What's going on with my mushroom?

[jerseyguy1996]

Every day when the light comes on he stretches all out to full size but after about 5 hours he shrinks down to nothing. Here are some pictures of when it is stretched out and how it is after a few hours of light.





Why is it doing this? I have been trying to get my calcium levels up from the 240 range so I have been adding a lot of the part B Calcium/ B ionic. Could this be causing problems? It doesn't seem to bother the other 2 mushrooms.

[Fly Guy]

Mushrooms could care less about your calcium levels.

Although, if im not mistaken part B is alkalinity, not calcium. Have you tested your alkalinity lately??

Thats a tonga mushroom that prefers low light. You can also try moving him lower in the tank.

[jerseyguy1996]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

Mushrooms could care less about your calcium levels.

Although, if im not mistaken part B is alkalinity, not calcium. Have you tested your alkalinity lately??

Thats a tonga mushroom that prefers low light. You can also try moving him lower in the tank.

Now they are all shrunk up just like the first one. So you think it is just getting too much light? Do yours shrink up periodically?

[Fly Guy]

Mine are actually super flourescent blue becasue i give them way too much light. Ive gotten rid of all the mushrooms out of my tank and they are just the last ones. I kind of like them flourescent blue but i must admit they are kind of dwindling on me.

Im more concerned with what your alkalinity levels are if youve been continually dosing part B thinking you are adding calcium.

Have you tested your alkalinity recently??

[pyron88]

When they sleep they expel almost all the fluid out. In the morning they fill up again. That's part of what is going on. Light is another issue. I have PC's so no problem. They also don't like strong flow. I had a PH drop and didn't notice it. It was in the same spot, just lower and hitting the shrooms dead on. They looked just like yours. I don't add anything but do 10% WC at least every other week. I also let my new water age for two days and airate it.

[jerseyguy1996]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

Mine are actually super flourescent blue becasue i give them way too much light. Ive gotten rid of all the mushrooms out of my tank and they are just the last ones. I kind of like them flourescent blue but i must admit they are kind of dwindling on me.

Im more concerned with what your alkalinity levels are if youve been continually dosing part B thinking you are adding calcium.

Have you tested your alkalinity recently??

Labeled on the B-Ionic bottles are "Component 1/Alkalinity" and "Component 2/Calcium". My alkalinity has been at around 12 which I know is high and my calcium has been at about 240 which I know is low. According to an article I read http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm it says that to correct this problem I should stop dosing the alkalinity and step up the dosage of calcium which is what I have been doing. Since then alkalinity has dropped from about 13 to 12 and calcium has gone from 240 to about 300 (as measured today). This has been over the last 5 days measuring daily with API tests.

[jerseyguy1996]

Originally Posted by pyron88

When they sleep they expel almost all the fluid out. In the morning they fill up again. That's part of what is going on. Light is another issue. I have PC's so no problem. They also don't like strong flow. I had a PH drop and didn't notice it. It was in the same spot, just lower and hitting the shrooms dead on. They looked just like yours. I don't add anything but do 10% WC at least every other week. I also let my new water age for two days and airate it.

My lights are VHO's 3X95watt (2 URI Aquasun, 1 URI superactinic) over a 50 gallon tank. The mushrooms are currently about 14 inches from the light. Maybe they are just sleeping. Do they sleep based on the lighting cycle or is it just random? I have my lights set to come on at about 4:30 every afternoon and go off at about 2 AM. When the lights come on they are fully expanded and right around 10 PM they deflate and start to worry me.

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by jerseyguy1996

Labeled on the B-Ionic bottles are "Component 1/Alkalinity" and "Component 2/Calcium". My alkalinity has been at around 12 which I know is high and my calcium has been at about 240 which I know is low. According to an article I read http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm it says that to correct this problem I should stop dosing the alkalinity and step up the dosage of calcium which is what I have been doing. Since then alkalinity has dropped from about 13 to 12 and calcium has gone from 240 to about 300 (as measured today). This has been over the last 5 days measuring daily with API tests.

Fair enough

Just checking, I know that kents part B is alkalinity. You should know however that API tests are known for being the most notoriously innacurate on the market. You really should look into getting better tests such as Salifert for your alk and calcium.

As far as your shrooms.....i would just try and move them lower...see how they react. They dont look all that bad FWIW.

[jerseyguy1996]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

Fair enough

Just checking, I know that kents part B is alkalinity. You should know however that API tests are known for being the most notoriously innacurate on the market. You really should look into getting better tests such as Salifert for your alk and calcium.

As far as your shrooms.....i would just try and move them lower...see how they react. They dont look all that bad FWIW.

When I woke up this morning he was stretching out again so I guess it's normal. I will try him in a lower spot and see if the lights are bothering him. I also plan to get the salifert test kits from now on. Thanks for your help on this!!!