Leather Coral Not Opening Up

[BlackiceClowns]

Hello everyone
I bought a green leather toadstool the other day and it's been in my tank for three days. I drip-acclimated the coral into the tank and am still waiting for the polyps to come out. I increased the flow today to moderate flow on day three. The light is a low-level light which my mushroom corals are thriving on. The tank is still in its first month but the parameters are stable except for abit of a high ammonia. I am going to do a water change later today for the ammonia but i have been told from my LFS that they would still open in those paramters. I beloieve it could be shedding as i saw a glossy film on top of the coral. I have also seen what seems to be a parasite but the coral was fine in the LFS so i dont think that is the reason. My main question is . Is it normal for them to still be closed or could it be dying.

 

[Mav88]

There shouldn’t be ammonia present. Are you testing with an API test kit because usually read ammonia when it’s not present. Leathers will close up sometimes 2 weeks at a time while they shed skin. My toadstool likes a good amount of flow to help shed. Did you dip your coral or place it directly in display?

 

[Doogs]

Leathers do that when stressed or going through a growth spurt. They shed a waxy coating and come back bigger. Mine is doing this right now

 

[BlackiceClowns]

There shouldn’t be ammonia present. Are you testing with an API test kit because usually read ammonia when it’s not present. Leathers will close up sometimes 2 weeks at a time while they shed skin. My toadstool likes a good amount of flow to help shed. Did you dip your coral or place it directly in display?

I placed mine straight into the DT without a dip. Now that I think about it I probably should have. It came from a reputable source. Or so I thought. I am using an API test kit for ammonia. My tank cycled with precycled media and dr tim one and only so I don't think there should be ammonia. The reading is already pretty low.

 

[Doogs]

I placed mine straight into the DT without a dip. Now that I think about it I probably should have. It came from a reputable source. Or so I thought. I am using an API test kit for ammonia. My tank cycled with precycled media and dr tim one and only so I don't think there should be ammonia. The reading is already pretty low.

You should always dip you coral and your tank is cycled when you have no ammonia.

 

[Mav88]

I would let it be at this point. You probably don’t have any ammonia and the leather will more than likely open up in time. I always place corals in a rack I place in one of those reptile carry containers in my tank with the top out of the water to observe for pests before dipping as it can cause more stress. I also like to keep the small brittle stars that seem to always hitch a ride to my tank on frags. Good luck with your coral keep us posted! Time to move from API test kits, only good for monitoring the cycle.

 

[BlackiceClowns]

Understood any better companies to get some test kits from. Hopefully, not one that's too expensive like the Hanna checkers. Fingers crossed. Ill keep this thread updated.

 

[Mav88]

I used Salifert then when my reagents started running out I got Hanna checkers.

 

[BlackiceClowns]

Ill try and find Salifert. I might get Hanna checkers after some time. Gotta restart saving up. The tank setup cost a reasonable amount.