Something is attacking my leather.

[paulallen]

I posted this in the softie forum, but didn't get any responses. Maybe more people will see it here.

I first noticed something strange was going on with my leather around December. I have had this leather for over 2 years. It came on a small plug from Liveaquaria. After only having it for about 3 months I had to transport it to a friends tank for awhile due to a really bad crash. Since then I have had it for a year and it has grown nicely. I transferred it to the rock it is currently on using the needle and fishing line method. At first the tips looked raw it was really weird. I really don't know what is going on. This picture was taken December 12th, 2008


http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/joleszak/IMG_0824.jpg

I watch all my water parameters very closely and everything was stable. I top off with the tunze osmolator and kalk and measure kalk, alk, mg and salinity every 2 - 3 days. So, I know that wasn't the problem. I just kept a close eye on it and crossed my figures. It's my only leather. Over the span of a month the problem seemed to clear up. This picture was taken on January 15th.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/joleszak/IMG_0843.jpg

Now in the last week the problem has come back much worse. This picture was taken today.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/joleszak/IMG_0848.jpg

Has anyone seen anything like that and have a method for treatment? I am at a loss on what to do. I have this product called reefpure coral dip. But, I have never used it.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/joleszak/IMG_0859.jpg

Anyway, I hope someone out there can help me.

[fishysteve]

My guess would be the dwarf angel in the picture.

[paulallen]

I thought that too. However, in my hours and hours of watching my tank I have never seen him pick on any corals. I don't keep clams anymore for a reason though. I'm thinking that it is possibly a weird worm, but I don't know. This same thing happened to a similar leather of another friends. We fraged it when he downsized to a 39 gal and they all lived. Never found out what that was from either. It looked much worse than this. The whole size looked like it was rotting away. Can anyone else give any opinions?

AEdit - I also don't think dwarf angels are known for nipping on leathers. But, I could be completely misinformed.

[tsprice82]

Maybe you should take a frag of it, just in case. Unless you think that might weaken it in its current state.