Leather

Vin7250 · 07/25/2012, 08:47 AM

I have been out of the game for over a year. My tank has been surviving with minimal water changes and luck. I want to start fixing this 90gallon reef system up and get rid of the cyano and aptasia. Work had stopped me from spending enough time but now my position is better so I have more of it.

My question is this: I have a leather coral (pictures can be added when I go home) that was always big bright and the little polyps inside of it always out and feeding. For the last two months or so the leather has looked like a ball of "mush" the best way to put it. I did a water change a few days ago and moved it out of the current and lower away from the light. The polyps open a little bit but it is still "mush". Limp and "not opened" would be the best way to describe it. Is this the beginning of the end for this coral? (ive had it almost 10 years) Should I remove it? Or is this some kind of "sheding" phase? Two months is a long time though. Any help would be great. Thanks everyone!

Vin

Vin7250 · 07/25/2012, 08:48 AM

actually if you look at my avitar the leather that the Tang is swimming in front of is the coral in question. That is how it normally looks.

Michael · 07/25/2012, 01:28 PM

leathers are perculiar animals, they generally like medium flow with pristine water quality, they do however suffer from chemical warefare from other soft corals, if they have this then poor lighting can affect them if they are used to quality lighting, funnily enough most reefers jump on band wagons and say poor water and dim lighting plus poor water movement won't affect them and they will thrive in these enviroments, believe me, that is false information, I have had leathers grow to over 2 feet and know they deserve to be treated the same as SPS corals to ensure long and quality life.

Kind Regards

Mike

Chaotic Reefer4u · 07/25/2012, 01:42 PM

Glad that your back on track and starting to care for your tank once again, as time goes by and you keep up with your routine maintenace of the water quality/lighting the leather should come back, hope this helps...

cloak · 07/25/2012, 01:59 PM

Assuming your parameters are within reason, I would move it someplace where it will be receiving much more flow and see what happens. Make sure it's secure though. The more you handle it the more PO it will become. GL.

07/25/2012, 08:47 AM	#1
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	Leather I have been out of the game for over a year. My tank has been surviving with minimal water changes and luck. I want to start fixing this 90gallon reef system up and get rid of the cyano and aptasia. Work had stopped me from spending enough time but now my position is better so I have more of it. My question is this: I have a leather coral (pictures can be added when I go home) that was always big bright and the little polyps inside of it always out and feeding. For the last two months or so the leather has looked like a ball of "mush" the best way to put it. I did a water change a few days ago and moved it out of the current and lower away from the light. The polyps open a little bit but it is still "mush". Limp and "not opened" would be the best way to describe it. Is this the beginning of the end for this coral? (ive had it almost 10 years) Should I remove it? Or is this some kind of "sheding" phase? Two months is a long time though. Any help would be great. Thanks everyone! Vin

07/25/2012, 01:28 PM	#3
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	leathers are perculiar animals, they generally like medium flow with pristine water quality, they do however suffer from chemical warefare from other soft corals, if they have this then poor lighting can affect them if they are used to quality lighting, funnily enough most reefers jump on band wagons and say poor water and dim lighting plus poor water movement won't affect them and they will thrive in these enviroments, believe me, that is false information, I have had leathers grow to over 2 feet and know they deserve to be treated the same as SPS corals to ensure long and quality life. Kind Regards Mike __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

07/25/2012, 01:42 PM	#4
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	Glad that your back on track and starting to care for your tank once again, as time goes by and you keep up with your routine maintenace of the water quality/lighting the leather should come back, hope this helps... __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

07/25/2012, 08:48 AM	#2
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	actually if you look at my avitar the leather that the Tang is swimming in front of is the coral in question. That is how it normally looks.

07/25/2012, 01:59 PM	#5
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Assuming your parameters are within reason, I would move it someplace where it will be receiving much more flow and see what happens. Make sure it's secure though. The more you handle it the more PO it will become. GL.