Showpiece Leather Health Depleting

Vinny Tang · 04/12/2011, 09:14 AM

Hey this is my first thread, but have been reading through RC for at least a year. I'm running a 90 gallon mixed reef tank, with a 30 gallon custom sump/fuge, and a Vertex IN-180 Skimmer. I upgraded to the 90 from a 55g about 10 months ago and have been reefing pretty hard ever since.

I purchased a large showpiece leather coral (not sure of the name) in October. It took a few days for the polyps to open, but they eventually did. Everything was fine for a few months, and then I started noticing the polyps retracting around the top edges of the coral. I am running a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower, and my first thought was that I was giving it too much light. I started using 4 bulbs for a while, but it starting "balding" around the lower edges as well, and at this point I knew it wasn't the lighting. I was running 5 powerheads and reduced to 3, thinking that there was too much current, this also didn't solve the problem. I tried the above methods for 1-2 months.

90% of the other corals have been doing well and surviving, but only a few are flourishing and growing at a decent pace (xenia, GSP, zoo colony). I probably have 50 pieces of coral all together, but I'm not seeing the growth rate I'd like.

I'm using Seachem's supplements Reef Complete, and Reef Plus regularly. I was feeding the tank with DT's phytoplankton and Reef Roids, but only about once or twice a week. I have since upped the feedings.

I am picking up a Tunze wavebox, hopefully this week.

My tank parameter are as follows

Temp 79-81
salinity 1.024
pH 8.2
Nitrates <5
Phosphates 0
Nitrites 0
Calcium 450
KH was 7 when I tested a week ago, and have since started using Seachem's "Reef Builder"

Mag 5 Return pump
Vertex IN-180
Chaeto and Mangroves

Here are some photos of the setup

What am I doing wrong? and what can I do to increase coral growth?

Any feedback is welcome

Thanks!!

I think I posted in the wrong section last night, so this is a repost

Check the link for pictures
http://web4.reefcentral.com/forums/s....php?t=2005377

RokleM · 04/13/2011, 08:04 AM

This thread has been moved to the current forum....

gh0st · 04/13/2011, 01:16 PM

May just be getting ready to slime up and shed, which is perfectly normal for leathers.

Make sure it has good flow to help get rid of the shed and watch out for any tissue breakdown.

Unless you see some tissue necrosis, I wouldn't worry to much. Water Chemistry looks good, especially once the KH gets nudged up a bit.

Vinny Tang · 04/16/2011, 06:50 PM

I do see a bit of tissue necrosis.. But I think it was a combination of low KH, SPS corals in close proximity, and I just removed a flame angel that just recently has been nipping at some corals.

04/12/2011, 09:14 AM	#1
Vinny Tang Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 22	Showpiece Leather Health Depleting Hey this is my first thread, but have been reading through RC for at least a year. I'm running a 90 gallon mixed reef tank, with a 30 gallon custom sump/fuge, and a Vertex IN-180 Skimmer. I upgraded to the 90 from a 55g about 10 months ago and have been reefing pretty hard ever since. I purchased a large showpiece leather coral (not sure of the name) in October. It took a few days for the polyps to open, but they eventually did. Everything was fine for a few months, and then I started noticing the polyps retracting around the top edges of the coral. I am running a 6 bulb ATI Sunpower, and my first thought was that I was giving it too much light. I started using 4 bulbs for a while, but it starting "balding" around the lower edges as well, and at this point I knew it wasn't the lighting. I was running 5 powerheads and reduced to 3, thinking that there was too much current, this also didn't solve the problem. I tried the above methods for 1-2 months. 90% of the other corals have been doing well and surviving, but only a few are flourishing and growing at a decent pace (xenia, GSP, zoo colony). I probably have 50 pieces of coral all together, but I'm not seeing the growth rate I'd like. I'm using Seachem's supplements Reef Complete, and Reef Plus regularly. I was feeding the tank with DT's phytoplankton and Reef Roids, but only about once or twice a week. I have since upped the feedings. I am picking up a Tunze wavebox, hopefully this week. My tank parameter are as follows Temp 79-81 salinity 1.024 pH 8.2 Nitrates <5 Phosphates 0 Nitrites 0 Calcium 450 KH was 7 when I tested a week ago, and have since started using Seachem's "Reef Builder" Mag 5 Return pump Vertex IN-180 Chaeto and Mangroves Here are some photos of the setup What am I doing wrong? and what can I do to increase coral growth? Any feedback is welcome Thanks!! I think I posted in the wrong section last night, so this is a repost Check the link for pictures http://web4.reefcentral.com/forums/s....php?t=2005377 Last edited by Vinny Tang; 04/12/2011 at 09:21 AM. Reason: pictures

04/13/2011, 08:04 AM	#2
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	This thread has been moved to the current forum.... __________________ -Eric-

04/13/2011, 01:16 PM	#3
gh0st Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 956	May just be getting ready to slime up and shed, which is perfectly normal for leathers. Make sure it has good flow to help get rid of the shed and watch out for any tissue breakdown. Unless you see some tissue necrosis, I wouldn't worry to much. Water Chemistry looks good, especially once the KH gets nudged up a bit. __________________ I REFUSE to buy Named/LE/High End Corals for insane prices. I REFUSE to pay Per Polyp for micro "Frags." Further more, I REFUSE to sell in any similar fashion. This is a hobby, not the Stock Market. If you feel the same, change you're signature to something similar and spread the word! Long Live the Reef Revolution!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Leather colour changed from brown to green	morrisj2	Soft Coral Keepers	1	02/24/2010 09:26 PM
FS: showpiece leather XXL	JohnLe712	Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society	6	01/21/2007 08:02 PM

04/16/2011, 06:50 PM	#4
Vinny Tang Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 22	I do see a bit of tissue necrosis.. But I think it was a combination of low KH, SPS corals in close proximity, and I just removed a flame angel that just recently has been nipping at some corals.