Hammers Health Declining

John Bolden · Apr 29, 2023

As of lately my hammers have been not opening all the way and some heads died off due to stinging but I moved the hammers away from each other and neither have opened fully since and both have not grown at all.

Parameters:
alk 9.3
cal 395
ph 7.9
phos .1
nitrates 3

John Bolden · Apr 29, 2023

Clown fish do host one of them but I ruled that out because they both are closing

doubleshot00 · Apr 29, 2023

Why are your nitrates so low vs your phos? Has this been the level for the past 2-3months?

I would bump that cal up a little more.

John Bolden · Apr 29, 2023

doubleshot00 said:
Why are your nitrates so low vs your phos? Has this been the level for the past 2-3months?

I would bump that cal up a little more.

Will do for the cal
I have no idea I get all my numbers tested by my LFS I only have the cal and alk hannna testers at home.

John Bolden · Apr 29, 2023

doubleshot00 said:
Why are your nitrates so low vs your phos? Has this been the level for the past 2-3months?

I would bump that cal up a little more.

I also haven't tested for a while so I have no idea how long this has been going on.

Stephen Glover · Apr 29, 2023

make sure your flow is not too strong or directly hitting the hammers. They like to gently roll in the flow

doubleshot00 · Apr 29, 2023

John Bolden said:
I also haven't tested for a while so I have no idea how long this has been going on.

Bet thats it. Get more hanna testers and keep track yourself. Fluctuating parameters i bet is that cause and when I couldn’t keep hammers.

May want to feed some more or dose no3

John Bolden · Apr 29, 2023

Stephen Glover said:
make sure your flow is not too strong or directly hitting the hammers. They like to gently roll in the flow

My 2k gyre is set at the lowest setting I also feel like the flow is too strong.

John Bolden · Apr 29, 2023

doubleshot00 said:
Bet thats it. Get more hanna testers and keep track yourself. Fluctuating parameters i bet is that cause and when I couldn’t keep hammers.

May want to feed some more or dose no3

Ok

k2- · Apr 29, 2023

Dip it ! I have observed them being very sensitive to bacteria - I usually dip mine every few quarters as soon as I see a slight sign of distress -

I always find the small worms jovenile taking residence and causing it irritation.

John Bolden · Apr 29, 2023

k2- said:
Dip it ! I have observed them being very sensitive to bacteria - I usually dip mine every few quarters as soon as I see a slight sign of distress -

I always find the small worms jovenile taking residence and causing it irritation.

I always dip everything and I would probably do this if it wasn't solidly glued and puttied to the rock. I have noticed a flat worm on one of the hammers.

LPS Bum · Apr 29, 2023

I’ve had a lot of success with sick hammers by giving them iodine dips. I use Seachem ReefDip but there are certainly other brands. If possible, give it a shot. If it’s glued down you can also paint the iodine on the coral’s tissue using a Qtip.