Leathers Drooping - Just Shedding or something worse?

[Jmunk]

Hey guys,

Long story short, my leathers, including one huge toadstool that has been growing a ton (even when I was kinda neglecting the tank), and it's offspring, have started drooping, stalks deflated, PE decreased and looking real bad ever since two things happened:

1) I added three more pieces of rock into the tank (was live rock from fish store, was out of water for maybe 2 hours or so)

2) I did a water change (30 gallons), and the water was kinda cloudy. I assume it was just calcium precipitate, as the alk and salinity levels were right on. I used it and didn't notice any immediate adverse affects.

From those two events, does anything look suspicious? Are they unhappy because I did a water change and they were kinda used to "dirty" water? I know leathers shed and look bad from time to time, but this was weird because all of them did it at the same time, and it was right after two events took place.

 

[mta_morrow]

First, welcome to R2R!

How many total gallons is your system?

Can you post all current parameters

Salinity
Temp
Alk
Calcium
Nitrates
Phosphate

If you have carbon on hand, I would get it in as a precautionary measure.

#WelcometoR2R

#reefsquad

 

[Fudsey]

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

I agree with Mike, get some carbon in there to soak up any impurities they might release.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’d guess it was minor bacterial die and the rock releasing ammonia. A true mini cycle.

I’d wager you will see a small nitrate spike as well.

The corals should be fine.

Welcome to Reef2reef.

 

[Jmunk]

First, welcome to R2R!

How many total gallons is your system?

Can you post all current parameters

Salinity
Temp
Alk
Calcium
Nitrates
Phosphate

If you have carbon on hand, I would get it in as a precautionary measure.

#WelcometoR2R

#reefsquad

Thanks!

Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 79
Alk: 9.2
Calcium: 380
Nitrate: No test kit
Phosphate: 1 (Tanks been neglected maintenance wise for probably over a year, I'm trying to get back on the right track. For what it's worth, this value has been steady for a while, so there wasn't a spike in phosphates)

I can pick up some carbon from the LFS. Not a bad idea.

 

[Jmunk]

I’d guess it was minor bacterial die and the rock releasing ammonia. A true mini cycle.

I’d wager you will see a small nitrate spike as well.

The corals should be fine.

Welcome to Reef2reef.

Yeah, I figured that could've been it. Let it run it's course, and maybe do another water change? For what it's worth, the tanks been up and running for almost 5 years, so it's pretty stable.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yeah, I figured that could've been it. Let it run it's course, and maybe do another water change? For what it's worth, the tanks been up and running for almost 5 years, so it's pretty stable.

I’d let it run it’s course yea. You may want to do another water change this weekeknd.
May want to test ammoina maybe. The bloom would say it’s being eaten up pretty fast though.

 

[sfin52]

When you added the liverock did you do a rescape. That would cause leathers to pout and through detritus up in the tank and help cause a bloom as well.

Agree with running carbon and doing another water change and test again.

 

[Jmunk]

When you added the liverock did you do a rescape. That would cause leathers to pout and through detritus up in the tank and help cause a bloom as well.

Agree with running carbon and doing another water change and test again.

Yes, I did. Not a whole rescape, but definitely moved stuff around.

 

[Jmunk]

I’d let it run it’s course yea. You may want to do another water change this weekeknd.
May want to test ammoina maybe. The bloom would say it’s being eaten up pretty fast though.

So you think even just those two hours out of water was enough to cause a significant die off?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So you think even just those two hours out of water was enough to cause a significant die off?

Yep.

Honestly I can’t think of what else would cause that unless you stirred up the sand and got some funk into the water.

 

[Jmunk]

Yep.

Honestly I can’t think of what else would cause that unless you stirred up the sand and got some funk into the water.

Yeah, like I said in another comment I did to a small rescape where I definitely got some dirt and stuff into the water column. Maybe that in addition to the rock die off is what did it?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yeah, like I said in another comment I did to a small rescape where I definitely got some dirt and stuff into the water column. Maybe that in addition to the rock die off is what did it?

Yea, easily possible for sure.
Sand gets nasty.

 

[toti21]

Leathers sometimes are moody but they are tough.

 

[Jmunk]

Yea, easily possible for sure.
Sand gets nasty.

Yeah, sounds like a plan then. Carbon + water change. Just a quick question. I'm using some old salt for the water change that clumped up from moisture. However, there's some stuff that's settling to the bottom of the mixing bin, looks like salt, but when I try and disturb it, the water gets cloudy and never gets clear again unless it settles to the bottom. I'm assuming that's some sort of calcium precipitate from the salt clumping up. Is it safe to use? I've since ordered all new RODI filters, membrane, and salt, but since this issue with the leathers is going on I kinda wanted to get a water change in soon.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yeah, sounds like a plan then. Carbon + water change. Just a quick question. I'm using some old salt for the water change that clumped up from moisture. However, there's some stuff that's settling to the bottom of the mixing bin, looks like salt, but when I try and disturb it, the water gets cloudy and never gets clear again unless it settles to the bottom. I'm assuming that's some sort of calcium precipitate from the salt clumping up. Is it safe to use? I've since ordered all new RODI filters, membrane, and salt, but since this issue with the leathers is going on I kinda wanted to get a water change in soon.

It’s probably safe to use yes , maybhave a higher or Lower alk cal etc.
I’d go with smaller wc as you’ve already done large ones. Most likely the alk component.
Personally I shake the heck out of the bags to aviod stuff like that. Right or wrong , it’s my paranoia.

 

[Jmunk]

It’s probably safe to use yes , maybhave a higher or Lower alk cal etc.
I’d go with smaller wc as you’ve already done large ones. Most likely the alk component.
Personally I shake the heck out of the bags to aviod stuff like that. Right or wrong , it’s my paranoia.

Sounds good. I know it's nitpicking, but do you think I should let the stuff settle and have clear water, or do I want to try and get everything mixed and have cloudy water? I'm guessing I should just let it settle and sit on the bottom, and just kinda use the clear water for the WC, right?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Sounds good. I know it's nitpicking, but do you think I should let the stuff settle and have clear water, or do I want to try and get everything mixed and have cloudy water? I'm guessing I should just let it settle and sit on the bottom, and just kinda use the clear water for the WC, right?

Let it sit for a bit and it should be fine.

 

[Jmunk]

Let it sit for a bit and it should be fine.

Sweet. Thanks for the help!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Sweet. Thanks for the help!

You’re welcome !