Hammer help

Pete Paschall · Mar 23, 2018

My hammer coral frag has 3 heads, and last night I noticed that one of the 3 seems to be deteriorating. I'm worried that it is brown jelly disease, but would like some help confirming and suggestions on how to save the other 2 heads.

Parameters are:
SG - 1.025
ph - 8.1
alk - 9
ca - 450
Mg - 1450
Po4 - .144
No3 - 10

Sorry for the pic quality - I will try to get a better pic after work with the lights on when the 2 heads will be much fuller. Thanks!

Pete

DSC reef · Mar 23, 2018

From what I can see I don't think it's brown jelly. Looks like diatoms/algae growth on the skeleton. How old is the tank? Typically medium light, moderate indirect flow and occasional feedings will keep it happy. #reefsquad any other ideas?

ihavecrabs · Mar 23, 2018

Did you perform a dip before adding this one to the tank?

I'm seeing an abnormally high number of flatworm infestations on Euphyllia recently.

S-t-r-e-t-c-h · Mar 23, 2018

I'd probably snip the dead head off just in case.

Pete Paschall · Mar 23, 2018

Yes - I do a Bayer dip followed by Coral Rx for everything I put in the tank. Would it be worth dipping again just in case?

Pete Paschall · Mar 23, 2018

S-t-r-e-t-c-h said:
I'd probably snip the dead head off just in case.

How far down the "stalk" should I cut? Just the heads, or further down?

S-t-r-e-t-c-h · Mar 23, 2018

Pete Paschall said:
How far down the "stalk" should I cut? Just the heads, or further down?

Pretty close to the base. Maybe 1" up so that you don't risk cracking the other skeletons.

Crabs McJones · Mar 23, 2018

DSC reef said:
From what I can see I don't think it's brown jelly. Looks like diatoms/algae growth on the skeleton. How old is the tank? Typically medium light, moderate indirect flow and occasional feedings will keep it happy. #reefsquad any other ideas?

+1 for this, low/moderate light/ low flow. Try moving it down to the sand bed. Cant tell from the picture where exactly in the tank it is, but it appears to be up away from the sand bed

Pete Paschall · Mar 23, 2018

DSC reef said:
From what I can see I don't think it's brown jelly. Looks like diatoms/algae growth on the skeleton. How old is the tank? Typically medium light, moderate indirect flow and occasional feedings will keep it happy. #reefsquad any other ideas?

Tank is a 42 gallon Cadlights Versa that is 9 months old, with an AI Prime for light. MP 10 and Sicce 3.0 return for flow. The frag is located about midway up and to the left side, so light is pretty low due to the spread. I'll try moving it to the sandbed and see if it helps, but it happened so suddenly that it has me worried.