Finger Leather Coral Toxic?

[dmweise]

I ordered this Finger Leather Coral (http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+7&ddid=72794) today.

I did some reading about Finger Leathers online and notice that some can be toxic to stony corals. Does that mean that it is only toxic if they touch?

I have the following corals in my tank now:

• Toad Stool
• Kenya Tree (2)
• Pom Pom Xenia
• Australian Duncans
• Frog Spawn Euphilia
• Scuba Steve Euphilia
• Torch Euphilia
• Zoanthids
• Mushrooms
• Alveopora (2)
• Brain Coral
• Acan

Should I be cautious of anything?

[mabel_photo6]

I don't have the answer to that, but I'd just like to know as well.

Here are my following corals I own:

Zoas
Mushrooms
Torch Coral
Frogspawn
Kenya Tree
Green Star Polyps
Cabbage Leather
Finger Leather

[Europhyllia]

I think it's what they release into the water when stressed is what's toxic so I don't think they have to touch to affect others - more like chemical warfare.

In Scott M.' book on invertebrates it looks like Kenya Tree and Colts are not as toxic as for example toadstool, finger and cabbage leathers so there's differences too...

[Paul28]

im like 90% Leathers and its shrinking all my LPS to nothing thay finly fall out of the skel and die and im feeding them 1 time a week its still shrinking them thay dont even come out good at all so im going to go all leathers :)

[dmweise]

Hmm, I have a toadstool and it is right next to several LPS colonies. None of them have shrunken up. In fact, my LPS colonies put on new heads rather often.

[Paul28]

the defrence is i have alot of leathers around 1 LPS :)

[dmweise]

Haha, true. This will be four leathers for me once it arrives. Two of my leathers are kenya trees.

[devonian]

the toxins they release are caled terpenods, which are easily removed by carbon

most harm from these is done if/when the coral is cut/fragged while still in the tank and system water

[Kyle46N]

Yeah...it depends on your balance in your tank. Paul28 for example has majority leathers.....so I can see LPS having issues in his tank. But the tank looks awesome!!!! lol. I have had no issues so far, I have froggies, hammers, duncans, brains. And about four leathers. I am having an issue with a large green open brain. It shriveled up about a month ago, and has not opened back up. It's not losing flesh, but will not expand. I've move it around with no results. Is it leathers causing this? I don't know.

[devonian]

it is not a good thing to place a hard coral "downstream" of a large soft coral for these reasons

please keep that in mind

[dmweise]

Sweet, I picked up some carbon today. I had the dang sacks though. I will need to figure out another method for holding the carbon. I am thinking a tray with a very fine mesh bottom, kind of like a gold panning pan.

[devonian]

it is easy to use carbon in the string-tie bags, or in a fine micron filter where your overflow line comes into the sump, you could even use a small canister filter just for the carbon. Another possibility is a small phosphate reactor with carbon in it. All very easy ways.

[TexasTodd]

There are two issues with their toxins and sps. The in the water one addressed with carbon etc. AND if they touch an sps.

Leathers can kind of move around some. I've seen the yellow ones kill an sps colony in part of a day.

Todd

[dmweise]

it is easy to use carbon in the string-tie bags, or in a fine micron filter where your overflow line comes into the sump, you could even use a small canister filter just for the carbon. Another possibility is a small phosphate reactor with carbon in it. All very easy ways.

How long can I keep carbon in my sump in a micron filter bag?

[Paul28]

When my big Toad sheds he clogs the overflow sometimes, let that rap around a LPS or SPS hes done :(

[Paul28]

I run Marineland Black Diamond Carbon been running it for years now at all times i half to . Also i run at all times Phosban or Phosguard. Keeps the tank clean from my durty leathers if i do not run it the leathers start to get damged areas on them and dont come out as mutch and the LPS haha yeh right thay will die if i dont. when some of my big Leathers shed its pretty **** nasty the surface of the water and stuck all over the place is a clear almost like a ziplock bag is floating in my tank .

Sorry for the spelling and run on . im freaking labor and what ever call it lazy bahhhhhh :)

[devonian]

How long can I keep carbon in my sump in a micron filter bag?

you could replace it anytime between 2-3 weeks, or 4-6 weeks. The more frequent you change it out, the cleaner your water will stay.

[mabel_photo6]

I have leathers too but I'm trying to keep it small.
It was shedding too these passed few days. They looked closed and shortened.
(Finger Leather) Then yesterday it shed and opened up again.

What does everyone think of carbon?
Being into freshwater for years, I wouldn't use carbon because I had discus and other fish that were susceptible to hole in the head disease.
In my freshwater tank, I would only use carbon to get rid of medication.

Since I'm fairly new with saltwater, I'm not sure how you guys think about carbon.