Help!!! Mushrooms 'melting'

[Fishtails]

Hello MTRC. I come with a issue I can't seem to figure out. As of lately, the majority of my frilly mushrooms have began to expel the innards and withering away. This has been occurring for the last couple of weeks. I tested my parameters and everything~ammonia, nitrates and nitrites test 0ppm5-10ppm, and 0ppm. Salinity is around .28. Some seem to be doing fine, whereas others began with a gaping mouth and eventually expelled the insides. Don't believe the fish are messing with them and all other corals, aside from my frogspawn which recently is shriveling as well seem to be doing excellent. Any ideas? I initially had 12, now have lost 3 to this issue and seems like I may be losing another or so. Same issue seems to be occurring with them.

 

[Jennifier615]

I am not really sure. Your salinity is slightly high. I have read somewhere that they may also do this if they eat too much. What is the bioload and feeding of your tank? When was your last water change? Do you dose/what/how much? I don't know the answer, but that is a few avenues I can think of.

 

[Fishtails]

Thanks for the quick response. Salinity is high. I lose quite a bit of water daily, top off with R/O fresh though. Do weekly/bi-weekly WC's, no skimmer. Feed around 1-2 times a day, depends. Both frozen and pelleted foods. Dosing CA and Iodine, once or twice weekly. Could be due to feedings, I see the mushrooms close up when I feed the tank cyclopeeze from time to time. I was thinking it could have been the lighting. They were around 6" directly under my MH, however they'd done fine for the past few months. Not too sure. Everything else seems fine, even the SPS I have in there.

 

[poolkeeper1]

Why are you dosing Iodine 2 x week ? in most cases it is replaced with water changes.
And do you test for it ? If not how do you know if it even needs it? That is a trace element used mostly by Crabs and Shrimps that molt and other than that is not really a element to be dosing so often, JMO What size Tank is it?
Bill

 

[S13<3]

i had problems with one of my cupping shrooms, all other mushrooms were ok, turned out to be salinity, it was at 29, urs is deff high, drop it to 25-26 and u should be good

 

[Pickupman66]

I would say the salinity is too high. I also agree with Bill on the Iodine. it is very mis understood and unless you test for it and know the actual consumption of your tank, please stop dosing it. I dont dose it at all. did years ago as a newb but stopped once I learned it is really not necessary.

 

[Fishtails]

Why are you dosing Iodine 2 x week ? in most cases it is replaced with water changes.
And do you test for it ? If not how do you know if it even needs it? That is a trace element used mostly by Crabs and Shrimps that molt and other than that is not really a element to be dosing so often, JMO What size Tank is it?
Bill

24 gallon. I usually dose 1-2X weekly. It varies. I don't test, and to be honest don't actually dose the chemicals very often. I just say 1-2X. :worried:

I'm beginning to believe it's the salinity as well. I say this due to the fact my frogspawn has not expanded much in the last couple days. Or would the fact that I've found that my small mini anemone has moved to the main mushroom rock be a factor as well. I'd guess that could be a possibility?

 

[NeveSSL]

... I lose quite a bit of water daily, top off with R/O fresh though. ...

If you don't have ATO, high salinity plus going higher before you top off will definitely be a factor and will not help. Those are huge swings when you top of manually like that.

Brandon

 

[Mikeyjer]

I don't think it's the salinity. I think it's from you dosing chemicals on top of water changes!!!! What are you using to test your salinity???? If your using a refractometer, make sure it's probably calibrated. IF your using swing arm, make sure micro-bubbles are off the dial. I have allowed my tank to get up to 1.028 in the past without having any issues with my corals. As some of you may know looking at my tanks, I have PLENTY of mushrooms to go around. If your really worried about high salinity level, make sure your new water is at a lower salinity during water change. What could help you with your problem is to do at least 25% of water change, then again a day later. That could help to balance out if your over dosing. With tank your size, it's easily to over dose chemicals. It's easier to replenish your elements by just doing a water change on a weekly basis for your size tank. It should be quite simple over dosing chemicals.

 

[Mikeyjer]

If you don't have ATO, high salinity plus going higher before you top off will definitely be a factor and will not help. Those are huge swings when you top of manually like that.

Brandon

Brandon,

I don't have ATO on one of my tanks, I don't have problems!!!! I top off manually on a daily basis and I lose like a gallon per day. With that being said, Fishtail's tank is a lot smaller in volume!!!! It could be a factor, but I really believe it's the chemicals!!! You could over dose CA. From my understanding, when you dose CA you should dose ALK as well to balance it out, you could be dropping your PH levels. With me doing water changes on a weekly basis, I don't even dose anything period except to my mixing water which I know is low in CA.

 

[Fishtails]

Thanks folks. I believe I've narrowed down the issue to the salinity or temp. Over the last 24hrs. I lost a SPS do to RTN and my frogspawn seems to have withered away. I did a 20% change. However either my salinity is really high, 1.030+ or I need to invest in a hydrometer. The temp also seems to raise a 2-5 degree variance when the lights are on. It varies from 77-82 throughout the day. To the touch however it seems higher. Assuming it could be a faulty temp reading. I'm guessing one or both factors could cause such issues.

Also, I can't seem to get the salinity down to save my life. Any suggestions?

 

[commonstranger]

What are you doing now to lower the salinity ?

 

[Pickupman66]

Invest in a REFRACTOMETER. bring your salinity down with small water changes with fresh water over the next few days. take 2 days to bring it down so you dont shock the system.

Stop dosing the Iodine. it is a very minute trace element and i highly doubt you need it. I never dosed it in my 75 and I didnt change the water for 4 years!

btw, what is your CA level? if it is off the chart, that can impact soft corals that dont use it like the mushrooms.


that is also a HUGE temp swing. I can understand 2 or 3 degrees but 5 or 6 is scary imo.

 

[Mikeyjer]

Refractometer is a essential item to own IF you don't know how to use a Hydrometer well. I have tested both side by side and it give me same readings either way I go. Just have to do it right with a Hydrometer for it to work properly!!!! Must have NO bubbles on the dial, the most common mistake people make!!!

 

[Fishtails]

Thanks again folks. I'll do a couple small water changes with fresh water. What amount per day would you recommend to change over this 2 day period?

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

Hydrometer also needs to be rinsed WELL after each use, so that no residue is left on the inside of it. My refractometer and hydrometer both give me the same readings as well.

 

[Mikeyjer]

Thanks again folks. I'll do a couple small water changes with fresh water. What amount per day would you recommend to change over this 2 day period?

What is the level on Salinity right now??? I like to do it during water change, I mix a lower salinity level water to do water change with to lower my salinity level. Or take out couple gallons at a time and add in freshwater, do it through the sump preferably not through the main display, freshwater may shock them if you pour over anything!