Toad stool, is there hope?

reefsacho · 10/30/2013, 03:10 PM

I have a toadstool that after a move into a larger tank has been looking worse and worse. I'm think it might be hopeless and too far gone. but after reading some threads about dying toadstools I came across some that said to frag it before it gets too far gone. So what is too far gone and how do you frag it. I'll attach a photo. ammonia 0, nitrates and nitrites 0, ph 8.0, salinity 1.025, temp 82, phosphates 1ppm, calcium 480ppm. 160 gal tank with 8 t5 48" bulbs overhead. other corals that made the move all doing well zoas, kenya trees, frog spawn, cabbage coral, green star polyps and riccordia shrooms. Any Ideas on what to do would be greatly appreciated.

FuGu2 · 10/30/2013, 04:35 PM

How long ago was the move?? make sure you have good flow on it, but not blasting it....I dont see dead flesh (black). Dont think there is anything you can do right now except keep constant conditions....time will tell

Josh40996 · 10/30/2013, 04:46 PM

Hmm, to me it does seem that both are looking rather ratty. Is that a hole in the larger specimen? How long has it been in this state, if we are talking only a few days I wouldn't be alarmed as Toadstools can be very moody at times when disturbed and also shed which causes them to remain closed for some time.

Personally, I would be thinking about fragging at this stage (if it has been in this condition for a few weeks) It's a very simple process so if the situation calls for it, it will not be too big a deal.

BTW, your PO4 is very high :S

reefsacho · 10/30/2013, 05:24 PM

Switched tanks 2 and a half weeks ago. My corals have always gone through a funk with any changes so this one didn't worry me too much but then I noticed it had gotten a hole in it and I figured that was really no bueno.

reefsacho · 10/30/2013, 05:36 PM

Yes thw po4 is high. I belive it is leaching from the rocks. I combined two tanks. One my own that always had good levels and another I got from a friend with extremely high levels. For the new tank used new all ro/di water. Kept my sand and rocks and acid washed the rocks from friends tank, but I guess I didn't do agood eenough job cuz I'm still getting the po4. Is it best to pull the rock rewash and do frequent water changes. I'm always open to suggestions.

About the fraging. How is that done? Is it time critical? Do it now or should I give it another week?

ninjamini · 10/30/2013, 08:22 PM

That hole does not look good. Cut off the smaller one and move it.

Josh40996 · 10/31/2013, 09:37 AM

How was your husbandry with your old tank? Sand can be a huge sink for detritus, nitrogen and phosphate. I would do larger water changes and run GFO to get the phosphate down.

I agree with ninjamini, I would relocate the smaller one and frag some of the better looking flesh of the larger one (stay clear of that hole)

Fragging a toadstool is very easy. All you need is new pieces of rock, super glue/elastic bands and a new razor blade/very sharp scissors.

There are lots of Youtube videos on coral fragging and here are a few.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJUL9hzuAWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbbaJzva6qg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Cl_9ptRiA

Just youtube search "Fragging Toadstools"

reefsacho · 10/31/2013, 12:40 PM

Thanks for the great links. Fragging shouldn't be a problemm now. I'll look into getting a gfo filter. Could the po4 be causing the problem?

dppitone · 10/31/2013, 03:59 PM

It could be anything. But IMO I've found they like a lot of light and a lot of flow, so make sure you have both. T5s have much more intensity at the surface than the bottom of the tank. Every one foot removed from the bulb, the intensity cuts about in half. So make sure it's close enough to the light source. I've had corals look like that and then recover, so I wouldn't act too quickly. IMO your Phosphate isn't so high that it would cause devastation, and the other levels look fine.

reefsacho · 11/02/2013, 02:05 PM

I've got it in good light and flow. Ill give it bit longer and see how it goes. Hopefully it recovers if not I'll try fragging it and see if I can salvage some of it. This is my first time posting in a forim and all of you have been great. Thanks for tall the help.

phillrodrigo · 11/02/2013, 02:13 PM

From experience I had one that looked the same way. Once you see it starting to rot away pull off as much as possible so not to cause nitrate issues. The little piece that was left attached to the rock came back and is doing well.

dppitone · 11/02/2013, 02:15 PM

IMO I wouldn't get drastic because of the hole, only because I keep a lot of softies and they sometimes get small areas like that and are fine. But you never know - so please update your thread when you see a change in either direction, thanks.

