Question about my Mushrooms

[7duster3]

Hey guys, my lfs had a few mushroom corals on sale (maybe 10-15) on each piece of rock that i picked up. I got a few thinking that i would give them a try in my 60 gal. I noticed that in about the week that Ive had them they haven't opened up as much as at the lfs and i have come down to 2 conclusions that maybe you can help me out with.
1. Is that i don't have sufficient lighting ( coralife 2x65 watt 48inch) lights. The mushrooms are at the top of the live rock to get as much as exposure as possible. This tank is or was FOWLR so i didn't go crazy on lights.
or
2. I noticed that my salt level was at 1.028 due to my top off filling saltwater instead of R/O water for idk how long. I've slowly started to get it back down to normal.
Nothing in the tank has bothered them, They have decent flow and i feed them the H20 LIFE Coral Food mix.
What could be the problem?

 

[ashleigh234]

I see no one has answered your post, Im no expert but have been doing a bit of research on mushrooms myself and they dont like high flow or strong lighting, they prefer to be at the bottom of the tank.
Perhaps move them lower in your tank if you can?

 

[jackri]

Well your salt was off so makes me wonder what your other readings are.
That would be a good place to start, it really doesn't sound like lighting.

 

[spanko]

Like anything a coral has to acclimate itself to new surroundings. Mushrooms are probably one of the easiest of coral to maintain. In fact after some time most people are wondering how to get rid of the masses they have because they just seem to reproduce like bunnies. Salt was definitely a concern here. And a jackri said how are you other parameters. Believe me these things are practically bullet proof. Most likely the salt level and just some acclimation time, but let's see your other chemistry too.

 

[cajonez]

I had a bubble mushroom in a 55g with 130w of PC and it did great. It was about the size of a quarter when I got it and 3 mo. later its about 4" across. I had it right in about the middle of the tank. I don't think lights are the problem.

 

[7duster3]

I appreciate the responses, my other parameters were/are fine. It was just the salt level after all. Its back down to normal again and the mushrooms are doing great. They are huge and i'm starting to see new ones form.
Thanks!

 

[wangotango]

They're impossible to kill (even when you try to).
-Justin

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by 7duster3
http:///forum/post/3180987
I appreciate the responses, my other parameters were/are fine. It was just the salt level after all. Its back down to normal again and the mushrooms are doing great. They are huge and i'm starting to see new ones form.
Thanks!

I'm glad they are doing fine.
I just want to point out that it wasnt the salinity causeing them to shrivel it was probably just acclimating to the new lighting/tank. My tanks all run at 1.027 sg, and before I had auto top off I went much higher more than once with no visible effects. I think I went as far as 1.032 and still saw no reactions from my corals. though I wouldnt reccomend pushing it.

 

[anonome]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/3182043
I'm glad they are doing fine.
I just want to point out that it wasnt the salinity causeing them to shrivel it was probably just acclimating to the new lighting/tank. My tanks all run at 1.027 sg, and before I had auto top off I went much higher more than once with no visible effects. I think I went as far as 1.032 and still saw no reactions from my corals. though I wouldnt reccomend pushing it.
I have to agree with reefkprZ here. It usually takes a few days to even a week if the tank they came from had higher lighting to acclimate to their new home. I have a bunch of mushrooms....all types and the tank is lit with pc with halides and they have all multiplied and flourished. Some are up high, some low. Doesn't seem to matter. I would think that just the move to a new tank was what set them back some. Glad to hear they are doing well now. Good luck with them, I really like the way they fill voids in the rockwork, but I do need to trade them out periodically or they would take over.