View Full Version : shriveling 'shrooms ???
this is the second time!... what's causing my mushrooms and button polyps to shrivel? both times were after water changes, 10% twice a week. all params are normal. is that too much of a change for them? i usually only do 10% every two weeks or so, and everything was thriving!
Robin Alv
03-13-2008, 4:23 PM
I had that problem with my zoo and green star polyp. Both came back after two weeks. My LFS questioned if my ph became lowered. I then kept buffering it to 8.3 each day and it turned out that it was lowered - I guess not stable. Now, even with small water changes each week, they remain open. See if it helps.
my ph is good, unless my test kit is bad... i hope they come back! i've heard that they prefer the water a bit dirty, but i can't believe that 20% over 3 or 4 days would matter that much!
shriveling how? As in disappearing? Or closing up on themselves?
FeatherDuster
03-13-2008, 4:40 PM
How long do they shrivel for? I could understand the shrooms doing some shriveling. Mine are very healthy, but will shrivel for about 30min after a water change. It isn't because they are bothered though, its because they are trying to catch the particles that were blown up from my sand bed during the water change. My sand bed is easily disturbed because my tank is so small .
the larger one is starting to come back, i think. but basically, they're just shrinking! from the size of a nickel, to about the diameter of a pencil. polyps are also shrinking, and some of the older, more established ones are just not opening!
Hmm, well it doesn't sound like the mushrooms are eating. Are they possibly getting too much light where they are? Have you checked the polpys for pests? The will close when irratated.
why suddenly a change due to light? same amount as usual, and, what sort of pests should i be looking for?
clown-lover
03-13-2008, 5:02 PM
could it be a change in light spectrum? How old are the bulbs?
funny, i just noticed that 2 of them were getting a bit yellow, probably 6 mos. old. but again, all so sudden, with the 2 water changes!
one more thought; i cleaned my crappy skimmer, and whenever i shut it off it and then start it it gives off micro bubbles for a day or two. it's been about 5 days, and still getting micros. can't adjust to stop them, and this usually only lasts a day or so. can they be the culprit? time frame is about right. should i shut 'er down?
why suddenly a change due to light? same amount as usual, and, what sort of pests should i be looking for?
If the lights have changed they could be reacting to it. And the zoa pests and irritators you should look for can be seen here (http://zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=384)