My Leather Cabbage Needs Your Help! Please Answer!

[ohiorn67]

tried posting yesterday and got no responses!! My leather cabbage has been in my tank for one week. Looked fine for a while but I noticed yesterday that one stem area is getting almost faded, darker and almost a blue tint to it. Not looking terrific. Today I moved it up in the tank for different lighting so hoping it will help, but nothing so far. It is releaing some white web looking stuff a little bit.
My lights are 260w pc coralife setw/actinic....
water parameters:
salinity 1.022
ph 8.2
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 10
calcium 500
temp 78
what is going on????

 

[wax32]

I think leathers shed their skin? Maybe the move to your tank is making him shed the way a new shrimp often molts.

 

[slowest is fastest]

Leathers do "shed their skin" (rather develope a thin covering they later shed usually to clean themselves)
My guess is flow/current was/is the problem not lighting(although I guess that can be part of it too)
It is hard to say for sure without a pic. Moving it probably stressed it as much as anything. For now if it is getting good flow and lighting (and you like it where it is) leave it alone Short of it starting to show signs of deteriorating I wouldn't worry.
JMO
SiF

 

[ohiorn67]

thank you for answering!! I have moved it and then went to my lfs also to ask about it since I bought it there. I had not been putting in iodine and he said to do this ...so I am hoping between its move and the iodine it will look better..I will try and post a pic tomorrow.

 

[thomas712]

Is it this type of cabbage?

 

[slowest is fastest]

I would skip the iodine.
SiF

 

[ohiorn67]

yes, that is the kind, although mine is a little browner and bigger...but my lfs said they need stronium/calcium and iodine. do reef complete for the other and he recommended adding iodine as a supplement in small dose. I did this last night, it does seem a bit better this morning.

 

[ctgretzky9]

I probably dont have enough experience to comment on coral except some easy care softies, but the salinity maybe too low as a factor at all? I had always heard 1.025 which is what I keep mine at for polyps etc...

 

[ohiorn67]

probably good advice, my lfs thought 1.022 was perfect but I think it might need to be a little higher also. I am just waiting to top off my tank again and will use salt but I think we are doing a water change this weekend and of course this will help it climb just a little but thanks for the advice, I think it looks alot better today also since I put in iodine and moved it closer to the light.
:cheer: