Have I lost my toadstool?

[Andy Reed]

Hi,

Just joined and only a month into keeping a marine tank having taken on an established tank from my brother-in-law. One of my early additions to the tank was a stunning toadstool but last week it started to open and close through the day. Over the weekend it closed up and hasn't properly opened since. There's now what looks like a good deal of decay and my instinct is telling me that I've lost it.

I have little experience in reef keeping so I was wondering whether someone could offer an opinion. Have I lost it and possibly why? Apart from fairly high nitrate I thought my parameters were looking fairly stable. I did a Cyano Rx treatment last week after cyano algae had started to take over. I thought Cyano Rx was coral safe but is it possible that had an effect? My pH has been constant at 8.2 but this week dipped to 7.9.

Thank you,
Andy

Temperature - 25.5C (77.9F)
pH - Constant at 8.2 but dipped to 7.9 last week
Ammonia - 0.25ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - 80ppm
Phosphate - 0.25
Salinity - 1.025 - 1.026
Capacity - 150L (33G)

Day 1

Day 22

 

[Erichk]

It looks like it might have just glazed over. Leather corals do it from time to time and get a mucus membrane over them. They will eventually shed it off and open up looking better than before

 

[vetteguy53081]

Shedding and molting. Assure it has adequate water flow over it, Not at it

 

[najer]

Welcome to R2R, as above it will shed and be fine.

 

[Andy Reed]

That's reassuring, thank you. I've turned up the powerhead flow a little and I'll keep an eye on it.

All the best,
Andy

 

[Andy Reed]

I really appreciate all your advice. It does seem to be getting worse after one week though. There appears to be quite a bit of rot and I'm wondering whether it would be worth cutting it back.

Andy.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Sheesh, looks like it's done for, I'd remove it ASAP..so sorry

 

[Sleeping Giant]

What did you use to glue it to the rock?
Also the day 1 picture looks like it was in a different spot then the rest of the pictures, was it moved? Not sure if zoas should be that close to it either.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I still have some hope for it. Some parts may die but i bet it mostly makes it. I usually remove pieces only when they turn black. Hey whats up with the ammonia?

 

[Lizbeli]

Looks like some kind of bacteria is eating it up. My leathers never looks like that when shedding. They get this waxy shiny coloration on them. This never looked like it was shedding to me. Try an iodine dip.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

T

Looks like some kind of bacteria is eating it up. My leathers never looks like that when shedding. They get this waxy shiny coloration on them. This never looked like it was shedding to me. Try an iodine dip.

Lookslike complete loss with the stem being damaged like that

 

[Andy Reed]

What did you use to glue it to the rock?
Also the day 1 picture looks like it was in a different spot then the rest of the pictures, was it moved? Not sure if zoas should be that close to it either.

It was already mounted to a small piece of rock when I bought it so I left it on there and place that rock on top of my own live rock. It stayed in the same place but the zoas were a later addition. Have I made a mistake with the placement there?

Hey whats up with the ammonia?

Its been consistently 0.25 ppm throughout.

Looks like some kind of bacteria is eating it up. My leathers never looks like that when shedding. They get this waxy shiny coloration on them. This never looked like it was shedding to me. Try an iodine dip.

Well I decided to take some action last night after giving it a iodine dip. There was a lot of dead flesh which I decided to carefully cut away with a scalpel. I don't know whether the stalk is going to make it as it has a split running its entire length. I managed to salvage two good pieces of rim. One I've attached to a spare frag plug and the other a small piece of live rock. The pieces of rim have both opened back out very quickly over night.

I don't know whether this was the right way to go but it seemed like it was worth taking the chance. Fingers crossed something will survive. Thank you for all your advice so far. I'm undoubtedly making mistakes here so I really appreciate your help.

Andy.

 

[Lizbeli]

Definitely looks healthier, you probably saved it. GL

 

[najer]

Watch the tightness of that elastic band so you don't damage it, fingers crossed and nice work with the fragging.

 

[Andy Reed]

Two weeks on I thought I'd share my progress and say thank you for your advice. Unfortunately one of the rim frags didn't make it and rotted away but the other frag and the stalk are doing well and are now growing new polyps.

Thanks again,
Andy.