.

 

[reef lover]

Can you run blue and white together?
Im not 100 %confident those are sufficient for reefs.

 

[Bpb]

Definitely don’t worry about brushing off the rocks. Let them get color. Just let it ride. They’ll do all sorts of fun stuff over time. I also started with all bleach white dry rock. 6 years later it looks like this. This is what your goal is. Zero white left. On top of that, zero bare rock matter left. Completely cloaked in color and life. Just let it ride. White rock = bad