10/30/2013, 04:35 PM	#2
FuGu2 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Vernon Hills, IL Posts: 88	How long ago was the move?? make sure you have good flow on it, but not blasting it....I dont see dead flesh (black). Dont think there is anything you can do right now except keep constant conditions....time will tell

10/30/2013, 04:46 PM	#3
Josh40996 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 415	Hmm, to me it does seem that both are looking rather ratty. Is that a hole in the larger specimen? How long has it been in this state, if we are talking only a few days I wouldn't be alarmed as Toadstools can be very moody at times when disturbed and also shed which causes them to remain closed for some time. Personally, I would be thinking about fragging at this stage (if it has been in this condition for a few weeks) It's a very simple process so if the situation calls for it, it will not be too big a deal. BTW, your PO4 is very high :S

10/30/2013, 05:24 PM	#4
reefsacho Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 5	Switched tanks 2 and a half weeks ago. My corals have always gone through a funk with any changes so this one didn't worry me too much but then I noticed it had gotten a hole in it and I figured that was really no bueno.

10/30/2013, 05:36 PM	#5
reefsacho Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 5	Yes thw po4 is high. I belive it is leaching from the rocks. I combined two tanks. One my own that always had good levels and another I got from a friend with extremely high levels. For the new tank used new all ro/di water. Kept my sand and rocks and acid washed the rocks from friends tank, but I guess I didn't do agood eenough job cuz I'm still getting the po4. Is it best to pull the rock rewash and do frequent water changes. I'm always open to suggestions. About the fraging. How is that done? Is it time critical? Do it now or should I give it another week?

10/30/2013, 08:22 PM	#6
ninjamini Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 2,306	That hole does not look good. Cut off the smaller one and move it.

10/31/2013, 09:37 AM	#7
Josh40996 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 415	How was your husbandry with your old tank? Sand can be a huge sink for detritus, nitrogen and phosphate. I would do larger water changes and run GFO to get the phosphate down. I agree with ninjamini, I would relocate the smaller one and frag some of the better looking flesh of the larger one (stay clear of that hole) Fragging a toadstool is very easy. All you need is new pieces of rock, super glue/elastic bands and a new razor blade/very sharp scissors. There are lots of Youtube videos on coral fragging and here are a few. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJUL9hzuAWo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbbaJzva6qg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Cl_9ptRiA Just youtube search "Fragging Toadstools"

10/31/2013, 12:40 PM	#8
reefsacho Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 5	Thanks for the great links. Fragging shouldn't be a problemm now. I'll look into getting a gfo filter. Could the po4 be causing the problem?

10/31/2013, 03:59 PM	#9
dppitone Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Queen Village, Phila. Posts: 1,697	It could be anything. But IMO I've found they like a lot of light and a lot of flow, so make sure you have both. T5s have much more intensity at the surface than the bottom of the tank. Every one foot removed from the bulb, the intensity cuts about in half. So make sure it's close enough to the light source. I've had corals look like that and then recover, so I wouldn't act too quickly. IMO your Phosphate isn't so high that it would cause devastation, and the other levels look fine.

11/02/2013, 02:05 PM	#10
reefsacho Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 5	I've got it in good light and flow. Ill give it bit longer and see how it goes. Hopefully it recovers if not I'll try fragging it and see if I can salvage some of it. This is my first time posting in a forim and all of you have been great. Thanks for tall the help.

11/02/2013, 02:13 PM	#11
phillrodrigo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: quaker hill ct Posts: 2,433	From experience I had one that looked the same way. Once you see it starting to rot away pull off as much as possible so not to cause nitrate issues. The little piece that was left attached to the rock came back and is doing well.

11/02/2013, 02:15 PM	#12
dppitone Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Queen Village, Phila. Posts: 1,697	IMO I wouldn't get drastic because of the hole, only because I keep a lot of softies and they sometimes get small areas like that and are fine. But you never know - so please update your thread when you see a change in either direction, thanks.