In need of Fiji leather help

[CoralBeauty13]

I have had this fiji for just a year now. It went from a big beauty to a shriveled up leather in the last several months.

It started about six months ago i noticed a small hole that went away but, it started getting a brown rotted look to the bottom of the stem,then the polys started to not extend, to the point where it nevered opened. The only main thing that has changed was the lighting, I went from some old T5s to LED, then it started to change about two months after that.

I do know that it can wax over but after it's last wax,(seven months ago) it never came back to it's natural self. After three months of that, I moved it to more lighting and better water flow but nothing has changed for the last few months. It extends a few polys here and there, then it droops over for three or four days, then stand up but thats it, starts the droop again.

I really want to just cut it off the rock attach it and try different places around the tank. Can I just cut it from the rot look area, preserving as much stem and cap as possible?(while in the tank ) it has attached to a rather large rock that I really don't want to move, could I maybe just peel it off ?

I do a 30% water change every 7/10 days ,in a 180 gl. I have brought water to my LFS and all checks out really well. I had an ammonia spike a few weeks back, but did nothing to it either. I have read much about it and do what it says to do to take care of it. I have read it is one of the harder one to have...but...it was doing so well at the time.

pics in order.
1-First one to two months in tank
2. About third month
3.seven months
4.Now

Ps. The Feather duster is not touching the stem, it's behind it.

 

[Qube]

It looks like it's already been moved a couple of times. Am I wrong?

 

[CoralBeauty13]

The first place, and then one other..so pretty much once in the last nine months. It stayed in its place for four to five months and afeter a month or two of going down, i tried a different area. I know it takes time to do what it does, but I feel like four to five months and no change....there is something wrong.

 

[Qube]

I've found these leathers to be a bit touchy sometimes. I had one that looked great for months, then just shriveled up for about a year. After that it just took off again. I would say just make sure it's getting a ton of flow with a fair amout of light and just let it be. Just my opinion though...

 

[CoralBeauty13]

Thx, Qube...i'll shall give it another few weeks at best. Just annoying looking at all the happy corals and then it....sigh.....

 

[Qube]

I know that feeling... Never fun to look at.

 

[joshky]

Have you tried dipping it? May or may not help, but it's an idea.

 

[CoralBeauty13]

Joshky, thats a really good idea. Will do this weekend. THX

 

[rtague]

Is it just me or is the problem obviously the change from T5 to led?

 

[Reefvet]

Is it just me or is the problem obviously the change from T5 to led?

From the limited information in this thread there's nothing obvious causing this problem and they grow wonderfully under LEDs.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

i have a devils hand leather in my tank that hasn't opened in 9 months, i have not seen a single polyp…it started this crap when added my duncan coral…have you added any LPS to your tank (doesn't need to be touching the leather) i am sure i have a bit of chemical warfare going in my tank…but i have a 1litre bag of carbon in my sump right now trying to clear it up…(i only have a five gallon tank and the sump a touch smaller…1 litre of carbon pretty much fills my return chamber…lol)

as for the bottom of the leather…i don't know…my fiji yellow has done the same thing and has been like that for over a year now…come to think of it…that stupid thing hasn't put out polyps in ages either…meh it looks more yellow all closed up anyway...

 

[CoralBeauty13]

@Nanoreef. I too have a devils hand and for several months it did the same as yours. I finally put it away from everything near one side of the glass, and Wow, that thing came to life with the prettiest polyps ever. It is so happy right now. Little water flow, and good light..amazing. Maybe the Fiji is still to close, any other leather the Devil was next to even within one foot had a problem. I'll move it once more and see. Good luck with the DH. It is amazing when happy.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

lol…my tank is only a foot in diameter…there are plenty of corals in it well within striking range…my green nepthea is by far the most potent though…i have seen it kill hollywood stunner chalice, torch, frogspawn, duncan any and all SPS i had.