Hammer Coral Question

[sharkbait1122*]

Hi all, so I recently, maybe a month ago purchased my first hammer. It sits in the middle third of the tank off to the side. It gets medium indirect upward flow and medium light I think. (Running a Kessil a160we at 55% intensity.) all parameters are stable. Alk at 9.5. The last few days I have noticed the left side of the hammer to be looking kind of funny at night and less inflated during the day. Any idea what could be causing it?

 

[blaxsun]

Could be flow.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Placement and lighting appear to be the issue. Center it more.
Since they are a large polyp stony coral, calcium and alkalinity are two very important water parameters that will affect the growth of your coral. This coral will start to die off if the calcium levels are too low. A calcium level of about 400 ppm is just right.
This coral species isn’t terribly picky when it comes to the proper placement in your tank. The trick would really be just to avoid the extremes. Avoid extremely bright locations or areas of very high current, and avoid areas that are too dark or with currents that are too low. Fast currents risk damaging the soft, fleshy polyps (and getting an infection). Bright lights will cause bleaching. Insufficient lighting will cause the poor coral to wither away and starve to death.
Hammer corals only require a moderate amount of light for photosynthesis and can grow well in the intermediate regions of your tank. Just about any reef LED lighting should be sufficient for most tanks. Reduce white light intensity and get it off the sand bed which sand can irritate it.
The polyps should sway in the current, but not sustain so much pressure they are constantly bent over their skeleton. Too much flow will tear the polyps (worst case) and cause the polyps do not extend in the first place (best case). So, don’t give them too much flow.

 

[Bombschell]

I don't think it's getting enough of either flow or light either. If it's been there a month and has not extended it needs more if one or most likely both

 

[Bombschell]

When the flow and light is what it likes mine opens like this. Too little flow and it kind flops open looks stupid, too little light and it will stay in it's skeleton and barley peek out.

 

[muzikalmatt]

As others have mentioned it's likely due to insufficient lighting and flow. With the A160 at only half intensity, and the coral on the edge of your tank, it's likely not getting enough light. Try moving it closer to the center of the tank, and I'd also recommend increasing your light's intensity slowly over time. (Add maybe 5% per week checking on corals each week to ensure they aren't being overlit.)

Also, do you have any powerheads in your tank? Hammers appreciate moderate flow so you may need to add powerheads to increase the flow in your tank. However, moving to the center closer to your return flow may be enough.

Other than that they appreciate the occasional feeding, but I wouldn't attempt that until it opens up first.

 

[sharkbait1122*]

I don't think it's getting enough of either flow or light either. If it's been there a month and has not extended it needs more if one or most likely both

It’s done some extending, just the left side is looking off the last few days, this was just a few days ago

 

[sharkbait1122*]

As others have mentioned it's likely due to insufficient lighting and flow. With the A160 at only half intensity, and the coral on the edge of your tank, it's likely not getting enough light. Try moving it closer to the center of the tank, and I'd also recommend increasing your light's intensity slowly over time. (Add maybe 5% per week checking on corals each week to ensure they aren't being overlit.)

Also, do you have any powerheads in your tank? Hammers appreciate moderate flow so you may need to add powerheads to increase the flow in your tank. However, moving to the center closer to your return flow may be enough.

Other than that they appreciate the occasional feeding, but I wouldn't attempt that until it opens up first

@muzikalmatt this is today. Would you still say more light and flow? Right side looks okay, left still slightly deflated

 

[Bombschell]

@muzikalmatt this is today. Would you still say more light and flow? Right side looks okay, left still slightly deflated

Just judging from experience with my hammer I would say more light. My coral is high in the tank and almost dead center and it loves it. The only thing that gets more light is an acropora frag that sit bit higher.

 

[Hawaii hobbyist]

Light for sure
Also, get your water tuned in for calcification. KH,Ca, PH. Tank looks really lifeless and sterile

get the coralline spotting the walls and rock and you’ll be golden

 

[sharkbait1122*]

Light for sure
Also, get your water tuned in for calcification. KH,Ca, PH. Tank looks really lifeless and sterile

get the coralline spotting the walls and rock and you’ll be golden

Alk is consistently 9.5 calcium 420 and ph 8.1-8.3

 

[UGASealDawg]

Neither branch look happy - agree with others; I had a new torch that did the same thing for whatever reason for a couple days, third day it was dead. So they can succumb quickly - I would move it to the middle, part way up. Just mho