Coral Bleaching or Something Else???

[New2Saltwater]

I just bought a hairy mushroom frag this past Saturday from LFS and yesterday I notice small white particles or spots on the mushroom. At first I though it was left over food or sand that settled on the coral but its too white. Other than the small spots, the mushroom seems to be doing well. It is open for most of the day except when I turn the lights off at night, the mushroom will close up. All parameters are in normal range. I have a Coralife Dual T5 with 10,000k and Actinic bulbs. I thought maybe the mushroom was bleaching so I removed him from the middle of the tank and placed him lower in shaded area of my tank last night. Anyone have any experience with these and suggestions?

 

[CodyRVA]

I'd leave it near the bottom of the tank and give it some time. Unless it really deteriorates, just see what it does. I doubt you'll bleach it with dual T5's. All of my mushrooms shrink up and get really small at night, and fill out during the day.

 

[Salty1962]

Mushrooms need decent light, the specks your seeing are more that likely sand that has stuck to the mushroom. Their surface is sticky so things that come in contact with it will stick. It will also kill corals, so give them distance. Use a turkey baster and give it a good blast and see what happens. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[New2Saltwater]

Mushrooms need decent light, the specks your seeing are more that likely sand that has stuck to the mushroom. Their surface is sticky so things that come in contact with it will stick. It will also kill corals, so give them distance. Use a turkey baster and give it a good blast and see what happens. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

The coral is doing great. Looks like you are correct, it was just sand stuck to the mushroom. I didn't know the mushrooms were so sticky. Thank you for your help.

 

[Salty1962]

The coral is doing great. Looks like you are correct, it was just sand stuck to the mushroom. I didn't know the mushrooms were so sticky. Thank you for your help.

Glad to help.