Sickly Mushroom?

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by kx_Andy, Apr 4, 2011.

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  1. kx_Andy

    kx_Andy Plankton

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2011
    Messages:
    8
    Hi, Am totally new to marine but have kept freshwater tropical for years. Bought a setup off ebay and am really pleased with it but having some concerns.

    Setup is :
    125l Juwel tank with external filter & v2 skimmer, v2 400
    2x t5 lights (1xActinic, 1x white)
    2 clownfish & a regal tang
    Boxer shrimp and 4 hermit crabs
    Red/orange starfish
    3 different types of mushrooms (big)
    2 small anenome
    1 large anenome
    2 different types of kenya trees
    6 candycanes
    loads of different little frags dotted around the tank
    1 large tree

    Am worried about a mushroom, see pic. Seems floppy and sick but don't know for sure. I thought maybe an ammonia or nitrite spike after moving the tank (5 hours down time home to home), but tested both and ok. Fish seem lively, fins ok, other 2 mushrooms perky and tentacles fully out with white tips, although a few tentacles are darker and shorter. Fanworm is out and looking beautiful, but 2 kenya trees were a bit floppy, so moved them down to gravel level and 1 seems to be staying up, maybe they're ok. See pic.

    But the mushroom still a concern. Have had it 3 days and i'm not sure if this is normal.

    (Since buying have added a Koralia evolution 2800lph pump (lfs recommended) and now water is moving a lot more and also have skimmer on all the time.)

    Also anemones not yet opened fully. 1 upside down opened, but one on top thought about it, half opened and then went back in. Charming!

    Should i be worried?

    Thanks in advance for any comments,

    Andy.
     

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    Last edited: Apr 4, 2011
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  3. kx_Andy

    kx_Andy Plankton

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    Added picture of kenya trees

    See above.
     

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  4. trijam

    trijam Coral Banded Shrimp

    Joined:
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    378
    Location:
    Hamilton, ON Canada
    More than likely everything is readjusting to the added flow. Most leathers like mid to low light and flow. JM2C;)
     
  5. kx_Andy

    kx_Andy Plankton

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    Thanks for the advice trijam. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

    Andy.
     
  6. khowst

    khowst Bangghai Cardinal

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    Location:
    FLW, Mo
    Give it a little bit. The one I bought had a 1 1/2 hour drive from my not so LFS to home, & I spent nearly a week waiting to flush it, but it finally came around.
     
  7. kx_Andy

    kx_Andy Plankton

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    Update

    Thanks khowst.

    Well it's been nearly a week now since we've had the tank and the mushrooms (i now know called leather coral) are variable. LFS suggested more flow, so got a powerhead working and it looks a lot more natural. Also, the one at the top near the flow is doing ok, the ones lower down, which are not anchored on a rock are not looking so good. Polyps are coming out on 2 grey ones and greenish one has very short polyps but that may be quite normal. I've now read a load of stuff on these leather corals and spoken to a few lfs and everyone says don't panic, as they vary and do unexpected things.

    One of them isn't well anchored onto anything and i'd like to place him firmly on some lr to give him some stability. Might try that with a net over to keep the foot in contact with the rock for a week or two.

    Same for one of the kenya trees, has almost split into 2 trees, one of which will need some anchorage.

    Fish are looking nice and doing a water change as nitrate is 25-50, also put some phosphate remover in as it was also quite high. Think it will settle down.

    Have quite a lot of aiptasia and it is growing very fast! Might try to make a zapper to reduce then. Anyone had experience of using those?

    Andy.
     
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  9. VooDoo

    VooDoo Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2011
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    313
    Location:
    Carson City, NV
    I have heard that the zappers annoy the fish. I would go with aiptasia x or joes juice
     
  10. kx_Andy

    kx_Andy Plankton

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    Thanks

    Thanks VooDoo. Have now used AiptasiaX instead.
     
  11. VooDoo

    VooDoo Fire Shrimp

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    Location:
    Carson City, NV
    Yes I have used X and I love the results! All aiptasia in my tank was dead after one dose!
     
  12. BlueWaters10

    BlueWaters10 Skunk Shrimp

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    Mar 21, 2011
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    Location:
    Oklahoma
    It works like a charm!