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Toadstool coral not opening

My toadstool has been in the same spot in my aquarium, and happy for several months. It has not extended any polyps in several weeks. It has close up in the past for a few days here and there, but it’s been well over 2 weeks. Should I dip it in iodine solution? Should I wait it out a little longer? Any other suggestions?
 

Trio91

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Staff member
Moderator
Could be shedding, let it be for a bit then come back to us. If it shrivels up and starts to waste away then that's a bad sign.

Take a pic so we can see
 
It glazed over, and shed last week. It just never opened back up yet. It isn’t shriveled up, so I’ll give it a little longer
 

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Any other coral you’ve moved lately? Oddly my toadstool used to stay closed most of the time, opening briefly every couple of days only. One day I moved a Kenya tree that was on an adjacent rock but close in the water column and that changed. I hadn’t heard of Kenya tree putting out chemicals or as an aggressive coral but no question that changed it for me.
Also any inverts that can be bothering the toadstool? Only other time I had a lot of closing I found an emerald was spending a lot of time close to the toadstool’s base and was irritating it by walking on it and clawing at it frequently (started feeding algae sheets a few times a week and it left the coral alone).
Good luck.
 

Bot587

NJRC Member
I would not dip it if it is inflating. My toadstool went through a 2 month period of not opening when I got it. It was punctured with a toothpick to attach it to its first rock. It pushed the toothpick out and floated away. It was then sewed onto a rock with fishing line. After a month of not opening it finally attached and started extending polyps. Moral of the story, if it is inflating and there is no necrosis (black/white/extremely discolored tissue) it will be fine. Leathers are extremely durable.
 
Any other coral you’ve moved lately? Oddly my toadstool used to stay closed most of the time, opening briefly every couple of days only. One day I moved a Kenya tree that was on an adjacent rock but close in the water column and that changed. I hadn’t heard of Kenya tree putting out chemicals or as an aggressive coral but no question that changed it for me.
Also any inverts that can be bothering the toadstool? Only other time I had a lot of closing I found an emerald was spending a lot of time close to the toadstool’s base and was irritating it by walking on it and clawing at it frequently (started feeding algae sheets a few times a week and it left the coral alone).
Good luck.
I took my water to absolutely fish to test. There numbers are completely different than mine. No wonder my coral look like hell. There salinity measured 1.020. My test messures 1.024. My nitrates measure 5. There’s measure 30. Obviously I have to fix the salinty. My $20 refractometer is not accurate. I cal it with rodi. I am ordering a Hana checker. I’ll order something else for nitrates as well.
 

Trio91

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Ok. I guess calibrating with rodi is not sufficient.
This solution is set to 35ppt...so apply a few drops, then with the little nut you can adjust your refractometer. You should calibrate at least every few months or so.
 
For nitrate yes. I also use api for nitrate. There numbers are miles apart from mine. I’ve been using api for ammonia, nitrite. And nitrate. I have Seachem for Po4, Salifert for ph, and Red Sea foundation pro for the alk, cal & mag.
 

Trio91

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Thank. I just finished my order from marine depot moments befor you posted. That looks like a nice kit, and not too expensive compared to some alternatives. Temporary out of stock though. I’ll get it when it comes in stock for sure.
 
Im auto toping with saltwater due to low salinity. Ill trust there Hanna checker for now, until I get my cal fluid.
 
Personally, i dont trust the API as they are hard to read with their colors.

Try the Nyos as folks have had better success with it
https://www.marinedepot.com/NYOS_RE...ltwater_Aquariums-Nyos-6D92118-FITKNA-vi.html
I just got the nyos test kit. My No3 is 3. Lfs recorded it at 30. I also got the cal fluid. My salinity wasn’t as low as they recorded either. They charged me for these erroneous tests as well. From now on I’ll buy good test equipment and won’t trust lfs to test my water. The guy there didn’t look all that thrilled to do it. My toadstool still won’t open. Keeps waxing over and shedding over and over. Been at least 3 weeks. Is had done fine in the same spot under the same light settings in the past. Something is wrong. My other corals don’t look so hot either.
 

Trio91

Administrator
Staff member
Moderator
If it looks waxy, it should be fine. I have corals that have done that for weeks then bounced back....but do keep an eye on em.

When you say other corals, do you mean other leathers?
 

Trio91

Administrator
Staff member
Moderator
Personally I hate that place, they are way overpriced and super un helpful
 
They are overpriced. No I have no other leathers. Some of my lps are Not looking so great. My mushrooms and green star are the only other softies. They look ok. The problem is the toadstool. That’s the only one that looks like it could be in real trouble.
 
Btw. I really like the new test kit. Very easy to read. Although the api kit I have is pretty much spot on, I like the and ease of use of the nyos kit better. Any experience with there phosphate test kit? I’m not crazy about my Seachem phosphate kit.
 
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