Yellow Fiji Leather coral - Question

[kobibm13]

Hi! I got this Yellow Fiji coral yesterday from Live Aquaria. I immediately saw that it has a brownish thing on the base and called them so they rushed to refund me half of the price and told me to keep an eye on it to see how it goes. A day later it started to shrink up a bit and did not open up.

It that normal? Should I remove it from the tank?

It is on the top of the highest rock and under a 20K full spectrum Fluval reef led lights (36inch) in a 46Gal tank . All the other corals look great (mushrooms, star burst, xenia, polyps)

This is how it looked yesterday

This is today

 

[Tahoe61]

I have the twin specimen also from Liveaquaria.

They take days or up to a week to acclimate, that is characteristic of most Sarcophyton.

To maintain the great yellow coloration they need intense lighting. Mine is directly under LED Hydra, running at higher %. Mod to higher flow and higher in the tank.

Give the coral time to acclimate, it looks like your typical acclimating specimen. Here is mine after 2 months in the tank.

 

[gar732]

In my experience leathers like flow, what type of flow is it in? Also judging from your rock I'd say your tank is pretty new and is and will be going through some changes until it's completely settled in. I'd refrain from further additions until it is completely settled.

 

[kobibm13]

The flow is pretty high where it is on the top of the rock

The brown algae is actually starting to die off and the snail and crabs are doing a good job removing it . I am testing the water all the time and the main issue I have right now is high calcium level (around 750). Can this harm this coral?

 

[Tahoe61]

If you're supplementing the tank then stop. If not than the value is probably a testing error. What testing method are you using? If the value is accurate just let the value drift down, and that will take some time. What salt mix are you using?

 

[kobibm13]

Used the API reef master kit and got 36 drops to get the blue color..

I am using the Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Mix

 

[Tahoe61]

The value is still suspect when using an API. If you have a local fish store take a water sample and have them check.

If mixed to an SG value of 1.025 (so double check your SG) then Ca should mix around 480 ppm per the Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Mix instructions.

 

[kobibm13]

Just tested again and it took 28 drops so around 560 now with sg of 1.027

 

[Tahoe61]

Bring down the SG and the Calcium level should level off. For some reason you're mixing at too high of an SG, shoot for 1.024 over the course of hours, by adding fresh RO/DI water, go slow and the values should come around.

 

[dailydriven911]

Yes I agree it took almost a week for mine to expand its polyps. I have mine in med flow about half way up the tank. The brown stuff is normal on the base of it and mine actually had some algae growing on the tips when I first introduced it. Give it good flow and lighting. As long as your water is testing good you should see it turn around within a week. Here's a picture of mine after the first week.