Is my Finger Leather secretly killing my LPSs?

[Tullsterx]

Is my Finger Leather secretly killing the LPSs I've recently added?

The first coral into my tank was the Finger Leather. Over the last several months I've added a couple of plate corals on the same "level" about 6" from the leather, but not touching at all. One was a Long Tentacled Plate (Heliofungia actiniformis) and one was a Slipper/Tongue coral. Both seems to do well over the first month or so and then went downhill and a died within a couple of days.

Could it be the Finger Leather killing them?

 

[sde1500]

I don't think leather corals sting, I believe they release chemicals if the feel threatened though. So could be chemical warfare in the tank. Carbon should help with that.

 

[Tullsterx]

Thanks. Yeah, I guess that's the first thing I should try.

When the first one went down I thought I'd accidentally "poisoned" the tank, we had some construction going on close to the tank and some dust. It happened so quickly. Then I cleaned the tank and ran carbon and cuprisorb and replaced it with another coral, before it happened again about a month later.

 

[Reef Frog]

The long tentacled plates are not hardy IME. Never could keep one. I've read many similar accounts over the years. I won't try another one.

Did anything else die off or get highly stressed?

 

[Tullsterx]

The long tentacled plates are not hardy IME. Never could keep one. I've read many similar accounts over the years. I won't try another one.

Did anything else die off or get highly stressed?

The first time it happened was with the Slipper coral, and also a small Torch Coral a couple of feet away went down in about 2 days.

 

[Reef Frog]

OK. Torches can be touch too. But chances are there is a common cause. It could be so many things. Parameter test results could provide an explanation.

 

[Tullsterx]

I have a good amount of historic parameter data:

Most recently:

5/1/2016, 13:41
Nitrate: 0 (API)
Calcium: 420 (Red Sea)
Alkalinity: 8.7 (Red Sea)
SG: 1.025 (Refractometer)
Mg: 1280 (Red Sea)
Temp: 80

Random back date:

3/4/2016, 17:09
Nitrate: 0
Calcium: 460
Alkalinity: 9
SG: 1.025
Ph: 8.4 (API)
Mg: 1260
Temp: 79

I test for phosphate occasionally and have never seen any measurable amount (API). I usually test once a week.

 

[Reef Frog]

Your parameters are good - close to textbook. Don't think they can be causing your problem.

Improper lighting could possibly be a cause.

Any signs of a bacterial infection? Mucus, brown stuff?

Calibrated refractometer? Really low magnesium can be a problem.

I haven't read any accounts of coral parasites troubling the corals you mentioned. But I suppose it's possible. Nighttime inspections may be worthwhile.

If you think it's chemicals from your leather, some GAC is certainly in order. I've been learning about the Seachem Purigen product. It seems to be able to capture some larger organic molecules that carbon can't sequester. & will change color when exhausted. It's used in a bag and often along side carbon. If you have certain chemical nasties at work, this may be worth a try.

Kind of running out of idea at this point. Hoping things turn around for you.

 

[Tullsterx]

I'm leaning toward removing the leather. Most of the guys at my LFS recommend not mixing softies with LPS and SPS. So, I think that's what I'll try first.

 

[organism]

I'm a little confused, are you putting the plate and slipper corals on the sand bed or on rocks? Putting them on rocks cuts their flesh and kills them.

 

[Tullsterx]

I'm a little confused, are you putting the plate and slipper corals on the sand bed or on rocks? Putting them on rocks cuts their flesh and kills them.

I've heard conflicting info on that. . . regardless, that wouldn't kill them suddenly over 2 days.

 

[organism]

No it totally would, an infection can eat a coral in no time. Two days sounds about right.

I would be very curious to see a credible source saying plate corals should be on rocks.

 

[Tullsterx]

Well, you just have to google it to find a great divide in opinions and success/fail stories.

Anyway, wasn't just the plates.