Help Large Devil's Hand Coral tipped over from being top heavy

seldin · 07/03/2008, 11:37 AM

My devil's hand coral is mounted on a rock with large space around all of it's sides, so it's not leaning on anything.

I love this coral. It really contracts and expands regularly usually based on day light and sunlight

Here's the problem. The coral grew tall. It has a large top and went top heavy. Enough so, that the bottom portion even developed a crease where the fold tipped over.

When it was smaller it would just dip and flop forward and then in the morning it would stand erect. Now, it was too large and flopped over too much to stand up again without my help.

I can see it was top heavy. So I sliced right above the crease, and remounted it. The bottom section I saved and is growing a new frag (that I am very happy with).

However, the main portion has difficulty staying mounted. I do know how to glue well, and have many frags mounted. Even this item was one that I mounted. It just grew really big and tipped over.

I have another leather (cabbage) that has like a flower texture where it opened up and also attached one of it's sides to a rock.

So I am now thinking after all of these problems, that maybe I should place the devil's hand leather near a rock on the side, so it can attach not only from the bottom but from the side.

Am I correct in my thinking.

Thank much,

bph0013 · 07/03/2008, 12:21 PM

If you're really worried about it you might try lashing it to the rock with a rubber band, which will allow it to take hold on its own.

tush · 07/03/2008, 01:45 PM

i have a toadstool leather that did the same thing it was freestanding too - i put it next to a tall thin branch of dead coral - fiji rock about 1'' dia - wrapped it loosely with a nylon ribbon - and it attached itself to it.. the head of the leather is about 12'' across now and doing beautifully - now if i can just convince my hubby we need a bigger tank for it!
good luck

seldin · 07/07/2008, 11:46 AM

Ben and Tush,

Thanks for the feedback.

It seems I lost a good chunk, when I snipped it at the waist. However, I will let it attack to a rock, so it won't happen again.

Much appreciated.

- Larry

07/03/2008, 11:37 AM	#1
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	Help Large Devil's Hand Coral tipped over from being top heavy My devil's hand coral is mounted on a rock with large space around all of it's sides, so it's not leaning on anything. I love this coral. It really contracts and expands regularly usually based on day light and sunlight Here's the problem. The coral grew tall. It has a large top and went top heavy. Enough so, that the bottom portion even developed a crease where the fold tipped over. When it was smaller it would just dip and flop forward and then in the morning it would stand erect. Now, it was too large and flopped over too much to stand up again without my help. I can see it was top heavy. So I sliced right above the crease, and remounted it. The bottom section I saved and is growing a new frag (that I am very happy with). However, the main portion has difficulty staying mounted. I do know how to glue well, and have many frags mounted. Even this item was one that I mounted. It just grew really big and tipped over. I have another leather (cabbage) that has like a flower texture where it opened up and also attached one of it's sides to a rock. So I am now thinking after all of these problems, that maybe I should place the devil's hand leather near a rock on the side, so it can attach not only from the bottom but from the side. Am I correct in my thinking. Thank much, __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.

07/03/2008, 12:21 PM	#2
bph0013 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Denton, Texas Posts: 317	If you're really worried about it you might try lashing it to the rock with a rubber band, which will allow it to take hold on its own. __________________ Ben Current Tank Info: 40br SPS Reef, 20H sump/refugium, L3MS on a ARO 250W E-ballast, 250w XM 20k bulb, 2 x Tunze 6025 NS, Tunze 9005 DOC Skimmer, Mag 5 return

07/07/2008, 11:46 AM	#4
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	Ben and Tush, Thanks for the feedback. It seems I lost a good chunk, when I snipped it at the waist. However, I will let it attack to a rock, so it won't happen again. Much appreciated. - Larry __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.

07/03/2008, 01:45 PM	#3
tush Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: phx,az Posts: 117	i have a toadstool leather that did the same thing it was freestanding too - i put it next to a tall thin branch of dead coral - fiji rock about 1'' dia - wrapped it loosely with a nylon ribbon - and it attached itself to it.. the head of the leather is about 12'' across now and doing beautifully - now if i can just convince my hubby we need a bigger tank for it! good luck