Toadstool Shrunk... help

[grafspee1217]

I was feeding my fish today and noticed my toadstool had shrunk. It looks like it normally does when the lights are off at night. Now this is my wife's favorite coral since she bought it. She calls it her toadstool. I was hoping she wouldnt notice till I had a chance to see whats up but sure enough she came to check out the tank and flipped. Dragged me to the computer and made me post this. I checked my parameters and everything looks ok. ammonia and nitrates both at 0. phosphates 0, alkalinity 8 dkh ph 8.0 calcium 420. My salinity is 1.022 It's normally all nice and puffed up. Do they shrink from time to time or this an indication that something is wrong?

 

[Mr. Bill]

Mine only closes when disturbed, but that usually only lasts for a few minutes.

FWIW, your SG is too low. Corals are poor osmoregulators and need a salinity of at least 1.023. 1.025 - 1.026 (that of NSW) is ideal. You can make up a small batch of SW and use that to top off from evaporation over the next few days until you reach your target in the DT.

 

[grafspee1217]

I wondered about that but didnt think it affected corals since the fish are not bothered by it.

 

[Mr. Bill]

Fish are higher-level vertebrates that possess organs that regulate the salt and mineral content in their bloodstream, not too much unlike ourselves. Corals, OTOH, lack such organs and rely on their environment to remain consistent with what they have evolved to survive in over the past few million years.

 

[Disher]

Any updates on your toadstool? How often are you doing water changes?

 

[SushiGirl]

I would guess it's probably getting ready to shed, which it may do periodically.

 

[trinidiver]

I agree with raising the salinity to 1.025-26

 

[JHL9495]

I would raise the salinity. Most likely it was disturbed or shedding.