Hammer dying

Psiber_Syn · Jan 20, 2016

Ok added a birdsnest to the tank and had it RTN on me i say this because i had to move my small 4 head hammer it didnt like the spot i put it in i feel it was getting too much flow but with work and life etc didnt get to move it for a week or so after i started seeing the hammers shriveling now two heads are dead :-( my question will it come back will the otherones die also heres a pic of the corpse

Rob.D · Jan 20, 2016

That looks to be " brown jelly " you need to git rid of the heads that have the jelly on them and then look at your main water parameters..... salinity, alkalinity, and nitrates (hopefully your tank is void of ammonia and nitrites).

Psiber_Syn · Jan 20, 2016

The jelly wasnt there while it was alive just happened after the hammers died

Psiber_Syn · Jan 20, 2016

The jelly wasnt there while it was alive just happened after the hammers died

Psiber_Syn · Jan 20, 2016

Not sure why that double posted sorry

Psiber_Syn · Jan 20, 2016

Also how to remove dead heads

Rob.D · Jan 20, 2016

Psiber_Syn said:
Also how to remove dead heads

Bone cutters if available.....you can also use nippers like these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1KA3JFX1BCW7VTX36AEC

Psiber_Syn · Jan 20, 2016

Thanx for the info about the cutters this brown jelly does it spread?

scardall · Jan 20, 2016

check for red flatworms AKA Planara.

My Hammer lovers indirect strong flow(not constant)(old pic he has doubled since) notice "T" behind it,Ehiem hobby pump 1050.

Psiber_Syn · Jan 20, 2016

I think it was pretty direct flow but have a frogspawn right beside it and its doing great havent seen anything living on the heads or trunk of the hammer but will keep an eye out

Rob.D · Jan 20, 2016

Yes, brown jelly most certainly can spread....and there is no proven cure....at least that I'm aware of.

ESVAreefer · Jan 20, 2016

Different heads of the same species of coral are often collected at different areas and depths resulting in different comfort zones for similar coral. But that isn't of great help here could you give us tank parameters? Alk nitrate and phosphate can also cause issues not just lighting and flow.

Psiber_Syn · Jan 21, 2016

The hammer was one of my first corals over a year ago done great where i had it moved it to give room for the birdsnest i added and was downhill everysince i will definately remove the jelly and probably the dead heads this sux cause it was just starting to create new tiny heads from the bottom of these :-(

Tank params have been stable
Nitrate 0
Phos 0 best i can tell with the api test
Alk 11-12 lil high i know but havent been able to drop it dont know how actually
Cal 350-450
Mag 1400-1500
Salinity 1.025 - 027 depending on which test but stays stable
I know i dont have a lot of light just 2 bulb t5 and marine orbit led but moving to a bigger tank with vho's

I think thats about all ill update it if needed

joshkirkland83 · Jan 21, 2016

that alk is high for LPS. I keep mine around 9. You can do water changes to bring it down. They also like low to medium flow. Heres a pic of my garden. Blue, pink, orange and green.

Psiber_Syn · Jan 21, 2016

Its been high since i started testing for it months ago and that been more than a few water changes ago i hate the redsea test i have need to get some kind of digital one

Also great looking garden are they on plugs or just buried in the sand mine both have a long stem on them hiw high up can u cut it on the stalk

Psiber_Syn · Jan 21, 2016

joshkirkland83 said:

blue pink and orange wow didnt even know they came in other colors

joshkirkland83 · Jan 21, 2016

Psiber_Syn said:
blue pink and orange wow didnt even know they came in other colors

Oh yeah, but they arent easy to find nor are they cheap...

Psiber_Syn · Jan 21, 2016

Will be on the look out for them got a source on them?

joshkirkland83 · Jan 21, 2016

Psiber_Syn said:
Its been high since i started testing for it months ago and that been more than a few water changes ago i hate the redsea test i have need to get some kind of digital one

Also great looking garden are they on plugs or just buried in the sand mine both have a long stem on them hiw high up can u cut it on the stalk

Those are all wall hammers except the green one. They are glued to flat granite plates in the sand. Id cut a branching hammer as low as you possible can.