Toadstool/Umbrella not looking well

I've had this coral for a good 6 or 7 months now and it was always flourishing, actually hosting one my false percula's. I've noticed lately it was slowly starting to detach from it's base little by little and tonight it's pretty much free from the base. It's tenticles aren't showing and haven't been for a few days, the hermits are interested in it's base also, is it dying? I've done all my water checks, the only thing "not" good was my calcium was a little on the low side which I am dosing right now. Any ideas??

 

What are your exact params? That toadstool is not looking good, sorry

 

Did you check PO4?

 

Looks pretty bad.

I would guess that there is not enough flow, algae is growing on it. If it where mine I would hack off the dead base all the way to fresh tissue, then give it a good dip in CoralRX or Revive or equiv.

Then I would rubber band it or use fishing line to attach it to a piece of rock or even wedge it in some rock in an area with mod to higher flow.

First though as other have requested parameters and lighting type and last time you changed bulbs too please.

Good luck

 

Thanks for your replies. I just retested and I have a few issues

PH 8.5
PO4 .1ppm
Gravity 1.022
Calcium 350 (horrible I know!) dosing now
Mag 800 (even worse!)
dKH 9.6
NO3 2.5 ppm
Temp 79 (heater is set at 76 but it's super hot these past few days)

I did a 20% water change and am dosing for calcium now since I have lots of other corals I need to watch out for but only the Umbrella is not doing well so am very lucky to have caught it, I guess we need to test just as often in the summer even if we're busy!
Any other suggestions? I do have three Koralia's in the tank so I do have quite a bit of flow. Is it safe to take him out to cut him or should I do that under water?

 

and I forgot to mention I have Giesmen's T5"s, 8 of them, new in January, 4 daylights, 3 blue and one Fiji Purple!

 

I would not be too concerned about the calcium and more concerned about the magnesium, and SG as well as the phosphate level.

Your SG should come to at least 1.024 for corals IMO.
Phosphates should be less than 0.05 ppm. Algae growth is going to irritate the leather causing it to stay closed and grow more algae on it.
Get the magnesium up slowly to 1350 at least.

This is a good guide to parameters. I have a feeling that everything being out of whack is the biggest contributing factor.

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Yes you can remove it and cut it on a hard surface with a sharp knife.

I would still give it more flow especially during healing.

Lastly I would not try to correct everything over night but over the course of a few days to a week.

 

Thanks so much!! and I will definately study that website, an relatively new at corals and this forum is such a godsend! Thanks again!

 

You are very welcome. Expect the leather to stay closed for awhile but with more consistant water parameters and good flow it will come around. They are very hardy corals.

 

Agree 100% definitely get your s.g. up first. I agree should be 1.026, but at least 1.024 at a minimum. All of your other parameters are dependent on S.g. if it is low, everything else low in the same proportion to start. Then, you let it drop a little and it get's even lower. Corals are also very poor at regulating osmotic pressure. They are typically adapted to around 1.026, so being at 1.022 is a 15% difference, which for them is quite substantial.


Once you raise your s.g to 1.026 though, your parameters will be:

Calcium 414
Mag 945
dKH 11.3

So, you'll still need to raise your mg a bit, but not as much. Your calcium and alkalinity will be right in line. Just raise your salinity slowly over the course of a few days.