Hammer Coral Problem

[Jim C]

One of my hammer corals has not been opening for the past month. Today I noticed what appeared to be red "thorns" coming off of the sides of it. I have no ideas what these are and any input is appreacitaed. Pictures are attached.

 

[cloak]

Those red thorns your seeing are Vermetid snails. When they feed they send out a mucus net which is known to irritate corals, but it could be something else that's causing your Hammer coral to behave like this. What are your parameters?

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Do you have him in a high flow area? Mine wouldn't open much when I did, I moved him to bottom where flow isn't as strong

 

[Jim C]

Thanks for the quick response.
Temp 78
Salinity 35 ppt
pH 8.10
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0
Phosphate 0.03
Calcium 435
Alkalinity 9
All other corals are opening fully and seem to be doing well, this is the only one that has been giving me problems.

 

[sirreal]

Those look like vermitd snails "spelled wrong I am sure" They are harmless for the most part. They spread a web of snot and are kind of nasty but for the most part they dont hurt anything

 

[Jim C]

Do you have him in a high flow area? Mine wouldn't open much when I did, I moved him to bottom where flow isn't as strong

He was in a place with moderate flow, but then I moved him to the sandbed where there is less flow, but nothing changed.

 

[cloak]

I'm not sure if this is the case here, but if you haven't already you might want to look into Brown Jelly Disease/Syndrome.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

He was in a place with moderate flow, but then I moved him to the sandbed where there is less flow, but nothing changed.

I would give him a few days , how long ago did you move him? Also are any fish bothering him? I know my clowns sometimes try to host corals if no anemome is present, mine took a liking to my fuzzy red mushrooms

 

[Jim C]

I would give him a few days , how long ago did you move him? Also are any fish bothering him? I know my clowns sometimes try to host corals if no anemome is present, mine took a liking to my fuzzy red mushrooms

I moved him about two weeks ago and no fish have bothered him from what I have seen. Livestock includes yellow tang, blue hippo tang, 2 green chromis, green coris wrasse, and royal gramma.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

I moved him about two weeks ago and no fish have bothered him from what I have seen. Livestock includes yellow tang, blue hippo tang, 2 green chromis, green coris wrasse, and royal gramma.

Hmmm. Not quite sure then, I'm a new newb myself. Maybe other members will chime In. I would say lighting maybe but if all other corals seem happy, I'm honestly out of ideas!