Mushroom hasn't been fully extending and hasn't been looking too good for the last few months

[Don'tMindWhatYouCallMe]

I got this mushroom (discosoma I believe) around 5 months ago, it didn't look very good but a few weeks later it opened up and expanded. It stayed that way for a while but in the last few months it has started to retract again, the mouth in particular seems to have sorta disappeared. A few weeks ago it looked very bad with weird creases around the mouth, it seems to have improved a little now but there is just a hole in the centre rather than something resembling the original mouth and the coral is no longer able to eat any food. There is also some weird folding in the upper section as if it's splitting but it's stayed that way for some time now.

Both nitrate and phosphate are undetectable but I am using the API tests which I don't think are known for their accuracy (especially the phosphate test), I've attached 4 pictures of the mushroom at the different stages I described. What are some things I could do to help improve it and what other info should I give?

Images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hkMQQpVxGBBui0LsZnZHxL1ODCn40m1z?usp=sharing

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Both nitrate and phosphate are undetectable

It's probably starving. Raise those numbers...

 

[Don'tMindWhatYouCallMe]

It's probably starving. Raise those numbers...

I have a lot of caulerpa in my tank plus I don't feed since I only have clean up crew, that's probably why. So I should start feeding?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have a lot of caulerpa in my tank plus I don't feed since I only have clean up crew, that's probably why. So I should start feeding?

At the most basic, photosynthetic corals need food in the form of light and nutrients- phosphates and nitrates (and differing levels of Ca, Mg, and Alk...) . Soft corals need higher nutrients than some LPS and most SPS, although it's a good idea to research the corals you plan to get so you can be sure you can provide the environment they need - it's not as easy as some make it seem to have a full mixed tank with SPS, LPS, and softies... especially in an immature (e.g. less than 2 year old) system.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have a lot of caulerpa in my tank

If you're exporting more than you're adding, then the corals don't have anything to use.

 

[Thunderstruck34]

Dirty it up a bit and over feed the next few days, test, and adjust accordingly.

 

[Don'tMindWhatYouCallMe]

But how do I increase nutrient levels without getting a ton of algae growth? Until recently this tank had a pretty big hair algae problem and I'm scared it might come back if I increase nutrients

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

But how do I increase nutrient levels without getting a ton of algae growth? Until recently this tank had a pretty big hair algae problem and I'm scared it might come back if I increase nutrients

Unfortunately, the conditions that grow corals also grow algae, so just make slow changes and proceed accordingly.

 

[Bob2bob]

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