Weird acting Cabbage coral

[flower]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/3183332
IMO
........
The polyp extension increase you have noticed can be for a quite a few reasons, not all of them good. let me just list some of the Possible explinations.
1. an increase in protiens and gelbstoff may be decreasing light penetration so polyps are expanding more to try and capture more light.
2. there may be more food stuff in the water for capture.
3. the build up of terpenoid solutions may be triggering aggressive reactions from your corals, an increase in polyp extension to attempt to combat the antagonist.
4. increased trace element levels from not having the skimmer remove them (yes skimmers remove trace and major elements some more than others, this would only apply if you have done a water change while running skimmerless)
5. maybe when you looked into your tank at night you just caught the corals at the right time, many SPS/lps extend at night to catch various zooplankton that only comes out at night. some only extend for short periods of time and it is easy to miss the extension period.
I have a cabbage coral. It stays looking nice for about a week, and then it looks like crap for about two days to a week. All the rest of the coral in the tank stays looking healthy and good. After reading the above quote in another thread, I wanted to ask folks what they think may be this particular corals problem.
This has been going on for the last year with this coral. I thought it was an alkalinity problem, which affected my PH. I corrected my Alk. and got the PH stabilized. And I thought I had the problem under control…then it curled up again for two days…today it is beautiful, but has a few leaves looking bad in the back of it...

 

[meowzer]

IDK Flower....my Cabbage seems to always look different....somedays it is all wide open, others closed (like cabbage..lol) some days it is tulip shaped, among other looks.......Maybe cabbage corals just do this

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3184024
IDK Flower....my Cabbage seems to always look different....somedays it is all wide open, others closed (like cabbage..lol) some days it is tulip shaped, among other looks.......Maybe cabbage corals just do this

I forgot to mention, it also gets a film on it, and seems to shed, but I read somwhere on here that it is normal for leather corals to shed, and I think cabbage coral is in that family.
Is yours the same?

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3184028

I forgot to mention, it also gets a film on it, and seems to shed, but I read somwhere on here that it is normal for leather corals to shed, and I think cabbage coral is in that family.
Is yours the same?
YES, I believe all leathers shed...that is why they need flow...It helps them to remove the "dead skin"

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3184030
YES, I believe all leathers shed...that is why they need flow...It helps them to remove the "dead skin"

Thanks, flow I have..LOL
It still bugs me when it gets all closed up...it is so pretty when it is open, and I worry about it.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3184036

Thanks, flow I have..LOL
It still bugs me when it gets all closed up...it is so pretty when it is open, and I worry about it.
I know exactly what you mean...It use to worry me too, not anymore...

 

[reefkprz]

sounds like the normal cycle for a sinularia dura to me.

 

[nycbob]

i hv a cabbage coral that has never sheded. it is under pretty strong flow.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/3184121
sounds like the normal cycle for a sinularia dura to me.

Okay the thumbs up means all is well, now explain the big words.. Please.
nycbob says he has no such occurrence....?

 

[reefkprz]

Sinularia Dura is the latin name for your cabbage leather. if his is under really strong flow it could be closign up and shedding in an hour or two and totally missing the occurance of the shed, or it may not need to shed as often because of the high flow and has not witnessed a shed yet.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/3184477
Sinularia Dura is the latin name for your cabbage leather.
AHHH, so it also has a cycle..is it like a shrimp or an anemone? What I mean is, is it a sign it is growing like the shrimp who gets rid of its shell, or is it like an anemone that just does its thing every once in a while to clean itself out?

 

[reefkprz]

This shedding process is apparently not a regenerative action, but one that serves to rid the coral's surface of accumulated waste, debris and algae. Once a coral has shed what could be described as a layer of "old skin", it's not unusual for it to appear larger and more magnificent than before.
Sarcophyton, Lobophytum and Sinularia species leather corals are those that regularly go through this shedding process
in bobs case in such high flow it probably has less need to shed than a sinularia keopt in a lower flow where stuff can accumulate and grow on it easier.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/3184486
This shedding process is apparently not a regenerative action, but one that serves to rid the coral's surface of accumulated waste, debris and algae. Once a coral has shed what could be described as a layer of "old skin", it's not unusual for it to appear larger and more magnificent than before.
Sarcophyton, Lobophytum and Sinularia species leather corals are those that regularly go through this shedding process
in bobs case in such high flow it probably has less need to shed than a sinularia keopt in a lower flow where stuff can accumulate and grow on it easier.

Totally interesting! Thank you so much, not one of my 3 coral books told me about this. I thought it had something to do with my water quality. I was going nuts with concern on what to do.
I learn so much here..Thanks again!..

 

[nycbob]

like coralkeeper said, the high flow probably made the cabbage shed less often. and even if it did, the flow probably blew away the mucus fast. from my observation, leathers that r under higher flow get stiffer.

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3184620
from my observation, leathers that r under higher flow get stiffer.
yup they do, they (especially sinularia) build more sclereites into their bodies to help support them agains the flow of water.

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3184495

Totally interesting! Thank you so much, not one of my 3 coral books told me about this. I thought it had something to do with my water quality. I was going nuts with concern on what to do.
I learn so much here..Thanks again!..

There in lies the problem...Your 3 books are not the answer to everything.
I have 5 cabbage leathers (some offspring) thru-out the tank, and every one of them go thru this process on a regular basis. Sounds like there is nothing wrong with your coral.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3184948
There in lies the problem...Your 3 books are not the answer to everything.
I have 5 cabbage leathers (some offspring) thru-out the tank, and every one of them go thru this process on a regular basis. Sounds like there is nothing wrong with your coral.

For which I am so happy. However I just don't understand why a book wouldn't mention it. I don't skimp on books; I buy the best that is recommended. With 3 books you would think I was covered for reading up. Yet nothing even mentions a cycle in leathers, just Pictures, lighting, aggression level, placement and food...

You know what, nothing on the internet nor SWF mention it either. So it isn't my books.

 

[cranberry]

Maybe this will help....
Leather Shedding Threads
Do you have other leathers in the tank? Which ones if yes?

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Cranberry http:///forum/post/3185043
Maybe this will help....
Leather Shedding Threads
Do you have other leathers in the tank? Which ones if yes?
Well I have what is called a lettuce coral, it was just a one leaf frag, but has grown into two and it looks like a third is up and coming. It looks like a heavier version of the cabbage with a more fleshy color to it. It does get a film on it, but does not shrivel up like the cabbage does. I always thought it was time to change out the carbon because of chemical warfare.
I also have a Yellow Tonga leather and it never shed or got a film on it, just grows like crazy, 5Xs it original size since last year.
When I said SWF said nothing about shedding, I was referring to the explanation section on the coral when you buy it.
I love this site and the people on it. I learn so much!

 

[nycbob]

every coral sheds in one form or another to protect itself.