Yellow Fiji Leather: acclimation/placement/attachment

[Newreeflady]

I've got a small one coming in on Friday. I know they don't have the best shipping survival rate, but thought I'd give it a try.

I plan to put this guy at the top under T5s right near the overflow so that it can get the shed. I assume the species comes unattached. Would you net it to a small rock and place it up at the top then cut the net off after it attaches? Only trouble I see is if it tries to expand and hits the net. The other possibility is to put it in a low flow corner surrounded by rocks and box it in until it attaches to a rock, then place the rock at the top. Thoughts?

thanks,
Angela

 

[sir_dudeguy]

with mine i just put it in a low flow area full of rubble and it attached in a few days. But then i moved it up higher towards the light and in a heavier flow area. they definitely like high flow and lighting.

 

[Newreeflady]

OK, so the second way sounds good then. Thanks

 

[ncwaterboy]

Mine came attached to a small piece of LR that I epoxied to a large piece. I only have PC lighting so I placed it as the highest coral in the tank with the flow of a small power head close to it. It constantly waves in the current but is not blown hard by it. It obviously likes where it is because it has doubled in size in about a year. I keep thinking I am going to frag it but I haven't worked up the nerve yet.

 

[Newreeflady]

Yep, came attached. It's up at the top. Lets hope it expands nicely soon. It doesn't have any areas of necrosis, and seems to have made it unscathed through shipping.

Angela

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Good luck Angela. Fiji Leather is a great coral. Keep in mind it's an odd soft coral in that it likes more flow and light. Pretty much it's a big yellow sps in disguise. Actually, I've noticed better expansion from my toadstool with some of the most high flow spots in my tank...go figure.

Don't get nervous if it shrinks quite a bit. It may do this while it gets acclimated to the system. You will also see it do this fairly regularly, or even at odd times. Some people surmise it's a sign of growth.

Glad to hear there are no visible wounds. I think you'll do great with it!

 

[Newreeflady]

Thanks ICF (love the name, btw.)

I like the "big yellow sps in disguise" haha. I pointed a jet at it, but it was too much. I'm going to change the magnets around tomorrow in my OM squirt, finally, so that I can get the intermittent flow again. I have a good plan to get the flow how I want it- just gotta execute the plan.

Thanks for the vote of confidence- let's hope you're right! I'll be starting a tank stats, info thread for this tank sometime in the next few days. I'll link it over and I'll direct link a photo of the yellow leather, too.

Best,
-A

 

[singold]

Also, they do not like to be moved , so find the place you want it, and provide good turbid flow from multiple directions if you can and good light, as mentioned. YFL corals come from shallow waters.

 

[Newreeflady]

It changes shape a lot, and looks like it's trying to shed some stuff off at its margins. I'm trying to fix my OM squirt, but until then it's unidirectional flow toward it, but there are other jets in the aquarium as well. I will not move it, it's in the perfect spot- right at the top in the middle.

-A

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Also allow plenty of space around it for growth. Mine expands to the size of a dinner plate.

 

[Newreeflady]

Hi ICF,

Right now I'm just hoping it'll acclimate. It's got as much space as it could possibly have in a 20g tank. Once it outgrows the tank, I'll sell it off.


-A

 

[smogl00]

Good luck! These things are a pain! They are worth it though. There's no other coral I can think of that displays a golden yellow color like that of the Fiji Yellow. Mine is finally starting to really acclimate after months so be patient. Keep in mind that Fiji waters are slightly cooler as well (77-79 degrees f), so it will not tolerate super warm temps.

-Steve