Leather Crown Not Healing Completely

[ruxsir]

I got this leather as a frag around a year ago. It was a quarter of the size without a trunk. As it has grown, there has been one spot on the crown that has not completely healed and approximate nicely. Any guesses as to why?

 

[mcarroll]

Tank too clean? You're making us guess.....

Please post some basic info about the tank and it's history as well as all you water test results including s.g. and temperature.

 

[ruxsir]

Tank too clean? You're making us guess.....

Please post some basic info about the tank and it's history as well as all you water test results including s.g. and temperature.

Salinity 1.026
Temp 77
Alk 6.4
Phos 0.09
Nitrate 14

Alk has consistently been low. Only do water changes. Regular instant ocean suspect the batch is low in alk.

Tank is 30 gallon cube, soft corals only. Live rock rubble in sump with filter sock and bag of carbon. AI prime on 60%, AI Nero lagoon mode 55%.

It has been growing, just not fusing together in that one spot.

Attached a video of tank

 

[mcarroll]

Salinity 1.026
Temp 77
Alk 6.4
Phos 0.09
Nitrate 14

Alk has consistently been low. Only do water changes. Regular instant ocean suspect the batch is low in alk.

Tank is 30 gallon cube, soft corals only. Live rock rubble in sump with filter sock and bag of carbon. AI prime on 60%, AI Nero lagoon mode 55%.

It has been growing, just not fusing together in that one spot.

Attached a video of tank

If that PO4 an NO3 is more or less consistent, then it's prolly fine. (Lower is not better tho.)

Guessing maybe flow is too weak...."lagoon mode" generally means the pump is de-powered and might even be "off" for some time during its cycle. That style pump already produces weak flow by design, so maybe turn it up and see how it goes. Toadstools like a lot of flow. (As do most corals.)

In the movie the tank looks "too clean" and the corals appear to be near-bleached. Is it the same in regular light, or just an effect from you taking the pic in bad lighting? Try another pic or movie with just white lights on.

Unless the coral is being picked on (eg hermits) then I say the problem is flow.

 

[ruxsir]

If that PO4 an NO3 is more or less consistent, then it's prolly fine. (Lower is not better tho.)

Guessing maybe flow is too weak...."lagoon mode" generally means the pump is de-powered and might even be "off" for some time during its cycle. That style pump already produces weak flow by design, so maybe turn it up and see how it goes. Toadstools like a lot of flow. (As do most corals.)

In the movie the tank looks "too clean" and the corals appear to be near-bleached. Is it the same in regular light, or just an effect from you taking the pic in bad lighting? Try another pic or movie with just white lights on.

Unless the coral is being picked on (eg hermits) then I say the problem is flow.

The video doesn’t capture the true colors right imo. Will try turning up the flow.

 

[mcarroll]

I forgot to ask: Has it been doing the waxy covering/slough it off routine?

 

[James CNM]

Maintain alk between 7 and 8. A leather will appreciate flow to aid growth, ie when it waxes....that coated film that needs removed to achieve polp extension and growth.

Use a good calculator like Reef Chemistry Dijest. You can fix your alk by using bicarbonate soda. Cheap. same for mag, or ca. Avoid the fancy lables

 

[ruxsir]

I forgot to ask: Has it been doing the waxy covering/slough it off routine?

No it’s typically open everyday. Was closed up yesterday which allowed a better picture.

 

[ruxsir]

Maintain alk between 7 and 8. A leather will appreciate flow to aid growth, ie when it waxes....that coated film that needs removed to achieve polp extension and growth.

Use a good calculator like Reef Chemistry Dijest. You can fix your alk by using bicarbonate soda. Cheap. same for mag, or ca. Avoid the fancy lables

Bucket of IO salt I got must’ve been bad. Calcium is normal, Alk has been constantly low per salifert and Hanna

 

[James CNM]

Bucket of IO salt I got must’ve been bad. Calcium is normal, Alk has been constantly low per salifert and Hanna

Do you give a bucket of salt a good mix prior to using? I use IO, RC and have recently switched to iQuatics. I switch for cost. I do however mix a salt mix and adjust to maintain display parameters prior to water change

 

[ruxsir]

Do you give a bucket of salt a good mix prior to using? I use IO, RC and have recently switched to iQuatics. I switch for cost. I do however mix a salt mix and adjust to maintain display parameters prior to water change

Yep, usually shake it up and turn up and down.