cabbage leather
- Thread starter Ronny#66
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nano mania
New member
It looks like bacteria or algae. What kind of flow and light is on it?
Aquarist007
New member
I'd move it up on the rock above it and increase the flow across the substrate
Have you checked your phosphate and nitrate levels--you have alot of algae growing on the rocks
Have you checked your phosphate and nitrate levels--you have alot of algae growing on the rocks
nano mania
New member
Good call Capn...Move it out of the shadows and into moderate flow.
Does this cabbage look normal as far as size coloration ect. It used to be bigger and pinkish. I run 135 wats actinate and white light 10 hrs a day. feed zooplanction twice a week . Was told six month ago to place it where it is by LFS. tank has two 400gpm power heads running towards front of glass. not much room to put these where they will look somewhat pleasant in tank. cal 440 dkh 9 amonia 0.25 going to do change today no nitrate no phosphate no nitrite salinity 1.025 I was told to move it up on rock above its atatched to rock how do i get it off ?
Aquarist007
New member
how do you know it is 0 if you haven't measured it.
If you have algae then you have phosphates. sometimes test that measure it state 0 but the algae in the tank can consume it as fast as it is introduced to the tank
suggest you look into a phosban reactor and run phosban media in it---it will hang onto the side of your 25g and will wonders on that aglae
Aquarist007
New member
no it doesn't look normal--its covered with algae or cyano.
You get it off by decreasing the level of phosphates in your tank:
feed less at one time and rinse off all frozen food with r/0 water
use only r/0 water
increase the flow in your tank
one a week take a turkey baster to the rock and substrate--but lightly on the substrate
run phosban in a phosban reactor
Every tank is different so the best thing to do is what you have done--post a pic up here---don't rely on what the lfs says:eek2:
ACBlinky
Premium Member
Looks like it's very irritated. I'm trying to figure out what's covering the leather -- there are no diatoms or dinos on the substrate, but the leather itself is plastered with something. On closer inspection, it looks like there are some darker round spots; is it possible you've got a flatworm infestation?
I'd get it into a spot with better light, higher flow, and get whatever's covering the surface off ASAP. My cabbage is sitting about 16" below a 400W MH bulb and gets loads of flow -- leathers seem to like a lot more water movement than they're often given. They will retract their polyps, shrink up and look terrible for a few days every once in a while (all leathers seem to do this), but what yours is exhibiting looks more like a reaction to an irritant than normal shedding behaviour.
I'd get it into a spot with better light, higher flow, and get whatever's covering the surface off ASAP. My cabbage is sitting about 16" below a 400W MH bulb and gets loads of flow -- leathers seem to like a lot more water movement than they're often given. They will retract their polyps, shrink up and look terrible for a few days every once in a while (all leathers seem to do this), but what yours is exhibiting looks more like a reaction to an irritant than normal shedding behaviour.
Aquarist007
New member
good advise acblinky but might I suggest that this is done gradually over a week or so--that corals already pretty stressed out===I would move it up to the rock above it first then up to the 16 inch point you suggest
Aquarist007
New member
I have one near the bottom of the tank and its doing great--but it is getting lots of flow
Sorry for the late post just got in off road was on 403 headed to buffalo monday thought of you. I want to move this leather but it's attatched to rock. I did test for phosphate and it was 0. lots of algie an glass when I got home today. My wife says she only feed pinch of flake every day . Going to feed every other day. Dr.Foster & smith Teck said to feed every 3rd day what do you think ? I 20% water change every week and wish my tank looked like yours it's beautifull sand so white!!! stock perfect.
ACBlinky
Premium Member
I think feeding every third day is too little, personally. Try giving your cabbage more flow -- one thing Capn_Hylinur and I have in common is that our cabbages are exposed to lots of random flow. Leathers LOVE flow, and it seems to be overlooked a lot of the time. I had a Lemnalia collapse and nearly die, but managed to bring it back by adjusting and increasing the flow. Even if you're unable to move the cabbage to allow it more light, flow should really help things along.
If your PO4 levels are undetectable, I think it's okay to feed normally. You might want to use frozen foods instead of flakes for a while (less phosphate TMK). A filter sock can also work wonders, removing a lot of floating gunk you didn't even know was there
If your PO4 levels are undetectable, I think it's okay to feed normally. You might want to use frozen foods instead of flakes for a while (less phosphate TMK). A filter sock can also work wonders, removing a lot of floating gunk you didn't even know was there
Aquarist007
New member
take the rock out of the tank and frag it right close to the coral---the rock looks thin there and one good hit with a hammer there will frag it nicely
Aquarist007
New member
suggest you replace the power heads with korilias--much more power different kind of flow---turbulant flow which the corals love.
korilias #1 450gph, #2 600gph, #3, 850 gph and #4 1200gph
because the flow is more spread out then a power head your tank you could but a number one in each corner---awesome flow
Aquarist007
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11669164#post11669164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ACBlinky
I think feeding every third day is too little, personally. Try giving your cabbage more flow -- one thing Capn_Hylinur and I have in common is that our cabbages are exposed to lots of random flow. Leathers LOVE flow, and it seems to be overlooked a lot of the time. I had a Lemnalia collapse and nearly die, but managed to bring it back by adjusting and increasing the flow. Even if you're unable to move the cabbage to allow it more light, flow should really help things along.
If your PO4 levels are undetectable, I think it's okay to feed normally. You might want to use frozen foods instead of flakes for a while (less phosphate TMK). A filter sock can also work wonders, removing a lot of floating gunk you didn't even know was there
I agree totally---feed the fish less each time but more often--everyday--not every three days
the filter sock is excellent for removing junk
taking the turkey baster to the rockwork and sand bed once a week gets alot of phosphates and nitrates out of the lower levels of the tank and back into the water column where they can be filtered off-----combined with more flow in there that will decrease phosphates and nitrates
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