Polyp Leather HELP

[sapgranth25]

i`ve had a polyp leather for a fair few months anyway i up graded my tank & it was doing fine for 2 half wks rite up until i added a

uv sterilizer & fresh active carbon to my tank

i`ve had problems when adding new carbon to the tank before but could it be the uv sterilizer?

the leather is like smaller than normal & a duller green & no polyps are coming out its been 4days now since its been its normal light green/yellow polyps out self

added a picture took off my mobile to show you what sort of leather it is sorry for the poor picture

[sapgranth25]

bit better picture

[Reefscape]

in my opinion, UV sterilizers should only be run when there is a swimming stage paracite in the tank I.E from an Ich outbreak, microalage outbreaks etc etc...

They remove far to much from the water column to be continuously running..

Not saying that its this that is effecting your coral, but it could be a contributing factor...

Niko

[sapgranth25]

that's why the uv is in there because when i up graded my tank i got a hint of ich its only been running 4days same with the new carbon so im not sure which to pin it down to like i said i`ve had problems with carbon before i think i may have shocked the leather by hitting it with the new carbon & the uv all at once to much change in the water mmmmmmmmmmm what do you suggest a water change of what scale to refresh some of what the uv & carbon has taken out

i`ve heard of people running uv`s from the scratch & until the day they pack the game in also i`d imagine that if uv have this effect on corals the company's supplying them should warn people to the effects etc??!!!

[Reefscape]

I would suggest doing a 15% water change to start off with, and take it from there mate...

I know a lot of people who have them running continuously, its such a debated issues and it can only be taken as personal preference in my opinion...

[sapgranth25]

The UV is off now & i`ll do a 25ltr 10% water change as my water level will go to far down with a 15% water change just running RO water off & if it picks up by tomorrow or day after i will know it was the UV i imagine at the moment phosphate algae good/bad bacteria is building up again in the water i'm not sure what else the UV can take out that would effect the LEATHER..

i`m thinking would the leather have continued down the road of silk & then die are would it have got used to the water changes & kicked back.....

i`ve read that LEATHERS can be Mardy at times but saying that so can star polyps & there all fine within the tank

[Germanman]

what brand carbon are u using?

[sapgranth25]

well i`ve took it out a few days back now but its a cheap brand & it says its ok for marine aqua the brand is supa activated carbon think its a uk only brand tho...

[Germanman]

some times cheep brands will leach things...my motto is spend the extra buck:).

[sapgranth25]

so your thinking it may have been the carbon or the uv?
or just one of those things that happens with corals at times?

[Reefscape]

there is always the possibility that it could of been either one of them..the easiest solution is to stop using and watch for any changes..

Niko

[sapgranth25]

the uv has also been off now since yday plus i`ve done a 25ltr water change still no change at the moment apart from algae is starting to form on the leather which i`ll remove l8r on...

[Germanman]

i doubt its the UV but you never know. like Niko said they should only be on when needed. this is mostly due to the fact that they will always fry some of the microbes you want.

[OldManOfTheSea]

some times cheep brands will leach things...my motto is spend the extra buck


I share Germanman sentiments exactly, however the cheep black diamond carbon does rather well when its a FO tank, but when we look to our reef tanks, we need to go a bit further then black diamond and as for the UV, I never when running a soft coral tank ever had a UV, when we talk of corals, UV just doesn't mix in well. I say you should lose the UV. Run ultraviolet lights as well, I think that is what their called>

Buddy

[sapgranth25]

after a few weeks the leather has finally kicked back so its always worth to hang in there i guess i have also added this other leather as i feel you cant go wrong with a few different types of leathers in a reef

[Germanman]

Great! im glad to see its getting better!