Need help please!!!!

[DJ_Kelley]

I have this leather coral that I just brought home tonight. I float acclimated it for 30 minutes, then drip acclimated it, but it still hasn't gone back up or regained its color. Really worried I may be screwed on it.

Gravity- 1.024
PH- 8.3
Temperature- 77 degrees F
Alkalinity- 9dKH
NH3- Unreadable
NO2- Unreadable
NO3- .20 ppm
PO4- Unreadable
Calcium- 400 ppm
Magnesium- 1250 ppm
Iodine- 0.07 ppm
Strontium- 9 ppm

 

[Dr. Reef]

just got it today? some corals dont get back to normal for months after changing tanks.(specially sps) but a leather should take a few days and get adjusted. give it a few days.

 

[DJ_Kelley]

Okay, I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on it the next couple days and hope it takes a turn for the best.

 

[nlgill13]

Ive found that Leathers can be picky at times. Even in established tanks they will shrivel up some days and look healthy as ever the next. It might take a week but they are pretty hardy and should come around.

 

[DV2027]

my leathers are always going back and forth. 2 will look great while the others will shrivel or not having their polyps extended. then the next day vice versa.

 

[julie180]

Give it time. They do that from time to time.

 

[DJ_Kelley]

This what they look like tonight. Really starting to feel iffy about them.

 

[julie180]

PATIENCE grasshopper. You have only had the coral for a couple of days. Just let it be. It looks fine. Unless it is slimming or falling apart, it should be ok.

 

[DJ_Kelley]

So they started to come off the rock in a way that looked like flesh decaying, branches were splitting off, and it started releasing a milky/spore like substance a few minutes ago. I immediately removed them and did a 10% water change for safe measures.

 

[ReeferKimberly]

Could you post another pic? Leathers regularly shed their, for lack of a better word, skin. I have never gotten a new leather that did not shed when I brought it home.

 

[Reefer54]

WC was good. you can try an iodine dip if it looks as if it may have an infection.

what volume tank
how old is the tank
what else is in the tank
what kind of lighting
water parameters

has this happened before

 

[Reefer54]

could you post another pic? Leathers regularly shed their, for lack of a better word, skin. I have never gotten a new leather that did not shed when i brought it home.

+1

 

[DJ_Kelley]

I don't have any pictures of it. When I noticed the decay look I went to work immediately. Tank is a 30 tall, 7.5 months, 20.2 lbs live rock, 30 lbs live sand, large colony of hammers, hammer frags, polyp frags, metallic and red mushrooms, random polyp colonies, fuzzy dwarf lionfish, percula clown, brown scooter, bicolored angel, fox face, 2 coral cats, striped dwarf eel, 3 small red legged hermits, 2 turbo snails, and a purple sea slug. Lighting consists of 2 T-5 20000K H-I super daylight lamps and 4 accent strips of 15 LED's.
Gravity- 1.024
PH- 8.4
Temperature- 79 degrees F
Alkalinity- 9dKH
NH3- Unreadable
NO2- Unreadable
NO3- .20 ppm
PO4- Unreadable
Calcium- 450 ppm
Magnesium- 1300 ppm
Iodine- 0.06 ppm
Strontium- 8 ppm

I just received a thing of fingers from my local fish store to replace it for free, been a customer of his since the day I turned six, 16 years ago. Everything else seems to be doing just fine, but if you guys have opinions on anything I am all ears.

Equipment consists of a marineland biowheel 100, a fluval 104, an aqua top CF-400 UV, and a 300 watt heater (my room averages 63). I am pushing 555 GPH.

 

[julie180]

Are you trying to have a "TANKED" tank? Your stock list is ridiculous for a 30 tall tank. I feel terrible for your fish.

 

[Tsancho82]

Julie is right, that's way too much stuff for that size tank. Rule of thumb, 1 inch of fish for each 5 gallons of tank.

 

[DJ_Kelley]

The local fish store I've been going to for 16 years now has always told me it was 1 gallon per inch of fish and not to add in the size of the inverts. Nothing is huge either. The eel is 5 inches and is the biggest thing I have where everything else are small as hell. My lion is the next biggest thing and sits in at 3 inches. But after reading more on here, I'm going to up the size to a 55 gallon. Any suggestions for more/new equipment and such to keep it sustained just fine?

 

[Reefer54]

start vby buying a couple good books. fenner, spung, calfo all have great books. The Conscientious Marine Aquarist is a must.

good luck
have fun

 

[ReeferKimberly]

The local fish store I've been going to for 16 years now has always told me it was 1 gallon per inch of fish and not to add in the size of the inverts. Nothing is huge either. The eel is 5 inches and is the biggest thing I have where everything else are small as hell. My lion is the next biggest thing and sits in at 3 inches. But after reading more on here, I'm going to up the size to a 55 gallon. Any suggestions for more/new equipment and such to keep it sustained just fine?

The one inch is for freshwater, although it is still too much IMO. Also, they want to sell you fish, remember I would go bigger than 55 with your stock, 90 sounds much much better. That way you don't have to switch again in a few years.

Has the leather perked up yet? Good luck (edit: can't tell if you meant you traded it or not, if so, disregard)

 

[DJ_Kelley]

So I have decided to re-setup my 150 gallon instead of the 55. Granted I can't have it in the the bedroom, but I think it'll be nice to have in the living room. Everything is still in the 30 for now, but I have the 150 filled with water, LR, and LS and got 3 new aqua top CF-500 UV canister filters for it and 2 of my old 300W heaters in the back corners.