Water Chemistry for Mushrooms

UH_OH_5_OH · 05/24/2006, 08:58 AM

Tell me if I'm doing this correctly....!?!

My tank is a 135....with a pair of 250 MH's....a sump, refug, ASM G-3 PS....and 5 powerheads (one is a tunze mod that blasts water)

My salinity is in the range on my hydrometer....(I think it was 19, or .0119...or whatever the range limits are...its in there)

My ammonia is 0.00

My nitrates and nitrites are barely detectable.

I add DT's, Reef Supplement and Calcium additive on a schedule per the bottles.

The tank has been set up for only two months but the 125 lbs of live rock in it is from a 4 yr old tank so its very established.

I have two damsels and a Sailfin tang right now.

Am I set for putting in a mushroom colony rock ?

MarksReef · 05/24/2006, 09:04 AM

You need to raise the salinity more tward 1.025. Although I've seen them survive in less, You seem to be on your way to a reef. Most fish only's are that low 1.019

AdidaKev · 05/24/2006, 09:09 AM

I agree with MarksReef. Everything else sounds good, just raise the SG and you'll be good.

r0bin · 05/24/2006, 09:44 AM

I will tell you one thing which people may disagree with on here, my mushrooms do better in my tank when there are more nutrients in the water. I am not saying go overboard and dump a lot of food in your tank. I have just noticed when the water is "dirtier" they look better are fully open and fuller. Also they are gropwing like crazy. Just a thought, good luck.

mthedude · 05/24/2006, 10:11 AM

Nitrite should always be zero at all times, nitrate can creep up to 20ppm and still be fine for shrooms. Slowly raise your salinity to 1.025 by adding 1.030-1.035 salinity water that is temp matched to your tank and you'll see it get up to 1.025, also, don't trust your hydrometer to be spot on, in time you'll want to get a refractometer, check ebay for one, about 40 bucks, money well spent.

UH_OH_5_OH · 05/27/2006, 06:39 AM

OKAY....follow up question.....to slowly raise my salinity...can I top off with higher SG water or should I do a water change ???

kau_cinta_ku · 05/27/2006, 06:45 AM

top off with mixed salt water

UH_OH_5_OH · 05/27/2006, 07:28 AM

Thanks !

Sk8r · 05/27/2006, 09:19 AM

Just for the record, I'm lps, sps, but have a lot of shrooms, too. They're multiplying like bandits in my tank, turning up all over, all discosomas. Params are: alk 8.3, cal 400, mg 1200, mh lighting 250w with actinic. Temp 80, salinity 1.025.
HTH

Amphiprion · 05/27/2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mthedude
Nitrite should always be zero at all times, nitrate can creep up to 20ppm and still be fine for shrooms. Slowly raise your salinity to 1.025 by adding 1.030-1.035 salinity water that is temp matched to your tank and you'll see it get up to 1.025, also, don't trust your hydrometer to be spot on, in time you'll want to get a refractometer, check ebay for one, about 40 bucks, money well spent.

Unless it is very high, nitrites are of little concern for mushrooms. They are also capable of withstanding MUCH higher nitrate levels than 20 ppm.

Newflavor · 05/27/2006, 10:36 AM

I have a tank that has a nitrate of 160 and the mushrooms are still alive and blooming. I am moving these mushrooms to my new tank but the mushrooms has been there for about a year with that nitrate level.

lessans · 05/28/2006, 12:40 AM

Newflavor, why haven't you done any water changes? Just curious.

05/24/2006, 08:58 AM	#1
UH_OH_5_OH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,184	Water Chemistry for Mushrooms Tell me if I'm doing this correctly....!?! My tank is a 135....with a pair of 250 MH's....a sump, refug, ASM G-3 PS....and 5 powerheads (one is a tunze mod that blasts water) My salinity is in the range on my hydrometer....(I think it was 19, or .0119...or whatever the range limits are...its in there) My ammonia is 0.00 My nitrates and nitrites are barely detectable. I add DT's, Reef Supplement and Calcium additive on a schedule per the bottles. The tank has been set up for only two months but the 125 lbs of live rock in it is from a 4 yr old tank so its very established. I have two damsels and a Sailfin tang right now. Am I set for putting in a mushroom colony rock ?

05/24/2006, 09:04 AM	#2
MarksReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rush, N.Y. Posts: 4,058	You need to raise the salinity more tward 1.025. Although I've seen them survive in less, You seem to be on your way to a reef. Most fish only's are that low 1.019 __________________ 93G Rimless Cube Current Tank Info: 93G Rimless Cube

05/24/2006, 09:09 AM	#3
AdidaKev Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NA Posts: 624	I agree with MarksReef. Everything else sounds good, just raise the SG and you'll be good. __________________ ... Current Tank Info: NA

05/24/2006, 10:11 AM	#5
mthedude Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 549	Nitrite should always be zero at all times, nitrate can creep up to 20ppm and still be fine for shrooms. Slowly raise your salinity to 1.025 by adding 1.030-1.035 salinity water that is temp matched to your tank and you'll see it get up to 1.025, also, don't trust your hydrometer to be spot on, in time you'll want to get a refractometer, check ebay for one, about 40 bucks, money well spent. __________________ You........Cake or Death? I'll have the cake please.... ....well we're outta cake! Current Tank Info: 55g Reef Tank, scooter blenny, tail spot blenny, cleaner shrimp, button polyps, fuzzy mushrooms, hammer coral, multi color zoos, 10 gal fuge, Octopus NW150

05/27/2006, 06:39 AM	#6
UH_OH_5_OH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,184	OKAY....follow up question.....to slowly raise my salinity...can I top off with higher SG water or should I do a water change ??? __________________ Life is hard; it's alot harder if you're stupid ! Current Tank Info: None !

05/24/2006, 09:44 AM	#4
r0bin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,132	I will tell you one thing which people may disagree with on here, my mushrooms do better in my tank when there are more nutrients in the water. I am not saying go overboard and dump a lot of food in your tank. I have just noticed when the water is "dirtier" they look better are fully open and fuller. Also they are gropwing like crazy. Just a thought, good luck.

05/27/2006, 06:45 AM	#7
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	top off with mixed salt water

05/27/2006, 07:28 AM	#8
UH_OH_5_OH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,184	Thanks ! __________________ Life is hard; it's alot harder if you're stupid ! Current Tank Info: None !

05/27/2006, 09:19 AM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Just for the record, I'm lps, sps, but have a lot of shrooms, too. They're multiplying like bandits in my tank, turning up all over, all discosomas. Params are: alk 8.3, cal 400, mg 1200, mh lighting 250w with actinic. Temp 80, salinity 1.025. HTH __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/27/2006, 10:36 AM	#11
Newflavor Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 240	I have a tank that has a nitrate of 160 and the mushrooms are still alive and blooming. I am moving these mushrooms to my new tank but the mushrooms has been there for about a year with that nitrate level.

05/28/2006, 12:40 AM	#12
lessans Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 913	Newflavor, why haven't you done any water changes? Just curious. __________________ "Oh, Mother, I come baring a gift. I'll give you a hint. It's in my diaper and it's not a toaster" -Stewie Griffin Current Tank Info: current tank: 20 gal reef; former tanks: 65 gal reef, 10 gal freshwater