Hammer Coral looking really bad.

[Nico2176]

I’ve recently seen that my hammer coral has lost all its color whatsoever. It used to be bright green and now is more of a brown color. At the same time when it extends out I can see the mouth almost like the heads have become smaller. I don’t want to lose the coral as it was a gift if anyone’s could help it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I’ve recently seen that my hammer coral has lost all its color whatsoever. It used to be bright green and now is more of a brown color. At the same time when it extends out I can see the mouth almost like the heads have become smaller. I don’t want to lose the coral as it was a gift if anyone’s could help it would be greatly appreciated.

Can you post your water pramameters, lighting and a picture of it and where it's at.

 

[Nico2176]

This is picture of the hammer coral, I moved it lower into the sand so that it would get less flow and less light. I don’t plan on moving it again till it starts to recover. My salinity is 1.025, my Ph is ~8.0 KH 120 ppm. I perform 20% water changes every week and I dose kalkwasser. In the take I have a green star polyp, Kenya tree, candy cane, and a birds nest coral. I have 2 clownfish, 2 firefish, and 1 watchman goby.

 

[Nico2176]

I have my regular lights at about 30% intensity while I have the blues at 15%

 

[Hemmdog]

I have my regular lights at about 30% intensity while I have the blues at 15%

That sounds like your problem. Coral needs mainly blue light, and a lot of light in general. What light are you using. And for how long.

 

[Nico2176]

I had this intensity since I began and everything is going well it was just a few days ago when this coral went brown on me. I use the mars aqua 300watt light over my 40 gallon breeder.

 

[Hemmdog]

I had this intensity since I began and everything is going well it was just a few days ago when this coral went brown on me. I use the mars aqua 300watt light over my 40 gallon breeder.

Yea most people run that on like 80% blue, %10 white

 

[Nico2176]

I could run the light at a higher intensity, but everything has been doing well with what it’s at now. My birds nest coral seems to be happy along with my other corals.

 

[vetteguy53081]

hammers do best with moderate lighting and water flow. Run 80 -90% blue and 18% white and do feed occasionally

 

[IslandLifeReef]

I agree, lighting could be the issue. Unless you can say that your other corals are growing well, rapidly for the birds nest, then you are probably slowly starving them. Corals need light.

 

[Nico2176]

I’ve turned up the lights but the hammer still looks off as I can see inside it almost like the head have shrunken in size.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

You won't see an immediate change. Also, don't raise the lighting to fast, maybe 10% a week.