leather acclamation period

[wicz101]

So I got a leather frag(already attached to LR when bought) from a LFS for a great price-$20, considering that I got the leather frag(looks like a finger leather) and a nice sized(2lbs) uniquely shaped piece of LR.

Here's my quesetion, it has been in my tank since 2/25/14 and I have not seen much in the way of polyp extension, when should I get worried? There is no tissue rot or other visual issues. What is the longest length of time, it could take to acclimate to the tank?

All my water parameters are in check and I have growth on other "harder to keep corals".

 

[wicz101]

any insight would be appreicated.

 

[gone fishin]

I have had some take a week or two start opening up.

 

[wicz101]

thanks alot

 

[wicz101]

Anyone else

 

[Shane C.]

Where is it placed in the tank in regards to light and flow? If it's getting too much light to quickly or not enough flow, it can take an extended period of time to open or may never open at all. What are your other water parameters?

 

[wicz101]

It is literally dead center of the tank and gets medium flow. salinity 1.025, cal-490, alk 8.6 to 9.0,mg- 1200 ph- 8.3 nitrates- 0. Any other info. that would help let me know.

 

[Shane C.]

What type of lighting are you using and did you do anything to acclimate the coral to it?

 

[joshky]

Leathers can take a while to open up fully, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[wicz101]

What type of lighting are you using and did you do anything to acclimate the coral to it?

6 bulb ATI t5, I dipped it coralRx

 

[Shane C.]

Leathers can take a while to open up fully, I wouldn't worry too much.

I agree... The only things I would consider is the possibility of too much light to quickly and/or lack of organics in the water but like joshky said, it can take them a while.

You might want to bump the lights down to 3/4 bulbs a day for a few days and see if that changes anything. If so, start adding another bulb every week. Or, just wait for another week or two and see if it starts to open up more...

 

[wicz101]

I agree... The only things I would consider is the possibility of too much light to quickly and/or lack of organics in the water but like joshky said, it can take them a while.

You might want to bump the lights down to 3/4 bulbs a day for a few days and see if that changes anything. If so, start adding another bulb every week. Or, just wait for another week or two and see if it starts to open up more...

Thanks for the responses.... heres what I did please give your thoughts:

I turned the max intensity of the light down to one hour at 100%(from 2 hours at 100%) and moved the leather down to the sandbed to a location with higher flow.

Next question- once the coral is happy, happy, how long should I wait to move it up higher in the tank, if at all?

Thanks again.

 

[Shane C.]

A generally accepted procedure is to place a new coral on the bottom of the tank for a week, then move it up half way to it's final destination for a week, then into it's final spot, so I would run it like you currently have it for a week, move it halfway for a week, then into it's final spot for a week, then go full power on the lights and observe.

For my tank, I place them where I want them, then cut the lights by half (power not duration) for 10 days, then three quarters for 10 days then full power and observe. If there is a negative reaction, I cut the duration but leave full power and ramp up the number of hours of full power light over a period of time...