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View Full Version : Leathers, dying????

melz
14-10-06, 20:18
Hi guys looking for some advice. I purchased these toadstools around 3 weeks ago. They were doing great, polyps extending and shimmering well. Just over a week ago i did a water test everyting checked out fine apart from my phosphates which were a bit high. I bought Phoszorb and did a water change ( i do 25% every week). Toadstool seemed fine.

I was then advised to buy the Salifert coral food and All in one. I have added these to my tank as described on bottles after each water change. I noticed about 4 days ago that mt leathers had stopped extending. I thought nothing of this as i thought they were shedding their mucous coat. That was untill i saw 'fluffy' white spots on it. They spred to the larger toadstool and then the smaller one.. I took a small soft brush and brushed this of today i noticed that the white patches are slightly hollow...almost like rotting. Is this connected to the aditives i have put in or can you give me me advice as how best to solve this


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/valkaria/Marine/DSC00144.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/valkaria/Marine/DSC00143.jpg
jimdon IOM
14-10-06, 20:24
Is Phoszorb aluminium based? or is it iron based
if its Aluminium then that might be the cause.
melz
14-10-06, 20:41
Oh no, when i bought it there was no details on what it was made off but i have just googled it and it is aluminium oxide...argh!. :eek: :mad:

1st question - Should i remove this????
2nd question - what else can i use to reduce phosphates, or is it a case of more / larger water changes
3rd question - How can help my leathers recover from this???
jimdon IOM
14-10-06, 21:08
Theres no guarantee that it is this that has caused it, but it looks like an adverse reaction to something. so I'd remove it, get a poly filter and pop that in it should help remove anything toxic in the water , if you can do a couple of medium water changes.
then leave the leathers alone,don't brush or move them, see if they start to improve.
I'd use an iron based phosphate remover like Rowaphos, there are other ones too.
this is only my opinion. If one of the more knowledgable guys sees this they may be able to be of more help.

Jim
alanwsg
14-10-06, 21:09
Yes, remove it.
Rowaphos, phosban or Ultiphos are all non-aluminium based, use one of those. Do some water changes to get rid of the ali.
Leathers are pretty tough, just remove the problem & give them time.

edit: must type faster!
melz
14-10-06, 21:20
Thyanks guys...im removing it as we speek, mixing water so that it's ready for the afternoon for a water change. Nearby i only have one place that sells marine stuff...hence little choice.. and the only other stuff they have is Kent Marine phosphate sponge which i think is a 'biological' media type of removal. I could always order Rowaphos off the net any good sites for uk delivery that you can recommend?.
jimdon IOM
14-10-06, 21:34
Cyber Aquatics, sponsers on here have it and they are very helpful
jimdon IOM
14-10-06, 21:35
Hope all turns out ok and they recover for you.

Jim
melz
15-10-06, 22:36
Update: My partner went out and bought me elimi phos...he thought he was doing good:o . Any how, i got myself a master test kit today as toad's look as if they are covered in 'rust'. I have done a 25% water change, put poly wool in and the elimi phos. Readings are as follows:

ph - 8.2
Kh - 10
NH4 - 0.01
NO2 - <0.1
PO4 - 1.0
CU - 0.0
Ca - 460

Does this give a better picture of whats going on????.

Thanks again
jimdon IOM
16-10-06, 21:05
how are they looking now?
they are pretty resilient things so given time they should pull through, they are prone to sulking however so it may take them a while to get back to looking their best.

Jim
jimdon IOM
16-10-06, 21:09
oh and by the way, Elimi phos is fine
so he did do good:D
melz
18-10-06, 20:11
Hi jimdon IOM, thanks for your help. I thought they were looking better, tank readings are all witin normal limits now :) . The 'rust ' dissapered before my eyes but is now replaced with green algae and the still original white spots:confused: :confused: . Any ideas?

Could i brush them again to remove the algae??? I have an algae blenny kids called him kissey...anyhow he occasionaly goes over them trying to remove the algae but more replaces it.:mad:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/valkaria/Marine/DSC00179.jpg
jimdon IOM
18-10-06, 20:21
I would just let them be for now, they will probably shed as they recover and the algae will come off then. it should not be too much of a problem as long as its not getting to thick.

regards

Jim
eskimoigloo
19-10-06, 07:13
What are you testing the Sg with? I just lost an elephants ear as my swing arm hydrometer was reading 1.025, but when I had it tested at LFS with a refractometer it was 1.032 (I have one of these now). Leathers are sensitive to Sg.
melz
19-10-06, 20:12
What are you testing the Sg with? I just lost an elephants ear as my swing arm hydrometer was reading 1.025, but when I had it tested at LFS with a refractometer it was 1.032 (I have one of these now). Leathers are sensitive to Sg.

Funny that i read your post other day and thought..ah now there could be my problem. Im gonna lfs and get it checked 2morro.

thanks for the heads up