Leather coral

Question
Hi hows it going! My question is about my leather coral, I have a 24G Nano Cube, iv had it set up for about 8 months now and is doing well i have a clownfish, coral beauty, scooter blenny, cleaner shrimp, two hermit crabs and a star fish! My Pulsing Xenia has multiplied twice and i also have polyp coral!! I have read that leather corals tend to form a mucus and this is to grow, so im led to believe. One night one of my hermit crabs was on the coral and the polyps wouldnt come out the next morning,im just wondering if my hermit crab has done something to it. And also my sand has red algae patches, what could this be and how do i keep the sand nice and white?
Thanks. Paul

Answer
Hi there, In my experience those Hermits do climb all over things and sometimes the coral (or in my case anemone) close up and "hide" hopefully it should return soon. My hermit used to bother my anemone so he closed up and looked a bit shriveled for a week or so before he came back to normal. As far as the sand goes a weekly clean with a siphon should help to keep the sand turned. I use a pair of gold headed gobies to sift the sand for me which keeps turning it and doesnt allow for any discoloring. Otherwise push a siphon in while cleaning to help turn it once a week. This should help some. Good luck.