Leather Coral Closed Up

AashK · 07/18/2006, 02:11 PM

I had a leather coral for a couple yrs ... only last week it the polyps closed on the main coral. This coral has grown significantly over the yrs and some of the branches that have grown from the main coral is still open. I am stumped as to why some of the branches are open and the main leather is closed. i've tested my water chemistry:-

Salinity: 1.025
pH: 8.2
CA : 330
Alk: 8.2
Mg : 1300

Theres been no major changes to my system, but i did get cyano, which i used Redslime to destroy. Not sure what is going on. Please help

reefshadow · 07/18/2006, 04:57 PM

Your chemistry doesn't look too bad, you may want to bump up the calcium, and check for phosphate.

You could have some nastiness left over in your water from the dead cyano. I would run some carbon and do a few water changes. I think you are supposed to do a water change in the area of 40 percent after dosing maracyn anyway.

I have some very old soft corals and they do seem to go through periodic changes like you are describing with no apparent cause. As long as you don't see any of the skin sloughing off or necrotic areas I wouldn't worry too much.

Good luck

masterqaz · 07/18/2006, 11:42 PM

leathers do things like that i find.

physicslord · 07/19/2006, 12:49 AM

Sounds like typical leather behavior to me.

If you see it beginning to "shed" a layer then I would gently place a powerhead near it. They sometimes need a little help getting off the top layer of cells.

07/18/2006, 02:11 PM	#1
AashK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 45	Leather Coral Closed Up I had a leather coral for a couple yrs ... only last week it the polyps closed on the main coral. This coral has grown significantly over the yrs and some of the branches that have grown from the main coral is still open. I am stumped as to why some of the branches are open and the main leather is closed. i've tested my water chemistry:- Salinity: 1.025 pH: 8.2 CA : 330 Alk: 8.2 Mg : 1300 Theres been no major changes to my system, but i did get cyano, which i used Redslime to destroy. Not sure what is going on. Please help

07/18/2006, 04:57 PM	#2
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	Your chemistry doesn't look too bad, you may want to bump up the calcium, and check for phosphate. You could have some nastiness left over in your water from the dead cyano. I would run some carbon and do a few water changes. I think you are supposed to do a water change in the area of 40 percent after dosing maracyn anyway. I have some very old soft corals and they do seem to go through periodic changes like you are describing with no apparent cause. As long as you don't see any of the skin sloughing off or necrotic areas I wouldn't worry too much. Good luck __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

07/19/2006, 12:49 AM	#4
physicslord Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Santa Cruz Posts: 469	Sounds like typical leather behavior to me. If you see it beginning to "shed" a layer then I would gently place a powerhead near it. They sometimes need a little help getting off the top layer of cells. __________________ a border collie is my pilot animal Current Tank Info: 12 gal. JBJ nanoDX, BB, 2x24W PC lighting, JBJ ballast, Maxijet 400 powerhead, Hagen Tronic 100W heater, Red Sea 60 skimmer with Hagen Elite 802 pump.

07/18/2006, 11:42 PM	#3
masterqaz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oakville Ont. Canada Posts: 551	leathers do things like that i find.