Leather coral covered in algae

[QuarantinedCorals]

Hi everyone, hope you’re all doing well. I have an algae problem in my tank which I posted about earlier today, if you know any useful information I have a previous post about it in case you wanna drop some knowledge. I fed my leather some reef roids and it closed up, now I have algae growing on it so it won’t open up! Please help, don’t know what to do!

 

[Spare time]

It needs more flow. Just blast it with a wave maker for a little bit and then just keep it in higher flow in general

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

It needs more flow. Just blast it with a wave maker for a little bit and then just keep it in higher flow in general

I’ve blasted it with a baster and wave maker to clear It up but it grows back so quickly, you suggest I point the wave maker in its direction and put it on the lower setting? My leather tends to get irritated from high flow as well :/

 

[reef lover]

Needs more flow...not blasting it but def blowing it around...my leathers get lots of flow.

 

[MrWheelock]

Agree with the extra flow, leathers need some flow to blow off their mucus layer they produce. You will know when its happy, just make slight adjustments to its flow and wait then adjust more if needed.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Don’t try to feed your leathers.. are you sure it’s algae and not just shedding? better Picture without blues? The little starfish typically won’t bother corals such as leathers but sometimes will eat your Zoa’s.

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

Don’t try to feed your leathers.. are you sure it’s algae and not just shedding? better Picture without blues? The little starfish typically won’t bother corals such as leathers but sometimes will eat your Zoa’s.

I don’t have starfish in the tank, i can get a better picture in a bit. Once it closed up, brown algae started forming on it and it wouldn’t really shed so I would have to baste it so the algae would come off but it would just grow back.

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

Agree with the extra flow, leathers need some flow to blow off their mucus layer they produce. You will know when its happy, just make slight adjustments to its flow and wait then adjust more if needed.

I have my wave maker pointed at it now, I’m getting another wave maker so it gets constant flow that’s more gentle so it’s not getting blasted, hopefully that helps. I’m also gonna be doing a big water change to help combat the algae problem.

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

Needs more flow...not blasting it but def blowing it around...my leathers get lots of flow.

I’m getting another wavemaker so my leather can get more flow, my wavemaker is pointed at it now so algae won’t form over it but I’m going to put my wavemaker on a lower setting and leave it pointed at my leather, hopefully that won’t allow algae to form over it and it’ll finally open, I’ll also be doing a big water change to combat my algae problem.

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

Don’t try to feed your leathers.. are you sure it’s algae and not just shedding? better Picture without blues? The little starfish typically won’t bother corals such as leathers but sometimes will eat your Zoa’s.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

What kind of algae, do you know?

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

What kind of algae, do you know?

Looks like green hair algae

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Looks like green hair algae

A Dolabella sea hare (aka wedge sea hare) is your best friend when it comes to natural algae control. Just make sure to get an adult. Anything under 3 inches usually won't eat large strands of algae as well as you need.

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

A Dolabella sea hare (aka wedge sea hare) is your best friend when it comes to natural algae control. Just make sure to get an adult. Anything under 3 inches usually won't eat large strands of algae as well as you need.

I’ll look for one, any ideas on where I might be able to find one?

 

[reef lover]

It is composed of detritus collecting in the corals slime coat.
Needs more flow....

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

It is composed of detritus collecting in the corals slime coat.
Needs more flow....

It won’t open up and I’ve tried everything, I brushed it with a toothbrush yesterday and I have the wave maker pointed at it, not sure what else to do. I have a 55 gallon tank, did a 20 gallon water change yesterday so I’m hoping that will help out.

 

[lapin]

As long as the wave maker is not blasting it you should be ok.
It can take time for it to relax and open up.
I moved 2 of mine.
1 opened right back up the second one took 2 weeks to fully open.

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

As long as the wave maker is not blasting it you should be ok.
It can take time for it to relax and open up.
I moved 2 of mine.
1 opened right back up the second one took 2 weeks to fully open.

The problem in having is that when the leather isn’t being blasted, it gets covered in algae and it won’t open. I’m trying to solve my algae problem so it can catch a break, did a 20 gallons water change yesterday so hopefully that helps fingers crossed

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

I’ll look for one, any ideas on where I might be able to find one?

Live aquaria had them for a time for a reasonable price. Saltwater fish has had them some, a bit higher priced but still doable.

 

[QuarantinedCorals]

Live aquaria had them for a time for a reasonable price. Saltwater fish has had them some, a bit higher priced but still doable.

Gotcha, thank you I’ll keep an eye out!