Almost too good to be true?

JT101 · 12-25-2007, 10:02 PM

My wife bought me a beautiful leather coral for Christmas (yes, I know it's a "beginner" coral but it really is stunning looking anyway!). What I found very surprising was that after I acclimated it (I did a nice slow drip, took almost an hour, I guess I overdid it) and put it in my AquaPod 24, it fully "bloomed" in less than 30 minutes. I am used to hearing about how some corals take hours and even days to open in new tanks - I was very surprised to see this one bloom so quickly. It is doing great.

Is this a normal trait of this coral?

Also, is it possible to "frag" this thing? I don't see individual polyps. At night after all lights out, it shrinks down into a plump "hand" shape, then in the morning inflates 3x its size and has gorgeous blue-green extensions, but the whole coral seems to be one single "entity", so exactly where do you (yikes) cut it?

Thanks
John

dobejazz · 12-25-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT101

My wife bought me a beautiful leather coral for Christmas (yes, I know it's a "beginner" coral but it really is stunning looking anyway!). What I found very surprising was that after I acclimated it (I did a nice slow drip, took almost an hour, I guess I overdid it) and put it in my AquaPod 24, it fully "bloomed" in less than 30 minutes. I am used to hearing about how some corals take hours and even days to open in new tanks - I was very surprised to see this one bloom so quickly. It is doing great.

Is this a normal trait of this coral?

Also, is it possible to "frag" this thing? I don't see individual polyps. At night after all lights out, it shrinks down into a plump "hand" shape, then in the morning inflates 3x its size and has gorgeous blue-green extensions, but the whole coral seems to be one single "entity", so exactly where do you (yikes) cut it?

Thanks
John

Congrats on the new coral ! what kind of leather is it?

They all can pretty much be cut apart whereever with no issues - but knowing what type of leather it is would help in better directions

JT101 · 12-25-2007, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobejazz

Congrats on the new coral ! what kind of leather is it?
They all can pretty much be cut apart whereever with no issues - but knowing what type of leather it is would help in better directions

Hi Kelli,

Good question! I'll try to post a pic tomorrow when it's in "full bloom"

Thanks
John

Frankie · 12-25-2007, 10:22 PM

Leathers are not beginner corals. There jut easier to care for over sps. I know some serious tanks that just house soft corals and lps. Congrats!

lcstorc · 12-26-2007, 08:39 AM

I love my leather corals and at least the ones I have are very easy to frag. The only challenge is to get them to attach to something. Some are easily done with super glue gell but others slime to much and I have to prop them betweeon two rocks and wait for them to attach on their own. Knowing what type of leather it is would help a lot.

Emg · 12-26-2007, 12:35 PM

My leathers are the fussiest things in my tanks....all I have are softies though. If I make any changes they pout for days....but, I like em anyway..

Do post a pic when you can Jt......I'd love to see it !

Triggerjay · 12-26-2007, 05:42 PM

Sounds like a devils hand. Waiting on pics as well..

Jason

JT101 · 12-26-2007, 09:32 PM

Thanks for your patience folks, here it is:

It is fine today as well. I fed it some defrosted Cyclop-Eez; all the polyps retracted but reopened a few minutes later.

dobejazz · 12-26-2007, 09:37 PM

wow pretty piece !

You can hack away with an exacto knife to make lots of little frags

Don't be surprised also when it sheds it will get all smooth and glossy for a few days

dobejazz · 12-26-2007, 09:38 PM

Here is a pic of my husband fragging my toadstool

JT101 · 12-26-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobejazz

Here is a pic of my husband fragging my toadstool

Wow, all I can say is:

You mean you just literally cut into it? Without anaesthesia (LOL)? Seriously, doesn't it bleed or leak or anything? How long does the "severed" arm take to grow back?

dobejazz · 12-26-2007, 09:57 PM

If possible take the coral out of the tank. I wasn't able to due to the rock it is on.

