Leathers Be Like "Meh"

[bzb]

Last Monday, I acquired two finger leathers, one regular brown/pinkish (which curiously now looks purple), the other is bright green.

They've both stayed pretty much completely deflated since placing them in my tank. Originally placed in the bottom of the tank in low flow areas (mushrooms in same spot aren't too happy, either).

I've moved them both once to see if flow/light will change their response, but nada. They're currently both in the middle of the tank in a medium flow area.

When should I start worrying about these guys?




As of 9/29
NO3 0.25
Ca 450
Mg 1275
Phos 0.3

 

[ActiveAngel]

What’s your salinity and temperature? It’s always good to double (or triple) check, and recalibrate if possible. Leathers are resilient, and it can take a lot to hurt them.

Whenever I had leathers act up like this in the past; it was because my refract or thermometers weren’t calibrated. Albeit that’s a long time ago. Once I finally realized the issue,I fixed it, and all was well.

 

[jcook54]

They can certainly be stubborn but usually they come out after a few days. Personally, I'd move them out away from the light into a lower flow area and let them chill. They'll reach for the light if it's not enough. I was really hoping you moved them a few times and maybe they just didn't ever get acclimated before you moved them again. Then I went back and read they were only moved once.

What were the conditions they were in? I wouldn't start worrying just yet as I've seen them deflated for a while in my tanks (And for no good reason).

 

[bzb]

1.024 - calibrated with Accubrate and tested on another member's refractometer on Sunday before the club meeting
Temp is 79 average in the sump, controlled by Inkbird. Instant read meat thermometer confirms it's close lol

Inkbird: 80.0
Cheapo Probe: 79.9
Meat: 80.6



Meat in the DT says 80.8. Still quite rare, but OK for sushi grade.

Got both leathers from another member along with some zoas and xenia, and they're all doing just fine.

 

[ActiveAngel]

Haha... way to go in the testing! 1.024 is good to go.

At 80*F+, you would be slightly hot for them in my experience. I’ve noticed above 79.5*F to not get full polyp extension. In your shoes; I would reduce temp down to 78*F (and save a little electricity $ in the process).

That said; you’re definitely within the controversially acceptable temperature range; and some people will claim 81*F is fine. And they’re not wrong; it could be good, and the issue may be something else entirely, or a combination of things. Still, I would reduce temp slightly and observe.

Hope this helps!

 

[bzb]

I'll give it a try setting the inkbird to 78 instead of 80.

Before I added the heaters, it hovered at 77+ ambient, as we keep the house at 78 in summer. I'm not 100% sure if the heaters ever trigger.

 

[ZapataInc]

I'll give it a try setting the inkbird to 78 instead of 80.

Before I added the heaters, it hovered at 77+ ambient, as we keep the house at 78 in summer. I'm not 100% sure if the heaters ever trigger.

I don't even have a heater in my tank right now bc we keep the AC at 78°

 

[bzb]

Been holding between 78.2 and 78.9 since Tuesday. No significant change in either leather

Plate corals and mushrooms look amazing, though! They seem to like the slightly lower temp and have opened up considerably.

Zoas seem the same throughout the tank, and the monti frags still have good color and polyp extension.

 

[Steve Burton]

I wouldn't worry about the leathers, green was freshly cut and pretty traumatized, Mine is still sulking too. The tan was cut earlier, and it is stretching out now for me but of course still in it's original tank.

 

[bzb]

Thanks Steve! Probably should have asked you first