Leathers perpetually shedding -cross post

vetteguy53081 · Sep 6, 2018

Yes, they are shedders and often show a sheen on their top surface. The key is water flow/current. It aids them in shedding and keeping the pores clear allowing to fully extend their ployps for extension and feeding.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 6, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
Yes, they are shedders and often show a sheen on their top surface. The key is water flow/current. It aids them in shedding and keeping the pores clear allowing to fully extend their ployps for extension and feeding.

And imo , take more flow than manny would assume.

A good friend has his in his 288g acro dom tank. That’s a lot of flow.

vetteguy53081 · Sep 6, 2018

Even using a turkey baster changes everything when they shed.

CindyKz · Sep 6, 2018

At one point I had so much flow they were rocking around the tank but it's certainly worth a second try. I really just want my pretty tank back. (ok whine over).

CindyKz · Sep 6, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
Even using a turkey baster changes everything when they shed.

I did blow off them several times. Then I quit, because I thought if they're doing what they do naturally maybe I shouldn't interfere. At this point I think it's kill or cure though.

vetteguy53081 · Sep 6, 2018

CindyKz said:
At one point I had so much flow they were rocking around the tank but it's certainly worth a second try. I really just want my pretty tank back. (ok whine over).

Even my fish do some rocking around.

MADE YOU LAUGH !!!!!!!!!

vetteguy53081 · Sep 6, 2018

CindyKz said:
I did blow off them several times. Then I quit, because I thought if they're doing what they do naturally maybe I shouldn't interfere. At this point I think it's kill or cure though.

THEY NEED ASSISTANCE FROM WATER MOVEMENT FOR SHEDDING

Katrina71 · Sep 6, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
Even using a turkey baster changes everything when they shed.

Exactly my high tech method. Today in fact.

CindyKz · Sep 6, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
Even my fish do some rocking around.

MADE YOU LAUGH !!!!!!!!!

YOU SURE DID!!!!!!

Katrina71 · Sep 6, 2018

This is just a noob observation here, but mine sheds almost like a menstrual cycle. I realize we shed the same way...is this their chocolate/salty Lifetime movie time?

CindyKz · Sep 6, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
THEY NEED ASSISTANCE FROM WATER MOVEMENT FOR SHEDDING

Changed the programming on the apex so the 2 powerheads run together every other minute. This should increase the flow quite a bit....

Katrina71 said:
Exactly my high tech method. Today in fact.

Done for tonight. Will do a couple times daily.

CindyKz · Sep 6, 2018

Katrina71 said:
This is just a noob observation here, but mine sheds almost like a menstrual cycle. I realize we shed the same way...is this their chocolate/salty Lifetime movie time?

LOL those days are mostly over for me. Maybe my corals are my grandchildren! Who knows...I'll put on Lifetime and see what happens

vetteguy53081 · Sep 6, 2018

Katrina71 said:
This is just a noob observation here, but mine sheds almost like a menstrual cycle. I realize we shed the same way...is this their chocolate/salty Lifetime movie time?

Yikes. regular shedding a sign of good health

CindyKz · Sep 6, 2018

[QUOTE="vetteguy53081, post: 5099540, member: 31438!

Yeah, but if you follow this analogy mine are hemorrhaging

Katrina71 · Sep 6, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
Yikes. regular shedding a sign of good health

Is regular shedding bad? I was told to expect it.

mcarroll · Sep 6, 2018

CindyKz said:
I have a biocube 32 softy tank. 3 toadstool, 2 nepthea, sinularia, devils hand. Papaya coral, pineapple coral. Some polyps. 4 fish. Over a month ago everything in the tank closed up and started shedding (well not the zoas).

How old is this tank? How long were the corals in place before things took a turn for the worse?

Ever see the puffer nip at coral?

CindyKz said:
The only parameters that have changed recently have been a stark drop in rates and phos; we moved and I changed the sand. ( used to be NO3 50 now 10, PO4 was .16 now .10)

How steady have these two test numbers been since the first posting? What are they right now?

Are you doing anything "extra" to tweak/reduce nutrients?

Also, any changes in temperature?

CindyKz said:
Since the previous post I upgraded to a Kessil 360. The increased light

How big an increase was it? Did you take any lux or PAR measurements of either light? Can you still take measurements of the 160? Being able to compare some realistic numbers may be insightful.

IMO this could still be acclimation to the new lighting. "Waxing up" could be a form of photo-protection. (Speculating...haven't done a lot of reading on leathers, but I've been around them a fair amount.)

IMO they are also phosphate pigs, so the nutrient "anti-spike" could be a minor stress they're adapting too as well.

There's been a ton of change to the tank, so if anything, maybe just focus on doing as little as possible?

CindyKz · Sep 7, 2018

mcarroll said:
How old is this tank? How long were the corals in place before things took a turn for the worse?

Ever see the puffer nip at coral?

The tank has been up for a year. Most of the problematic corals (all 3 toadstools) were in my mixed reef prior to that for a year or so. One of these corals was the first one I ever got

The puffer hasn't nipped a the corals at all, no bite marks either.

mcarroll said:
How steady have these two test numbers been since the first posting? What are they right now?

I don't dose this tank, so the numbers don't fluctuate much. Just water changes every week-10 days. [/QUOTE]

mcarroll said:
Are you doing anything "extra" to tweak/reduce nutrients?

Also, any changes in temperature?

No to both. It's monitored on an apex.

mcarroll said:
How big an increase was it? Did you take any lux or PAR measurements of either light? Can you still take measurements of the 160? Being able to compare some realistic numbers may be insightful.

IMO this could still be acclimation to the new lighting. "Waxing up" could be a form of photo-protection. (Speculating...haven't done a lot of reading on leathers, but I've been around them a fair amount.)
IMO they are also phosphate pigs, so the nutrient "anti-spike" could be a minor stress they're adapting too as well.

No measurements. I started the 360 at 40% which was too low for the corals that are still ok so I've slowly ramped up to peaking at 70% over a couple weeks. When I turned it up higher the corals the corals that are doing well got angry.

This problem existed for a month before I changed lights though so it could be prolonging, but it isn't the root. Neither is the drop in NO3 and PO4 for the same reason.

[/QUOTE]There's been a ton of change to the tank, so if anything, maybe just focus on doing as little as possible?[/QUOTE] Possibly, but I did nothing (except ) adding flow)for the first month and it didn't get better either

CindyKz · Sep 7, 2018

Katrina71 said:
Is regular shedding bad? I was told to expect it.

No, regular shedding is normal. But I feel like the prolonged cycle of shedding and rarely seeing polyps that I have going on can't be good either.

CindyKz · Sep 7, 2018

saltyfilmfolks said:
If the large water changes didn’t do much , I’m not sure I’d bet on it being a toxin.

Geez. Stumper.

Like Katrina said , it can take some time. They are the grumpiest corals ever.

I had the same thought about it not being a toxin but I'm still wondering about some chemical warfare with all those softies in a small space. Lots of people do it without issue though.

Their grumpiness is making ME grumpy!