This is about an hour after the fragging

Frags banded to rubble

Frags a few days later

JT101 · 12-26-2007, 10:15 PM

Kelli, that is simply amazing. As you can probably tell, I am a frag "virgin" so the idea of cutting into one of my prized possesions doesn't exactly thrill me. I am worried about killing the main coral, but it seems to hardly do any harm to it at all. How long before the wound heals on the main coral and the fragged piece?

jeremy_reed · 12-26-2007, 10:30 PM

My wife and I just got a toadstool from my father in law. It was doing horrible in his tank, but after about 3 days now, it's starting to shape up, it's so fun!
Your leather coral is looking good. What are your calcium levels in your tank? how about alk?

dobejazz · 12-26-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT101

Kelli, that is simply amazing. As you can probably, I am a frag "virgin" so the idea of cutting into one of my prized possesions doesn't exactly thrill me. I am worried about killing the main coral, but it seems to hardly do any harm to it at all. How long before the wound heals on the main coral and the fragged piece?

the edges pretty much close up in days - Mine tends to frag its self alot in this pic you can see a baby forming on the right side of the pic under the crown

This is what it looked like prior to cutting it up - I ticked it off pre photo so the shape could be seen

12-25-2007, 10:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
JT101 Neon dottyback Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hicksville NY Posts: 605 View Gallery Karma Komment	Almost too good to be true? My wife bought me a beautiful leather coral for Christmas (yes, I know it's a "beginner" coral but it really is stunning looking anyway!). What I found very surprising was that after I acclimated it (I did a nice slow drip, took almost an hour, I guess I overdid it) and put it in my AquaPod 24, it fully "bloomed" in less than 30 minutes. I am used to hearing about how some corals take hours and even days to open in new tanks - I was very surprised to see this one bloom so quickly. It is doing great. Is this a normal trait of this coral? Also, is it possible to "frag" this thing? I don't see individual polyps. At night after all lights out, it shrinks down into a plump "hand" shape, then in the morning inflates 3x its size and has gorgeous blue-green extensions, but the whole coral seems to be one single "entity", so exactly where do you (yikes) cut it? Thanks John

12-25-2007, 10:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 6,816 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Almost too good to be true? Leathers are not beginner corals. There jut easier to care for over sps. I know some serious tanks that just house soft corals and lps. Congrats! __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

12-26-2007, 08:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 17,965 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Almost too good to be true? I love my leather corals and at least the ones I have are very easy to frag. The only challenge is to get them to attach to something. Some are easily done with super glue gell but others slime to much and I have to prop them betweeon two rocks and wait for them to attach on their own. Knowing what type of leather it is would help a lot. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

12-26-2007, 12:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Emg Cabbage Leather Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT Posts: 362 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Almost too good to be true? My leathers are the fussiest things in my tanks....all I have are softies though. If I make any changes they pout for days....but, I like em anyway.. Do post a pic when you can Jt......I'd love to see it !

12-26-2007, 05:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
Triggerjay Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 1,849 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Almost too good to be true? Sounds like a devils hand. Waiting on pics as well.. Jason __________________ Clownfish, Clownfish, Breed all about it!

12-26-2007, 09:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
JT101 Neon dottyback Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hicksville NY Posts: 605 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Almost too good to be true? Thanks for your patience folks, here it is: It is fine today as well. I fed it some defrosted Cyclop-Eez; all the polyps retracted but reopened a few minutes later.

12-26-2007, 09:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
dobejazz Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,230 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Almost too good to be true? wow pretty piece ! You can hack away with an exacto knife to make lots of little frags Don't be surprised also when it sheds it will get all smooth and glossy for a few days __________________ Kelli

12-26-2007, 09:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
dobejazz Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,230 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Almost too good to be true? Here is a pic of my husband fragging my toadstool __________________ Kelli

12-26-2007, 09:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
dobejazz Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,230 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Almost too good to be true? If possible take the coral out of the tank. I wasn't able to due to the rock it is on. This is about an hour after the fragging Frags banded to rubble Frags a few days later __________________ Kelli

12-26-2007, 10:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
JT101 Neon dottyback Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hicksville NY Posts: 605 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Almost too good to be true? Kelli, that is simply amazing. As you can probably tell, I am a frag "virgin" so the idea of cutting into one of my prized possesions doesn't exactly thrill me. I am worried about killing the main coral, but it seems to hardly do any harm to it at all. How long before the wound heals on the main coral and the fragged piece? Last edited by JT101 : 12-27-2007 at 12:05 PM.

12-26-2007, 10:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
jeremy_reed Tubeworm Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 28 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Almost too good to be true? My wife and I just got a toadstool from my father in law. It was doing horrible in his tank, but after about 3 days now, it's starting to shape up, it's so fun! Your leather coral is looking good. What are your calcium levels in your tank? how about alk?

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