Palythoa trouble

[mark.nicodemus59]

I know the first thought is palytoxin, but not this time. I'm having trouble getting my recently acquired Palythoa grandis to attach to the rock.

My LFS assistant pulled these from the aquascape of one of the DTs near the front of the store at my request for a few polyps. That was 08/02/2026. The mat seems (to me) to be uninjured.

Following the instructions she gave me for getting these to reattach, I used a rubber band to hold the mats to the rock base. At first, trying to be careful, I set the tension very light and more wedged the mat under it than stretch over it. Twice, it came loose and drifted into one of my goby hideouts. On the third day, I reset the rubber band and tucked smaller polyps under it to keep it from drifting.

However, the mat seems to be curling away from the rock, not flattening against it.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[mark.nicodemus59]

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tank parameters?

#reefsquad

 

[mark.nicodemus59]

Tank parameters?

#reefsquad

Phosphate is at 1.7, nitrates at 31. I was told softies love it.

 

[Rocks reef]

You are doing nothing wrong. It’s normal from the stress of being removed from its previous location.
Give it time to attach, it may take a week, it may take two. You can also add a tiny dab of superglue to help secure it until it attaches itself. However, from the pic, you are doing it right and it’ll take time to attach.

 

[mark.nicodemus59]

You are doing nothing wrong. It’s normal from the stress of being removed from its previous location.
Give it time to attach, it may take a week, it may take two. You can also add a tiny dab of superglue to help secure it until it attaches itself. However, from the pic, you are doing it right and it’ll take time to attach.

Thank you! I thought I was strangling the poor thing!