[Mikeman]

The leather that I just got yesterday, I've noticed has some more whitish areas, almost like a blisters, the whole coral is still adjusting, but most of the polyps say about 90% of them are out, there are a few on the blistered areas, but not much, plus I noticed that it looks like some alge has started growing on it! Should I wave the alge off? Should I put it in higher flow?


thanks

[organicreefer]

massage the algea off gently with youre fingersand increase flow

[bongobrian]

You can get the algea off, but you don't want to agitate the white areas. It sounds like an infection, and the leather is trying to heal. Increase the flow as organic said... leathers love current, so don't be afraid to blast it. Make sure you have a good level of iodine in the water. Leathers are very prone to infections when there isn't enough iodine in the water. I stopped adding iodine to my tank for a while, and I paid for it my leather caught an infection and died. Two most important things for keeping leather right there: current and iodine. All the other basic things are important too.

[Mikeman]

I'm getting some iodine and dried phytoplankton to help the recovery, I also moved it into higher flow because all the polyps closed and it kinda looks like its alge free now, so I'm assuming it shed its slime.

Is there anything else I can do? I'm losing sleep over this thing and thinking about it in math class.

23 days left of h*ll

[bongobrian]

You could always do an iodine dip to help the leather along. Just get a bowl or container and fill it with a 1/2 gallon of tank water. If you're using lugol's iodine, add 3 drops to the water (otherwise check the dosage for other brands of iodine). Let the leather soak in this for an hour every day and do this for a week or two. Always dump out the water after each use and make a fresh batch each day. Don't ever reuse this water and DON'T put it back in your tank. Iodine is the natural antiseptic for corals and it is crucial for leathers to prevent infections. By letting the leather soak in a highly concentrated iodine solution, it's like treating a paper cut with neosporin. Anyway, I would highly recommend doing this. If at any point your leather starts losing it's flesh and falling apart, that's when you'll know you've lost the battle. I think you'll be fine though, don't worry about the polyps not opening up. Sometimes leathers will wax over and the polyps won't open for days or even weeks. Don't sweat it dude, it will pull through.

[Mikeman]

I was really hoping I wasn't going to have to do an iodine dip! Is there any way I can just start dosing it to the tank?