Water flow for leathers -- too much?
 

Hi there. I've got a 120 gal mixed reef (mostly mushrooms, zoanthids, LPS, and xenia). Water flow is from a 1250 gal/hr pump that does filtration; and then a VorTech powerhead inside the tank.

I just got a light green sinularia (I think) from the LFS. I was told "high light, high flow". I put it about halfway up the tank, and to the side of the main flow the VorTech (the direct flow is crazy-strong). It's getting fast "biased random" flow (more from one direction than the other).

Since we put it in yesterday, it has "squatted down" (compressed/shrunk). IME with other corals this is sometimes a reaction to more light (I'm using 8x54w T5's) but can be "too much" flow.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Dan

To me, whenever a coral is not opening (in this case, not inflating fully, if at all) it is a sign of irritation or stress. This can be water parameters, flow, lighting, another coral bothering it, etc. If in a day or two the Sinularia still isn't inflating, I would try moving it to a different location to see if it does any better, and take it from there.
Only my.02

leathers can take a week or more to open once disturbed or stressed.medium light and random flow should work as long as no other corals are irratating it.moving it too often will just make it take longer to open.also look at it night,it may be open then.

Thanks, guys. The coral hasn't "stood up" yet but I think from what I've read that the light and flow are long-term compatible so I'm going to give it another week or so before attempting a move.

There is only one coral nearby -- a tiny frag of yellow toadstool that is growing at the base of the "main" leather. It came this way from the LFS so I have to assume it's been there a while. There are green star polyps about ten inches "down current" and some xenia about six inches away. Nothing of any consequence.

It also seems to have one little finger "disintegrating" -- I'm assuming this is likely a travel injury, because it was a little scarred right off the bat. What's the procedure for trimming these back? I assume it's standard "fragging" procedure -- cut back the dead tissue with a sharp blade -- but:

- Inside the tank, or outside?
- Dip of any kind afterwards (fresh water; lungol's) ?

Thanks,
Dan

An update: the coral has started showing some polyp extension. Looking good.

cutting leathers can be cut in tank,but it is much safer to cut it outside the tank and rinse it in some tank water before putting it back.i would cut the necrotic tissue after a week or so with no positive signs just above the where it starts to look healthy.i like using surgical scissors.some like razor blades for cutting leathers

congrats you have reversed the necrosis.keep up with weekly water changes if you can.it is my best weapon thus far in bringing back a sick coral.

There is part of the coral that is still showing some necrosis. I might trim this off this weekend. The rest is looking very "squat" but there is some polyp extension. I think this coral is under brighter lights than at the LFS so it could be light shock. It's relatively near the surface under 8x54w T5 (mixed 6.5K and 14K) in a 120. I'll post updates over time.

great

whats your total GPH...leathers can take a beating. I would even push for high flow. I keep mine at 50 times GPH so that would be like 6000 gph or so.

Total flow in the tank is something like 3500 gph (tank is 120g).

No change in the coral -- still showing some minor necrosis with other parts of the coral showing limited polyp extension. Perhaps noteworthy -- the coral has darkened significantly over the last week. I'm assuming this is in response to higher light and flow as compared to the LFS.

Thanks,
Dan