Unable to keep discomosa but other mushrooms thrive

[trustmeimalawyer]

Hi Everyone:

I can’t seem to figure out why I can’t keep discomosa mushrooms. They will typically start off fine then begin to slowly melt away. I currently have two jawbreakers that seem to be surviving but not thriving. Every 2-3 days they will shrivel up (not usually on the same day) only to come back as they were before. I suspected something was bothering them but no pests that I can see. The other mushrooms in my tank thrive, especially rhodactis. Please help!

Parameters:
Alk- 8.5
Calcium - 450
Nitrates - 10-15
Phosphates - 0.8
Salinity - 1.026

80 gallon, 2 x radion xr30

 

[RandyC]

That looks like a lot of light for such a shallow tank. Have you tried areas of lower light and seen any different results?

 

[Triggreef]

I bet your nutrients r very low. I don't see any fish. Shrooms like it a little dirty. Discomas are slightly more picky

 

[RandyC]

I bet your nutrients r very low. I don't see any fish. Shrooms like it a little dirty. Discomas are slightly more picky

OP states:

"Nitrates - 10-15
Phosphates - 0.8"

 

[Triggreef]

OP states:

"Nitrates - 10-15
Phosphates - 0.8"

Lol busted! Yeah I only read the first couple lines and pics. It's more interesting now.

Where were the problem ones placed within that tank? Also what's your lighting program? Mine don't seem to like a high light as my other shrooms.

 

[trustmeimalawyer]

. Yeah, lots of fish. Shrooms have always been on the sand. I am on the AB schedule with 40% intensity 8 hours a day.

 

[seaplane]

Beautiful tank!

 

[Triggreef]

I'm not familiar with the programming, but 40 percent is low imo. You can never tell from pictures, but if your only at 40 percent I would bet your lighting is fairly white. You might do better overall to increase intensity but move to a more blue spectrum. I have most of my discos jb/Deadpool /eclectus under a kessil a160 at max intensity but max blue and they are only about 6 inches under the water line. I just would avoid putting them directly under the center of the light

 

[Jacob Fawley]

Don't mess with the lighting if the rest of the tank is happy. If you do, do it gradually (stability is key in a reef, for any parameter). I would suggest placing the specific troubled corals in different locations. Put one in a high-intensity area, one in low intensity, lower, higher, etc. Test them in these locations for a decent time span to compare their reactions. For example, if the corals in one location seem to be doing better than the others, move them all there. Also, this could not even be a lighting issue. Do the same sort of testing for flow.