Hammer and Torch Disintegrating

[bwagner_vt]

Last week, I had a torch within 24 hours lose all 4 heads. This week I have a hammer that lost 2 heads last week and today I have another one disintegrating. The tank is fairly new, but has has been looking great upto last week..with the loss of the torch.

The only parameters that are slightly off is magnesium is low (per trident) and my ph has been reading high. Would this cause them to go so quickly? I am working on setting up a alk/cal/mag dosing system next week, but didn’t think things would go so quickly.

I do 20% water changes.

hanna test kits:
Phos: .09
N: 12.5

apex data

 

[vetteguy53081]

Last week, I had a torch within 24 hours lose all 4 heads. This week I have a hammer that lost 2 heads last week and today I have another one disintegrating. The tank is fairly new, but has has been looking great upto last week..with the loss of the torch.

The only parameters that are slightly off is magnesium is low (per trident) and my ph has been reading high. Would this cause them to go so quickly? I am working on setting up a alk/cal/mag dosing system next week, but didn’t think things would go so quickly.

I do 20% water changes.

hanna test kits:
Phos: .09
N: 12.5

apex data

When this occurs this quick, sounds like too much water flow causing the tissue to tear away from the skeleton and also too much light leading to tissue recession and bleaching. Also calcium should be no lower than 380-400
If water parameter issue- would not be this quick unless you have false readings and levels are highly elevated

 

[InactiveAcct]

It sounds like polyp bail out - it’s only happened to me once shortly after I got a hammer. By that point I had zero drama with my tank health / chemistry so I figured it was a bacterial infection or some stress prior to acquiring it - also possibly light acclimation. Lost all 3 polyps over course of a few days. Got another hammer from someone locally a couple weeks later and it’s been happy for a year or so

 

[Dave1993]

nvm

 

[bwagner_vt]

When this occurs this quick, sounds like too much water flow causing the tissue to tear away from the skeleton and also too much light leading to tissue recession and bleaching. Also calcium should be no lower than 380-400
If water parameter issue- would not be this quick unless you have false readings and levels are highly elevated

Thanks for the info! I’ll lower my pumps and lights by 10% and see if that helps.

I stayed home today to get the dos system set up. I noticed another torch receding. I noticed these at the base…are they anything to be concerned with?

 

[Dburr1014]

Thanks for the info! I’ll lower my pumps and lights by 10% and see if that helps.

I stayed home today to get the dos system set up. I noticed another torch receding. I noticed these at the base…are they anything to be concerned with?

So what is your flow like? Lights? Par?
How long have you had these coral?
They all look receeded. This recetion takes some time, meaning they have not been happy for some time. The flesh should extend past the polyp. Like an inch minimum when healthy.

Anything happen in the past few months that notable?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for the info! I’ll lower my pumps and lights by 10% and see if that helps.

I stayed home today to get the dos system set up. I noticed another torch receding. I noticed these at the base…are they anything to be concerned with?

They are spirobid worms and can be an issue in numbers as they are likely absorbing the calcium the coral skeleton itself needs. Additionally, calcium and alkalinity are two very important parameters that will affect the growth of this coral which will start to die off if CA levels become too low.
they are also intolerant to swings in water chemistry which frequent water changes can impose and your phos is a little elevated (best at .04-..06)

 

[Dburr1014]

They are spirobid worms and can be an issue in numbers as they are likely absorbing the calcium the coral skeleton itself needs.

I would like to read up on this... Got a link?

 

[Dburr1014]

your phos is a little elevated (best at .04-..06)

For lps, I think the po4 are perfect @ 0.09

 

[InactiveAcct]

I would be shocked if it’s your calcium and phosphate… I can’t wrap my mind around that being the problem

 

[vetteguy53081]

I would like to read up on this... Got a link?

Dont have link although I found something through a search for you. These tiny polychaete worms are harmless filter feeders however when so many are on the base which they desire, they block the ability to absorb nutrient rich calcium.

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fishkeepingexpert.com

 

[mdb_talon]

Your numbers are just fine dont go chasing anything different when what you have is no issue at all and does not have anything to do with your issues here. As for the spirobid worms again that's not causing your hammers or torches to bail, but can easily scrape off with razor ir concerned.

 

[vetteguy53081]

For lps, I think the po4 are perfect @ 0.09

If LPS only, agree but consensus agrees with .4-.06 which ive used well over 30 years and attnding dozens of seminars has been the recommended range- Even Lasse stresses point on this (see # 121) which he experimented- was best in this range

Optimal phosphate level? (Mixed Reef)

14 days between pictures. rather good growth IMO. NO3 around 3 ppm and PO4 around 0.02-0.04 ppm but I dose 0.06 ppm PO4 a day in order to withhold a waste concentration in the water column of around 0.04 - 0.06 ppm PO4. I agree that the PO4 demand is underestimated normally - but it is not the...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Dburr1014]

Dont have link although I found something through a search for you. These tiny polychaete worms are harmless filter feeders however when so many are on the base which they desire, they block the ability to absorb nutrient rich calcium.

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fishkeepingexpert.com

I didn't see that claim in the read but thanks for the link.
I think your claim is not true. They can not asorb the calcium from the coral and make it weak. They only can filter the water and use what they filter to build the cone they live in. Nothing to do with the OP's problem.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I didn't see that claim in the read but thanks for the link.
I think your claim is not true. They can not asorb the calcium from the coral and make it weak. They only can filter the water and use what they filter to build the cone they live in. Nothing to do with the OP's problem.

They absorb nutrients and not the issue- just suggesting to get them off the base. Having colonies and colonies of hammer- flow-light and calcium are of importance

These are some of mine:

 

[Dburr1014]

They absorb nutrients and not the issue- just suggesting to get them off the base. Having colonies and colonies of hammer- flow-light and calcium are of importance

These are some of mine:

And alk.
I understand.
Look at the flesh OP on these. This is healthy and what we should strive for.
I don't want this to be a ticking match but, here is mine.