Purple Leather Coral Questions

[SDK]

Im meeting up with a local reefer this weekend and he is gifting me a frag of “Purple Leather" Coral.

For whatever reason, I have never kept a leather coral. I’ve always been more of an SPS/Euphyllia and Zoa guy. I’m just looking for any tips on keeping these.

The tank it will go in has all of the above growing well, so light and flow should not be an issue. I don’t have any low flow areas, but can place the frag in a location that has any combination of moderate to strong flow and light.

My biggest concern is that I run the tank on the clean side for the SPS, but again, it’s “dirty” enough that the LPS and Zoas are growing well. My Nitrates are consistent at 3-4 ppm, and PO4 is at about .02

I have attached a pic of the colony it’s being cut from. It looks like a Sinularia sp. to me but was hoping for a more positive ID as well

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AnemoneBay]

That colony does not look healthy at all. Did he give you a dead piece???

 

[SDK]

Picking it up Sunday and it’s a freebie. Won’t know what I actually have to deal with until I do. The guy is also knowledgeable and has a really nice tank. Hopefully just a bad picture.

 

[SDK]

Just wanted to bump/revisit this to else if #reefsquad or anyone else has input.

To reiterate, I’ve been keeping reef tanks for a long time, but was never big on soft corals or leathers. Not sure what I’m dealing with here.

Pictures are below of this leather that is now in my tank. It’s been just about a month. It is very much alive, spreads during the day and reacts to stimulus. It’s still just the same bone white color. I “think” I see the faintest flush of purple down towards the base. I’ve read that leathers will secrete a white waxy substance that will eventually slough off, but not sure.

My tank has everything from Zoas to LPS and acros that are growing well. It’s getting medium, bordering on high light and flow, and is in an area where other similar corals are doing wonderfully.

Not sure if there is anything else I can do other than observe. Comments are welcome.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Leathers, like many soft corals like water a little "dirty".

 

[DanConnor]

I think your conditions are fine, but you got a specimen in bad shape. I would just observe.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Hope all goes well, comrade

 

[SDK]

Thanks all. I will continue to observe and update in another month.