Hammer Coral Not Happy

[mattskee]

I have a hammer Coral that is not as full as he used to be I've had him for approximately a month now. I thought maybe it was too much light so I moved him down. I have been feeding him regularly but I am not sure what's going on. Had my water tested and it seems fine.

Any thoughts on what might be going on?

 

[TrevorL]

What did your tests results come back as?

 

[sde1500]

Looks quite bleached. Will take time to recover. Having had it for only a month, you'll need longer to see if it will recover. I wouldn't bother much with feeding, I've never seen an active feeding response from my hammers. What is "seems fine" in actual numbers?

 

[ThePurple12]

Do you have any other corals in the tank? If so, how are they doing?

I'm an advocate for feeding corals, especially if they're bleached. The more you feed them, the greater the feeding response will be- to a maximum, of course.

 

[mattskee]

Looks quite bleached. Will take time to recover. Having had it for only a month, you'll need longer to see if it will recover. I wouldn't bother much with feeding, I've never seen an active feeding response from my hammers. What is "seems fine" in actual numbers?

Temp = 76F
Specific Gravity = 1.025
NO3 = 20 (this is high)
NO2 = 1
pH = 8
Ammonia = 0

Havent tested Calcium, Magnesium, etc in a while. Need to get the stuff for it. Usually have the store do it.

 

[mattskee]

Do you have any other corals in the tank? If so, how are they doing?

I'm an advocate for feeding corals, especially if they're bleached. The more you feed them, the greater the feeding response will be- to a maximum, of course.

Yes Zoas are fine, and my Frogspawn is fine (It loves to eat)

 

[sde1500]

Temp = 76F
Specific Gravity = 1.025
NO3 = 20 (this is high)
NO2 = 1
pH = 8
Ammonia = 0

Havent tested Calcium, Magnesium, etc in a while. Need to get the stuff for it. Usually have the store do it.

so at this point, NO2 should be zero. I'll assume testing error. once the tank is established its rather pointless to even bother testing nitrites and ammonia. Nitrates aren't that concerning, wouldn't be that for the hammer. But yes, you need to be testing Alkalinity, calcium and magnesium. They are critical to keeping corals. I'd really say it may be the light, as it does look bleached. What sort of light are you running, and did you have the hammer up high to start?

 

[mattskee]

so at this point, NO2 should be zero. I'll assume testing error. once the tank is established its rather pointless to even bother testing nitrites and ammonia. Nitrates aren't that concerning, wouldn't be that for the hammer. But yes, you need to be testing Alkalinity, calcium and magnesium. They are critical to keeping corals. I'd really say it may be the light, as it does look bleached. What sort of light are you running, and did you have the hammer up high to start?

Yes had it high to start. Didnt realize it should be lower. Using a Coralife Seascape LED (for now till my wife lets me spend more . Tank is 75 gallon btw. I plan to go get a test kit today to cover everything and will post.

Thanks for the assist.

 

[Deephouse_jedi]

If you could only test 1 thing, it should be Alkalinity. I recommend getting that kit and paying most attention to that. I test Alk a few times a week.

A few things about hammers, they like low to moderate flow. Too much flow may rip it's flesh. When you got it and placed it in your tank did you accidentally drop it? The tissue may have ripped then. If that happened it's not going to open fully until it's healed. It looks like it's receding though.

 

[mattskee]

If you could only test 1 thing, it should be Alkalinity. I recommend getting that kit and paying most attention to that. I test Alk a few times a week.

A few things about hammers, they like low to moderate flow. Too much flow may rip it's flesh. When you got it and placed it in your tank did you accidentally drop it? The tissue may have ripped then. If that happened it's not going to open fully until it's healed. It looks like it's receding though.

Didnt drop it, but did have a powerhead hitting it. Though not too hard. But again it was at the top.

 

[ThePurple12]

Didnt drop it, but did have a powerhead hitting it. Though not too hard. But again it was at the top.

Hitting it for a month, or just recently? If just recently, then that's your problem. But if it's been next to the powerhead and doing well for a month, I doubt it's the problem.

 

[mattskee]

Hitting it for a month, or just recently? If just recently, then that's your problem. But if it's been next to the powerhead and doing well for a month, I doubt it's the problem.

Recent.

 

[mattskee]

so at this point, NO2 should be zero. I'll assume testing error. once the tank is established its rather pointless to even bother testing nitrites and ammonia. Nitrates aren't that concerning, wouldn't be that for the hammer. But yes, you need to be testing Alkalinity, calcium and magnesium. They are critical to keeping corals. I'd really say it may be the light, as it does look bleached. What sort of light are you running, and did you have the hammer up high to start?

Calcium is high. 520

 

[sde1500]

Calcium is high. 520

Not concerningly high though. It’ll come down eventually. Now is just a waiting game. Leave it for a while on the sand bed and let it recover

 

[mattskee]

Not concerningly high though. It’ll come down eventually. Now is just a waiting game. Leave it for a while on the sand bed and let it recover

 

[mattskee]

Not concerningly high though. It’ll come down eventually. Now is just a waiting game. Leave it for a while on the sand bed and let it recover

Cool thx