Leather coral not opening up

[Thorkot]

I bought this coral on Feb 20. He has never fully opened and for the last couple of days has not opened at all. Thought maybe somebody could help me figure out what I am doing wrong.

Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=10ppm
Phosphate=0.05ppm
pH=8.2
SG=1.024
Temp=81
Lighting below in sig 10hr period
Ca=400 can not seem to get above this, and my test kit only goes in intervals of 50 so that reading is not precise.

Water flow to the area is in the mid range, and I have the coral placed on the top of the tank.

[Zayetsfoot]

wow, your water seems to be in good shape. The toadstool leather that I bought looks quite the same. Mine was open from the first day. You may have gotten a sick coral.

Was it open at the LFS when you bought it? You might want to call them and see if they will take it back.

Jason

[Thorkot]

Yes it was opened at the fs, it was the only leather that he had that was opened that is why I bought this one. :D

[fishfreek]

How did you acclomate this coral when you got it home?

Often times a leather coral will remain closed for a few days after being moved to a new tank.

Also they will close up from time to time to sheed.

From what others have told me leathers are almost impossible to kill so just wait it out a few more days and see what happens.

[HoopsGuru]

I would not be overly concerned only having bought it on the 20th. Leather corals, especially toadstools will normally retract for up to 2 weeks while acclimating to their new conditions. If it would be doing badly, they go really limp and then turn "cheesy" like so:

http://www.reefnut.com/Images/Toadstool%201.jpg

Even still this one made a complete recovery. I would give it some more time, I think you will see it shed a waxy tunic and then greet you with its polyps again!! IMO, they should give this information whenever they sell them as many, including myself, were not expecting it the first time.

[Thorkot]

Thanks for the input, I will keep you updated on its status.

[Zack]

was it all good at the lfs??

[Thorkot]

It appeared to be doing fine. Polyps were all out and opened.

[Pineapple House]

was it all good at the lfs??
Here's a quote from an above post:
Yes it was opened at the fs, it was the only leather that he had that was opened that is why I bought this one.


Anyway,

I agree with the above posts. I really wouldn't be that worried. Give it a few more days, maybe weeks to let it get used to the new conditions. Keep us updated though.

Graham =)

[BigFish]

mabe not related but I just bought a purp finger leather and it seems to be ok, but it is was a little limp for a day or so (well yesterday is when I bought it) but it is already doing better (it has started to expand instead of being limp). It might be sick it was on sale for $24 but I think it is ok. Anyway good luck with your coral how is he doing now?
I hope he is doing better. Leathers are usually extremely hard to kill I had one actually thrive under the cheap NO lights that came with my tank. I would have had to try to kill it.

[DANNY]

HEY THORKOT
YOU HELPED ME NOW I WILL TRY TO HELP YOU. PUT SOME MEDIUM TO HIGH CURRENT ON YOUR LEATHER TO WHERE IT IS GOING JUST OVER THE TOP OF HIM AND JUST GRAZING HIM TRY THAT FOR A FEW DAYS. THE ONE YOU SEE IN THAT PICTURE I POSTED WAS DOING THE SAME THING MOVED HIM FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO THE TOP PUT THE CURRENT TO HIM AND SLOWLY WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS HE SPRANG TO LIFE AND PUFFS UP EVERY DAY NOW.
DANNY

[Pineapple House]

HEY THORKOT
YOU HELPED ME NOW I WILL TRY TO HELP YOU. PUT SOME MEDIUM TO HIGH CURRENT ON YOUR LEATHER TO WHERE IT IS GOING JUST OVER THE TOP OF HIM AND JUST GRAZING HIM TRY THAT FOR A FEW DAYS. THE ONE YOU SEE IN THAT PICTURE I POSTED WAS DOING THE SAME THING MOVED HIM FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO THE TOP PUT THE CURRENT TO HIM AND SLOWLY WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS HE SPRANG TO LIFE AND PUFFS UP EVERY DAY NOW.
DANNY
DANNY,

Sounds like your leather was shedding its waxy coating. It's quite common for leathers. That's why most species needs hard amounts of current.

Graham =)

[DANNY]

ya i thought that too but was also getting like a green build up like an algea of some sort so when i put it in more current it blowed it off and it purked up
danny

[Thorkot]

I moved the powerheads so that the coral is getting much more current now. But I was just thinking about the lfs lighting, he has vho and I have MH. Do you think that may have a little to do with it. He has still not opened up yet, but he is still standing tall so no worries yet. :D

[reefrunner]

I moved the powerheads so that the coral is getting much more current now. But I was just thinking about the lfs lighting, he has vho and I have MH. Do you think that may have a little to do with it. He has still not opened up yet, but he is still standing tall so no worries yet. :D

If you did not acclimate the coral to the more intense light, then that would certainly explain why it won't open. You should move the coral to the bottom of the tank and possibly in a shaded are with indirect light, then over the course of a couple of weeks...you can slowly move the coral back into the intense light and back to where you want it.

[Thorkot]

I have moved it. Will keep you posted.

[Thorkot]

He is now opened up and looking good. :D

[Zack]

Y E A!!!! !!!!![/scroll:3f1060e4ca]

http://reeflounge.com/forum/images/avatars/BigSet/spot.gif

[Pineapple House]

He is now opened up and looking good. :D
Just wondering, what did you do differently with this new placement?

Graham =)

[Thorkot]

I just moved him from the very top of the tank to the very bottom. The current on the top was a direct heavy current, had the return from the fuge angle so that it would hit it. On the sand it has medium current with no direct powerhead angled at it.

[HoopsGuru]

Probably a good combination of a few days of getting used to your tank and getting out of the "new" scorching sun. :D