Mushroom Coral Troubles

[SDW]

Mushroom Coral troubles
I'm a new member and a new owner of a reef tank, I purchased a 55 gal tank with some coral and live rocks in addition it has the "clean up crew". Now the florescent mushroom coral looks "droopy" and I'm not sure if it is dying or if it has to do with the move. The water seems to be OK, sg 1.020, temp 74 F, just did the tetra test and all is WNL. Any ideas? besides get out of the "fish biz". Thanks in advance.

[dakar]

What other corals do you have in the tank? It's likely that the move stirred up things pretty good and should settle back down in a few days or so. 'shrooms are funny things sometimes, the majority of ours have been wanderers, they'd curl up and go cruising off the rocks we wanted them on to find new homes.

You mentioned a tetra test, but not what you were testing for.

Besides, never give up!

[Limpit]

SDW,
Raise your SG to 1.025 and your temp to at least 78 degrees.
BUT DO THIS SLOWLY, NOT ALL AT ONCE!!
You should also make sure your Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite levels are all good.
I think that your shrooms will perk up a bit by doing this.
Also am I correct that you have only had this tank set up for two weeks?
If so you should really have nothing in it except LR, water and maybe a clearer upper or two but no more until the tank has finished cycling.

[jerryc]

If you bought a complete used setup did you save most of the water and put back in it.
Even if you did it will take some time to settle out.

Another thing is if it had a sand bed you can get some bad things
stared up moving it.
Best bet is to leave it be for awhile with just water changes
it may get worse before better but it will get their

And i agree with Limpit about the SG and temp

[SDW]

You are correct that I have only had the tank a couple weeks but I unfortunately was not able to just have the tank as I bought it used and it came with the LR, cleaners, and a few coral. It also has a leather coral and it looks ok for now.

[gd6m]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Ok, first things first, bring that temp up to at least 78 degrees.I need you to tell me a little bit about what type of cleaning crew you bought? Whar type of corals do you have?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Let me know.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[SDW]

I have about 30 snails (not sure exact kinds, some are abalone or something) and I do have 3 turbo snails, also have about 10 crabs (one really biggun') sorry I don't know a lot of the specific names of them yet.

[SDW]

oh yeah, I did save most of the previous water (about 2/3 of it), It has gravel substrate and I was real careful not to stir it up much. But that is highly possible that the move did stir it up.

[jerryc]

Personally if it has gravel id get red of it. all its good for is a nutrient trap#ed_op#BR#ed_cl##ed_op#BR#ed_cl#For a reef you need fine sand for all the good critters to live in#ed_op#BR#ed_cl##ed_op#BR#ed_cl#If you do keep it you need to get a gravel siphon to keep it clean#ed_op#BR#ed_cl##ed_op#BR#ed_cl#For the present just do water changes and give it some time with#ed_op#BR#ed_cl#getting your Temp and sg up slowly#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Limpit]

Is it crushed coral or just plain gravel?
Either way what Jerry said is right, ditch the gravel and get yourself a sand bed going.
Here is how I would go about it.
1. Get yourself a tank or container big enough for your fish, LR, coral and clean up crew.
2. Siphon out some water into the container from your tank (do not stir up the gravel on the bottom.
3. Get a heater and powerhead going in the container (make sure the temp is the same as your tank).
4. Pull out the LR and coral from your tank and put it in the container. Make sure you have enough water in the container to cover the rock and coral.
5. Remove all the fish and cleanup crew and place them in the container.
6. NOW siphon out the gravel from the bottom of the tank.
7. Add your sand (I prefer Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand but you may want to get finer sand than that).
8. Let the tank settle out (it will look terrible for a while) run your skimmer to remove some of the particular matter.

Once the tank has cleared up pretty much go ahead and add the items you have in the container.
I like to do it this way to keep the LR from getting all coated with the powder like residue that the sand will leave when added to the tank.
I hope this helps you out a bit, I know it is alot of work but it would be best in the long run.
Like I said this is just how I would do it, you may get other suggestions on this or some other forum.
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