What is the DEAL!

[sweetrav18]

I have attempted to keep several leather coral frags with no success. everytime i receive them they never open up and over the course of 2-3 days melt away. I have tried different frags in different locations/light/flow with same results. I thought awhile back I read a thread NOT to use phosphate removers with leathers...is this true. I have always used these and unfortunately if this is true then that explains it. If not, can anyone suggest some other parameters to check. All my current usual ones are fine. I dont have any other soft corals that would be killing them chemically.

Current inhabitants:

dwarf lionfish, 2-clowns,royal gramma

gren fuzzy mushroom, various zoos, acan lord, duncan (all doing fine)

I only have 96w over my 24g aquapod as i thought the first couple got sun burnt to death.

PLease advise, because i love these things and want one badly

 

[Appaloosa1224]

i'm using phosguard in a 24g with a toadstool and kenya tree with no problems. sometimes you just can't keep certain corals in certain tanks. it sucks!

 

[crabbejoe]

Are you buying them from the same person? They could be overstressed before you get them.

 

[seapug]

They tend to not like Aluminum based phosphate removers but i run GFO in my tank with no probs with any corals, and I have some of everything.

 

[sweetrav18]

how do you know which are aluminum based

 

[seapug]

They usually say it on the package. The brown sponges and the green cut to fit filter pads are a couple I know of that are Aluminum based.

 

[DanInSD]

Little white pellets = aluminum based (e.g. PhosGuard)

Rust-brown granules = granulated ferric hydroxide (e.g. RowaPhos, PhosBan)

Dan

 

[aquaman67]

Here's an article on aluminum. If you scroll down there is a part about leathers.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2003/chem.htm

 

[PiXieCath]

Toadstool are one of the more agressive leather for toxin emission...run carbon to remove toxins, it will probably help!;-)