Leather closed up 1 week

I've had this leather for 9mnths. As a normal leather it would wax over every few weeks, shed and bounce back.
It hadn't done its shedding for a mnth or so.
Last week it waxed over.
I did my water change and removed alot of bubble algae growing on its base. (Quite a lot pushing on the leather)
It has not opened up, i see no waxing, no polyp extension.

I'm not sure if something is wrong or its pissed?

Water mvt:
Koralia 420gph
Sicce nano 530gph
And my ac filter which is about 110gph
Lighting:
10,000k 50/50 par38

Ca 390
Mag 1170(supplement just arrived)
Alk 3.5 meq/L
Ph 8.1
Nitrate 5
Phos 0
Temp 80-81
Sg 1.026

 

Close up

 

If you touched it then it could take a couple weeks to reopen. There should be no "waxing" on it. They like alot of random flow so if it getting a film covering it I would try to increase the flow to it.

 

I would guess the coral is not happy about you handling it, Sarcophytons just do not liked to be handled or moved. The last images look like algae is trying to take hold, and or accumulation of detritus. Make sure flow is not impeded by growing corals or power heads that need to be cleaned.

I would do another water change and bring down the SG to 1.025 unless you are absolutely certain 1.026 is a correct value. You may need to calibrate the refractometer or buy one instead of using a hydrometer.

Is 81 F the highest temp the tank reaches?

So in essence water change, check flow and give the coral time if all other parameters are in order. If the coral does not come around in another week give it a dip.

 

I increased all the flow about 4-5 weeks ago by adding the sicce. now i have turbulent flow and the leather as well as all else was happy. My gsp has been spreading since, dendro are open, leather hadn't closed since the increase until last tues. Nothing else was changed.

I haven't moved the coral, i only removed the bubble algae which was growing right at the bottom of the leather. That could have ticked it off, its the fussy coral in the tank

I use refractometer only. How do you know when its time for calibration? I thought 1.026 was optimal?

My temp always is 80.5 -81.5.

This is what the leather normally is like, you can see the bubble algae at the base

 

Thank you. I will continue to monitor the leather

Is 80-81 too high?

 

It's on the higher end with 82 F being the higher limit for my tanks.

One should (in the ideal world) calibrate the refractometer every couple months. There are calibration fluids you can buy on the net or LFS.
Yup Sarcophyton are touchy corals.

I have had my Fiji Yellow for 2 weeks now, and it's only now beginning to open and expand completely.

 

This leather has always been fussy.lol its just never been quite like this.
I have a feeling its cause i removed the bubble algae, nothibg else is acting out in the tank and besides my mag, everything seems in check.

Thank you once again.

 

Yeah they can be finicky . I have had them close up for weeks at a time but as long as it doesn't start deteriorating it should be OK.

 

If your tank is otherwise heathy you couldn't kill that thing with a machine gun. We hacked one down at the base in one of our ranks and three months later it was full grown and acting pissed off all over again.