Hammer acting strange

Derrick0580 · Mar 27, 2023

What would cause part of my hammer to bleach like this and not the entire thing? This particular hammer had polyp bailout like 6-8 months ago and the polyps are actually still alive in the back corner of my tank and looking really good imo!

Derrick0580 · Mar 27, 2023

As of tonight my alk is 9.0, phos 0.24(using gfo in reactor as it was 0.52 on march 7th), and nitrates 16.8

Derrick0580 · Mar 28, 2023

No one at all??

jackthetang · Apr 3, 2023

it looks like the hammer is melting, have you dosed anything recently?

jackthetang · Apr 3, 2023

i just saw the problem, you nitrates are at 16! thats really high. i would recomend dosing nitraphosminus

hbubley · Apr 3, 2023

I don't think Nitrates are THAT high, I wouldn't dose anything else just yet

Tuan’s Reef · Apr 3, 2023

Anything else out of whack? what's your idione level? what of mag?

vetteguy53081 · Apr 3, 2023

Derrick0580 said:
What would cause part of my hammer to bleach like this and not the entire thing? This particular hammer had polyp bailout like 6-8 months ago and the polyps are actually still alive in the back corner of my tank and looking really good imo!

Not sure how I missed this. Nitrates of 16 is not high and they do well in as much as 25. As for bleaching , its often caused bt stress from too much light and/or flow but mainly light. These guys are not picky where they are placed but best where there is moderate light and moderate-medium flow. The flow should not be at a rate where the polyps are bouncing vigorously or are bent over the skeleton.
Too much light and they lose color because the zooxanthella is producing faster than can be distributed to the color for color and energy and in turn expel the zooxanthellae and bleach out.
Also assure the calcium level is no less than 400 for skeletal health. Too little light and coral shrinks and becomes receded.
Assure Phos level is not elevated and feed them 2x per week. I feed mine Mysis shrimp