toadstool still not open

hey guys, i got a toadstool maybe 2 weeks ago? and it still has not opened. I have seen the green polyps sticking out barley. it has been molting i believe. i saw some whitish mucisy stuff coming off it. and i know this may take 2 weeks. but it has not done it in the past couple days and its still not opening. i have a 75 gal take with a 4 bulb t5 2x 10k 2x actinic. it is on the top of the rocks i have. maybe 8in away from the light?

it is holding onto a rock. the base of it looks like it has thickened up a little. and it seems to open and close up and move a lot. but the polyps are just not coming out.
it always faces up towards the light, dosent droop over or anything.

any thoughts?

all params are where they should be
0 phos
0 nitrate
0 nitrite
0 ammonia
8.2 ph
520 cal
1.025 sal

alk was a little low at 6 but did a water change yesterday so hopefully it will get back up to 8-12

 

I would lower it to the bottom of the tank.

 

i thought they liked medium-high lighting, my rocks only come maybe 3/4 of the way to the top of the tank so i feel that is medium-high. Anyone else think i should lower it? and how low?

 

I wouldn't. I have mine at three inches from the waters surface under 4 54w t5ho's. They LOVE light. They also need a very strong flow. My advice is to not touch it as leathers hate to be handled and doing so will only stress it out more. As long as it is not falling apart just give it some more time.

 

mb i will move it higher. will have to build up more rock. and it is basically in the highest flow part of the tank.

 

i would just let it be, even after a molt they sometimes stay close for a few day/wks after

 

8 inches is fine I would not move it. Let it acclimate.

 

hey, ive had a toadstool for awhile now and when I first got it I was worried just like you.
It took maybe a month before it was fully open and beautiful but now it has grown maybe 4 times the size in a year dont sweat it as long as its not turning like completely white then just leave it. maybe add more flow but I would suggest not even moving it and rescaping your rocks wait another week and then decide because if you move it it may add an extra week on before it comes out.

you gotta remember probably the params were completely different in the tank you bought it from and it just needs time to acclimate. If your really worried post a picture
edit-- mine is about 6-8 inches below water with 4x54w t5 and 2 led pwrstrips

 

ok great! thanks guys! will just the 4 t5s be enough light tho? i want to upgrade to leds but money is tight.

and it jsut looks like a normal closed toadstool. color seems to be fine. and it seems like it is healthy other then no polyps out.

 

assuming they are 54w t5hos right? and yes that should be enough imo