Hammer Trouble.

[Arley]

So 2 months ago after my tank was set up for 4 months it was time for coral and I decided I wanted a hammer. So I bought it, brought it home, temp acclimated for 10 minutes then acclimated with 1/2 up every 10 minutes for 40-50 mins. But when it came time to put the coral in my display I could see the skeleton I thought nothing of it, I just thought the coral was mad and would take a day or two to open up. But an hour or two later it was really receded and white slime was coming out of its head and not long after all of the head turned to a brown goo and it was dead. I assumed it was an issue with my acclimation being too swift or stressful, so a month later I purchased a drip acclimation kit and tried again. First temp acclimating for 10 mins, then dripping for 1.5 hours till salinity was within 0.002. But that coral suffered the same fate. Seeing the skeleton then the white slime and brown goo and dying. I tried one more time today with the same method as the time previously (drip acclimation) and it seems to be going the way the last two did.

Any Ideas?

Parameters:
Salinity: 1.025-1.026
Temp: 74-76
Nitrate: 1-3ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Phosphate: Near zero if not zero

Always placed in low flow and light.

 

[RyanFelt]

That process sounds very intense, just dip it for 15 minutes and throw it in

 

[Arley]

That process sounds very intense, just dip it for 15 minutes and throw it in

Would it be fine with the store salinity being 1.015 and mine 1.025?

 

[Jekyl]

More and different tests are needed. Nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, magnesium, and calcium. If using API tests it's time to upgrade the ones you have also. Salifert, red sea, hanna.

 

[Jekyl]

Would it be fine with the store salinity being 1.015 and mine 1.025?

Stores don't keep their coral tanks at low levels. Only the ones that keep fish.

 

[Arley]

Stores don't keep their coral tanks at low levels. Only the ones that keep fish.

So I'd be fine to just temp acclimate and throw it in?

 

[Jekyl]

So I'd be fine to just temp acclimate and throw it in?

There could be other variables besides salinity. Acclimation is a good idea unless it's with shipped live stock. That gets a different process. When moving euphyllia try not to have them in the open air. The weight can tear tissue.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I float my coral while in the bag in my tank while gathering up items needed for dipping. Probably 10-15 min. Then I do a dip in revive for 5 min and rinse them and place in my tank. That’s it.

Like him or not, I think everyone agrees that the late Jake Adams knew a thing about coral and was very well respected in the hobby. So here is a video from Jake showing his acclimation process

 

[BetterJake]

I just perform the coral dip in the water it was packaged with.


Unrelated, but you also may want to watch those Phosphate levels. Bottoming out nutrients is a good way to invite Dinos to take over.

 

[Arley]

I just perform the coral dip in the water it was packaged with.


Unrelated, but you also may want to watch those Phosphate levels. Bottoming out nutrients is a good way to invite Dinos to take over.

Ok thanks, fingers crossed for the next time.

 

[Arley]

There could be other variables besides salinity. Acclimation is a good idea unless it's with shipped live stock. That gets a different process. When moving euphyllia try not to have them in the open air. The weight can tear tissue.

I float my coral while in the bag in my tank while gathering up items needed for dipping. Probably 10-15 min. Then I do a dip in revive for 5 min and rinse them and place in my tank. That’s it.

Like him or not, I think everyone agrees that the late Jake Adams knew a thing about coral and was very well respected in the hobby. So here is a video from Jake showing his acclimation process

Thanks for the help!

 

[mrpontiac80]

Thanks for the help!

For what it’s worth, my torches, hammers, frogspawn and galaxia do pretty good in my tank. My sps needs work, and I’m trying to lower my nutrients for them. But my nitrates average 25 ppm and phosphates average .2 ppm.
I know that’s high for most, but some corals seem to thrive in it.

 

[Arley]

So do we think the reason for death was the drip acclimation or something else?

 

[TokenReefer]

So the coral you bought today is already dying like the previous ones? That is odd...

Always placed in low flow and light.

Try putting it in a darker corner of the tank to let it get used to your water before it has to get used to your lighting is my rec

 

[mrpontiac80]

So do we think the reason for death was the drip acclimation or something else?

I’ve had euphilia die, but never as I was trying to get it from the seller into my tank.
When you buy one if you can, look to see that it has a band of flesh on the skeleton. If all you see is polyps extending from the skeleton, it may not be healthy to begin with.
As said above, try not to pull one out of water with polyps extended.

 

[Arley]

I’ve had euphilia die, but never as I was trying to get it from the seller into my tank.
When you buy one if you can, look to see that it has a band of flesh on the skeleton. If all you see is polyps extending from the skeleton, it may not be healthy to begin with.
As said above, try not to pull one out of water with polyps extended.

Got it.

 

[Morpheosz]

So do we think the reason for death was the drip acclimation or something else?

The method of acclimation seems highly unlikely to immediately kill these corals. Like others, I've probably added 50 frags to my tank and all I do is dip them in revive in a mix of bag water and tank water and then throw them in the tank.

What else do you have in your tank? Is this the first coral you've been trying to add, or do you have others? Is it only euphyllia that seem to be dying immediately?

 

[mrpontiac80]

Got it.

I like March at Fragbox Corals. Here is a video where he talks about healthy and unhealthy hammers. It might help you out.

 

[Arley]

The method of acclimation seems highly unlikely to immediately kill these corals. Like others, I've probably added 50 frags to my tank and all I do is dip them in revive in a mix of bag water and tank water and then throw them in the tank.

What else do you have in your tank? Is this the first coral you've been trying to add, or do you have others? Is it only euphyllia that seem to be dying immediately?

First coral other than that just fish and copepods.

 

[Morpheosz]

Interesting, maybe it's not the type of coral or method. Perhaps try something more straight forward like some zoas or other softies? Euphyllia are intermediate corals at best (see my current ongoing euphyllia saga thread), maybe trying something more straight forward to ensure you don't have something fundamentally toxic to corals in the water.

What is your water source BTW?