HELP! Leather melting!

[jreef1]

I originally had him (looks like a toadstool) on the substrate but then he developed a black splotch. I then picked him up and realized the 'stalk' was rotting. I performed minor surgery last night and cut out the black splotch, wiped the disintigrating portion of the stalk and gave him a kent iodine bath. Today it was much of the same although I cut off the bottom of his stalk. I am fearfull he will continue to melt. I also now have him on a rock.
ALL ADIVICE IS MUCH APPRECIATED! PLEASE HELP!

 

[danmhippo]

I would suggest frag it. You can cut away all of the stalk part until you no longer see the rotting portion. You can even cut up the umbrella into small pieces and mount them each on a small pieces of rubbles and wait for them to re-attach and recover. Make sure you place the new frags in an isolated area not to be disturbed for a couple weeks. Medium in-direct flow would be the best with ample lighting. If you have a separate tank, that would be the best. This way, you can try to isolate if the original problem is the specimen itself, or the main tank's water parameter.

 

[Anonymous]

Watch your ammonia and nitrites. I pulled one from my tank when it started to do the same and both ammonia and nitrates started registering. I would rather buy another than put the rest of the tank at risk.