PLS HELP 1st TIME CORAL OWNER

kileki · Jun 9, 2024

Hi All! I have a 40 Gal tank that was FOWLR since November until Friday when I added this leather toadstool.

It looks like this and I want to know if I need to be worried or not!?

It was laying like this on the rock I initially had it on so I moved it lower thinking it was getting too much light but it’s still like this on the bottom of the tank now too.

Formulator · Jun 10, 2024

1.0 phosphate is not too high for leathers. I don’t know why everyone zeroed in on that. I have kept them higher than that. Your biggest problem is pH right now. Anything below 7.7 is 100% unacceptable in a reef tank and will literally dissolve any hard corals you put in there and softies will struggle. Your Alk is very low. Raise that to at least 8.0 over the course of a few days and your pH should come up a bit. Manage your phosphate with an extra water change.

kileki · Jun 10, 2024

Formulator said:
1.0 phosphate is not too high for leathers. I don’t know why everyone zeroed in on that. I have kept them higher than that. Your biggest problem is pH right now. Anything below 7.7 is 100% unacceptable in a reef tank and will literally dissolve any hard corals you put in there and softies will struggle. Your Alk is very low. Raise that to at least 8.0 over the course of a few days and your pH should come up a bit. Manage your phosphate with an extra water change.

Thank you! Is my light cycle adequate, also is it okay if my light rests on top of the glass or should I use risers to lift the light bar up a bit off the glass?

Formulator · Jun 10, 2024

kileki said:
Thank you! Is my light cycle adequate, also is it okay if my light rests on top of the glass or should I use risers to lift the light bar up a bit off the glass?

I’m not an expert on LED lighting, so will have to get advice from others on that. I use halide/T5 hybrid fixture. In general I think you will get better coverage with any light a few inches off the surface though.

kileki · Jun 10, 2024

kileki said:
Hi All! I have a 40 Gal tank that was FOWLR since November until Friday when I added this leather toadstool.

It looks like this and I want to know if I need to be worried or not!?

It was laying like this on the rock I initially had it on so I moved it lower thinking it was getting too much light but it’s still like this on the bottom of the tank now too.

UPDATE; this is how it looked about an hour ago before I left for work. I plan on moving it higher up onto a rock based on some recommendations. If you have any other tips I’m all ears! Don’t be afraid to message me! @Formulator @slythy @Gumbies R Us @VintageReefer Thank you again for all your insight!

kileki · Jun 10, 2024

Formulator said:
Its OK, just angry at your water or shedding (leathers shed their skin regularly). Put it back on a rock and use a rubber band to hold it down on the rock until it attaches itself. Put it about halfway up your tank. They like some light and it probably isn’t getting enough at the bottom.

What are your water parameters? You need to keep track of alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium at minimum if you want to start keeping corals. Nitrate and phosphate are a good idea too, but they can be tested less frequently.

Circling back to this because I thought of something else, sorry for the persistent questions. Should I cut off the bottom part of the plug it is on? Or leave it on there?

kileki · Jun 10, 2024

Mr. Mojo Rising said:
Sure, you have a 40 gallon tank, for example if the powerhead is 400 gph (gallons per hour), then 400 gph divided by 40 gallons equals 10x turnover.

If you have 2 powerheads of 400 gph each, then it is 800 gph total, divided by 40 gallons, gives you 20x water turnover. So total gph divided by tank gallons.

IMO 20x water turnover should be the minimum, like I said I like mine higher. SPS tanks can have 50x-60x or ever higher.

Flow pushes more water (and debris) into the filtration systems, gets rid of dead spots and brings oxygen and nutrients to corals. Higher flow also helps against algae. IMO higher flow contributes to a healthy system.

Is 20x turnover still OK with the fish in the tank??

Formulator · Jun 10, 2024

kileki said:
Circling back to this because I thought of something else, sorry for the persistent questions. Should I cut off the bottom part of the plug it is on? Or leave it on there?

I would leave it so you don’t irritate it. If you cut it, you need to dip in lugols to prevent infection. There are plenty of tutorials on this procedure if you search.