Hammer polyp behavior

kyleinpdx · Nov 16, 2017

Hey R2R,

Hoping to get your input on my hammers behavior. I have a 8ish head "toxic" green hammer thats been in the tank for about a year now, started at 4heads and has otherwise seemed happy. However recently (last few weeks to months) I've noticed that the polyps are longer, much like I'd expect of zoas reaching for light, and they have been narrower around/not as "bushy."

Heres a picture from when the lights just come on, then another later in the day. I'd think it would be light but I've raised my light intensity quite a bit over the last few weeks with little to show for it. I've also increased flow as well for some SPS experiments which didnt seem to produce any chances either.

Params are stable - I have a dosing pump and take readings a few times a week
Salt - Salinity by Aquavitro
pH 7.9X in the early morning to 8.2X by evening
temp - 79 (only varies by about 2/10ths a degree throughout the day)
1.026
Alk - 9.8ish DKH
Cal - 420
Mag - 1450
No3 - 10-20ppm (hard to get a good read on the salifert card) I started dosing vinegar about a week ago to try and bring this down a bit but the problems with the hammer go much farther back.
Po4 - 0.2 - 0.5 on the Seachem kit

What do you think? I might keep turning up the light and see what happens...

DLHDesign · Nov 16, 2017

I've got my hammers in a corner - not under overly high light... Do you have any idea what the PAR levels are at around your hammers?

EriksOasis · Nov 16, 2017

I’m no expert but they seem happy mayb a growth spurt.

kyleinpdx · Nov 16, 2017

DLHDesign said:
I've got my hammers in a corner - not under overly high light... Do you have any idea what the PAR levels are at around your hammers?

These guys are in a back corner, they're directly under the light but I wouldnt call it "high light" by the usual reeftank lighting standards. Unfortunately I dont know the PAR readings, I have 2 kessil a80's over an IM lagoon 25, placed about 6in from the water line. Kessils have a 45min ramp up time to 60% intensity, they stay there for about 8hrs then another 45min ramp down. I'm hesitant to hit them with more light as I'm growing monti caps on the sandbed and other than the anemone right behind the hammer, they're the highest thing in the tank.

kyleinpdx · Nov 16, 2017

EriksOasis said:
I’m no expert but they seem happy mayb a growth spurt.

Its possible, but they used to be more squat and bushy-er. I'm curious if this is them asking for something...

EriksOasis · Nov 16, 2017

Could be I’ve also seen my hammers and frogspawn stretch like that when splitting. Only thing to do to see if they need more light is to slowly ramp up the light over the course of a few weeks and find out when they are happy.

kyleinpdx · Nov 17, 2017

Anyone else have any insights? I'm curious to hear others experiences.

thunderdood · Nov 17, 2017

kyleinpdx said:
These guys are in a back corner, they're directly under the light but I wouldnt call it "high light" by the usual reeftank lighting standards. Unfortunately I dont know the PAR readings, I have 2 kessil a80's over an IM lagoon 25, placed about 6in from the water line. Kessils have a 45min ramp up time to 60% intensity, they stay there for about 8hrs then another 45min ramp down. I'm hesitant to hit them with more light as I'm growing monti caps on the sandbed and other than the anemone right behind the hammer, they're the highest thing in the tank.

I measured my single Kessil A80 Tuna a while back on my 20g tank and I believe about 6 inches directly below the light with the water level about 3-4 inches above the sensor the PAR was around 120 on full intensity. About 18-20 inches below the PAR was around 70. Don't quote me on that as I am guestimating from a couple months ago. If I remember I will check when I get home later. Now I have a Kessil A160 and A80 to have higher PAR.

kyleinpdx · Nov 17, 2017

thunderdood said:
I measured my single Kessil A80 Tuna a while back on my 20g tank and I believe about 6 inches directly below the light with the water level about 3-4 inches above the sensor the PAR was around 120 on full intensity. About 18-20 inches below the PAR was around 70. Don't quote me on that as I am guestimating from a couple months ago. If I remember I will check when I get home later. Now I have a Kessil A160 and A80 to have higher PAR.

Oh man, that would be awesome if you could. No rush, but it would benefit the whole community to have more PAR readings for these lights. I know I've spent a lot of time looking for PAR readings for them and theres only a few data points out there.

I've been thinking about changing my lighting setup. I've thought about adding another A80, I figure 3x15 watt lights for a 30"x12" tank seems like plenty. I've also thought about throwing an AI prime between the kessils but I think thatd be overkill. I'm really considering buying a decent hydroponic 24" T5 and adding a single coral+ or AB+ in addition to the kessils somehow. Maybe I've just been enticed by all the recent "T5 supplementation" threads. ;Woot

thunderdood · Nov 17, 2017

Attached are pictures while I was measuring using the Seneye PAR meter. Sorry for the lack of quality. Results are below. A80 is at max intensity. A160 is approx 60-70% intensity.

A80 at 8 inches from the lights (light is 4 inches above the water and sensor was 4 inches below the water) the PAR was 87 (+/- 10)
A80 at 18 inches the PAR was 37 (+/- 15, not directly under light due to rock setup)

A160 at 8 inches from the light the PAR was 220 (+/- 20)
A160 at 18 inches from the light the PAR was 103

kyleinpdx · Nov 17, 2017

thunderdood said:
Attached are pictures while I was measuring using the Seneye PAR meter. Sorry for the lack of quality. Results are below. A80 is at max intensity. A160 is approx 60-70% intensity.

A80 at 8 inches from the lights (light is 4 inches above the water and sensor was 4 inches below the water) the PAR was 87 (+/- 10)
A80 at 18 inches the PAR was 37 (+/- 15, not directly under light due to rock setup)

A160 at 8 inches from the light the PAR was 220 (+/- 20)
A160 at 18 inches from the light the PAR was 103

Thats awesome thanks for doing that! I'm going to continue slowly upping my intensity but I do think I'll start trying to figure out how to supplement/replace the A80's.