whats wrong with my coral?

cowfishrule

Active Member
as always,
what are you parameters? lighting?
how long have you had him?
if he's new, it could be acclimation shock (especially lighting), or lack of flow.
 

i_luv_dory

Member
he has been in our tank over a week, 9 days actually. and he was happy all of those days. we have compact florescents...not sure the wattage, never looked.
ph 8.1
salinity 1.025
kh 14
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 10ppm
ammonia .25ppm
phosphate 0 ppm
copper i assume zero because it stayed clear, brand new test.
sooo.....what now?
 

jerryatrick

Active Member
I assume that you don't have pics before when it was doing better. I have seen leathers in stores that look like that after they have been bothered. Can't tell if it is melting from the picture. Just looks like it is tipped over. Where do you have it in the tank as far as placement and how much flow is it receiving?
As for your water parameters, it wouldn't hurt to do some water changes to get that ammonia down to 0.
 

jerryatrick

Active Member
Originally Posted by i_luv_dory
http:///forum/post/2687372
its an umbrella leather.
what does melting mean?
and yes, i am going to do a water change tonite.
A leather that is dying will literally melt away like a candle. I don't see that in your pics.
 

i_luv_dory

Member
Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2687377
How old is your tank and has it finished cycling? Your ammonia should be 0 and that can affect your corals.
it is 8 weeks old. and yes it finished cycling. i havent done a water change in almost two weeks. it has two clowns, a fire shrimp and a peppermint shrimp. my mom like to feed once a day/everyday.
 

jerryatrick

Active Member
Originally Posted by i_luv_dory
http:///forum/post/2687414
it is 8 weeks old. and yes it finished cycling. i havent done a water change in almost two weeks. it has two clowns, a fire shrimp and a peppermint shrimp. my mom like to feed once a day/everyday.
Don't know why you still have ammonia if it has fully cycled. 2 weeks without a water change early on is fine. Have any fish died in the last month?
 

i_luv_dory

Member
nope. no deaths. everyone is happy except the coral.
it was so pretty with its little tentacles (dont know what they are called) out with the little teeny tiny white buds at the end.
 

i_luv_dory

Member
happy, hungry and curious.
oh, and i have noticed from time to time that it has a stingy-mucous like stuff that drifts in the flow.
 

jerryatrick

Active Member
Originally Posted by i_luv_dory
http:///forum/post/2687500
happy, hungry and curious.
oh, and i have noticed from time to time that it has a stingy-mucous like stuff that drifts in the flow.
Do you have good flow on it? From time to time it could use some good flow so it can shed.
 

i_luv_dory

Member
i tried moving the power heads.....hasnt helped. it still looks pitiful, actually a little bit worse.
how long does the shedding take, on average?
 

flricordia

Active Member
Nitrate at 10 I would think is a little high. Doing the reef backwards. First the corals then after the tank is good and cycled/broken-in, then add fish slowely. Fish poop and feedings everyday will increase the PO levels and most corals do not react well to that.
 

jerryatrick

Active Member
Originally Posted by i_luv_dory
http:///forum/post/2688719
i tried moving the power heads.....hasnt helped. it still looks pitiful, actually a little bit worse.
how long does the shedding take, on average?
I have heard of leathers sulking like yours for a week. I would leave it alone for the time being unless their other suggestions. Do some research on sick leather corals and the common answer will be to leave it alone.
Just to give you an idea of what kind of flow I give my leathers... I have a nano koralia powerhead 12 inches away and about 6 inches above the coral itself. When the coral is doing well you can see a nice flow coming through it.
 

nano reefer

Active Member
it wants more flow. dont worry about it dying, i have seen them shrivel up to 1/50 their orignal size and make a full recovery.
 

i_luv_dory

Member
well, i sure hope that it does start to perk up. I guess all that I can do is sit, watch and wait.
thank you so much for all of your replies.
 

jerryatrick

Active Member
Originally Posted by i_luv_dory
http:///forum/post/2689180
well, i sure hope that it does start to perk up. I guess all that I can do is sit, watch and wait.
thank you so much for all of your replies.
Trust me, you will know when it is time to remove it. If you are concerned just post a pic.
 
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