Toadstool leather seperated

[pfisher101]

Hello all, I am very new to this hobby and RC. Our tank is about two months old. At first I was just checking the water parameters that came in the API saltwater testing kit. (Am, Ph, Nitrites, Nitrates) After about a month my parameters were in line and I felt my tank had cycled. We added one clown and a firefish. They seemed happy and still do. Last weekend I decided to add my first coral, I went to my LFS and picked up a smallToadstool leather mounted to a small disc piece of rock. I found a nice spot for him and put him there still attached to his rock. He only gave me partial polyp extension, but I figured he was still acclimating to my tank.
My emerald crab seemed to take a liking to some algae on the TSLs rock but I let him be. Later it looked like he was picking at the TSL. I seperated him from the coral and went to bed. When I woke, the TSL was drooping over 90 degrees (hmm where's the degrees symbol on my keyboard. I guess I've never needed it before) and looked like a chunk was taken out of its stalk. I removed the Emerald and traded him in to my LFS. I also picked up more testing supplies for reef keepers. When I tested I found my phosphates and Kh very high. And my Magnesium low. I've added GFO and I'm adding a little magnesium supplement everyday. I'm also doing daily water changes. Things are starting to get in line as far as water parameters. But now I have a new issue.
My TSL still hasn't given me full polyp extension or risen from his droop. Early today he looked like he was swaying in the current a bit much, so I though I'd adjust it. Well, when i did he got a little blast of current and seperated from the rock he was attached to. I icked him up and found a nice hole in one of my LR to set him in. whats remaining of his stalk is in the hole and his "cap" is resting on the surface of the rock. Of course his polyps were retracted after his fall and move, but he is back to partial extension.
So, my question is, will he survive? he's very near the light. my h20 parameters are not perfect, but I am getting them inline and expect one more partial h20 change to do the trick.

current test:
Ph 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5
Calcium 400
Magnesium 1200 (up from 1145)
Phosphates .25 (down from .59)
Kh 14 (down from 18 "yikes")

Anyway, I am on my way to good H20, what else do I need to do to help my TSL?

Thanks for reading this, my longest post ever on any forum.

 

[Lost_Punk]

had the same problem with mine. bought him yesterday got him home and only had partial extension. cam home from work today and he's bent over at a 90. still at 90 now with partial extension only. don't know current water settings

 

[pfisher101]

Well Lost_Punk, hopefully we figure this out. I wasn't too concerned about the drooping, since I've read leathers can be tempermental when moved, but now that it actually seperated from its base, I'm a bit concerned. Of couse, this is my first coral, so I really do'nt know what they do.

 

[ebohacek]

Your leather coral

Your leather coral

Hello "“ I love leather corals as well. Leather corals are temperamental yes, but they are very resilient. These are corals that really don't care about the water parameters much.
The secret is to get a healthy one. Keep him away from any other corals and don't touch him, they don't like it at all. You can target feed him every 2 to 3 days with filter feeding food, keep a good water flow and wait. You have a 50/50 chance but unfortunately they die slow. I believe as well the tank should be a little more established so they can get nutrients.

Your leather coral should be erect and extended all day and retract 2 to 3 hours after the lights are off. He should not be retracted and molting often.

I tried with many leather corals (Sarcophyton) the key was my fish store, the care they gave them, before they find the permanent homes.

Good Luck with your leather.

 

[ReeferBill]

I lost a nice green skin and polyped toadstool that kept falling off the rock so many times it finally gave up. Now I glue and putty every piece of coral. Good Luck...