Hammers slowly dying

[MPS]

I've read several threads of Wall Hammers dying off for unknown reasons. I'm afraid I may be in the same boat. This photo shows both of my hammers in April of this year. They are big, full and happy. Note, the lights were turned up for the photo.

The photo below was taken in September. I had moved the purple hammer up on to the rock some time ago and they were both doing great there. This photo shows them both are starting to retract. These guys open and close with the lighting just like a flower. This is their max extension during that time period.

These photos were just taken (Oct 22, 2018). Again, this is full extension for them. I've moved them both around because I was afraid that they were getting too much flow after my rocks got rearranged.
It appears that the purple hammer is expelling some zooxanthellae in the photo. I'm at a loss as to what to do next.

The tank is 110Gal.
current parameters are
Temp: 76.9 F
PH: 8.15
SG: 1.025
ALK: 9.6
AMMONIA: 0
Ca: 430
Mg: 1245
Nitrates: 40
Phosphates: .45
Flow is likely on the med-low side. I have an MP40 set at 25%-30% pulse. it's mounted on the side of the tank and these are mid-tank.
I've dipped them a couple of times in BrightWell's MediCoral and in Freshwater. I may do this again.
Suggestions?

 

[MPS]

Update. As mentioned above, I decided to dip my hammers in a medical dip then give them a freshwater dip to rid them of any parasites that might be causing them harm. Apparently, I left them in the freshwater too long. When I put them back in the display, they immediately began to melt. It was as if someone set fire to them and a smokey cloud eminated from both.
I do believe that I just killed both of my prized corals.
This is not a good night.

 

[timrocks311]

sorry to hear that. It's a bummer losing anything.

 

[scott4077]

dang sorry to hear it bud, sending good thoughts your way.

 

[Dan P]

How long did you dip? Just want to learn about it as I recently had to dip something for flukes and didn’t know much about it.
Sorry too about the hammers, hard to watch that happen.

 

[DFR]

Sorry to hear about them man. But I figured I’d just chime in on my 2 cents. I don’t think fresh water dips are best for euphylia (I’m sure my spelling is wrong). I’ve dipped 2 different torches at different times in fresh water only for them to die within a few days. Both times they retracted then started to pull back from their skeletons.

 

[PapaWhisky]

Very sorry for your loss

However, if you decide to try again, make sure you dose Iodine if you are growing Euphyllias. I had a very similar experience when I first started out that I turned around with dosing. They seem to pull it from the water faster than standard water changes can replenish it.

 

[Pongo]

Very sorry for your loss

However, if you decide to try again, make sure you dose Iodine if you are growing Euphyllias. I had a very similar experience when I first started out that I turned around with dosing. They seem to pull it from the water faster than standard water changes can replenish it.

Can you please expand upon this?
Are you testing for some form of iodine and notice a deficiency?

I have not read any guidance on keeping euphyllia that recommends additional iodine levels beyond what is found in NSW.


To the OP: How old is your tank?
I had something similar happen when my tank was about 4 months old. A small wall hammer had total poly ejection.
After my tank was a year old I got another wall hammer and it has been thriving.
Maybe tank maturity and stability are helping?

 

[PapaWhisky]

Can you please expand upon this?
Are you testing for some form of iodine and notice a deficiency?

I have not read any guidance on keeping euphyllia that recommends additional iodine levels beyond what is found in NSW.

Hi Pongo,

My Iodine levels tested low, so I dosed to keep the Iodine levels at NSW levels, not above.

 

[MPS]

How long did you dip? Just want to learn about it as I recently had to dip something for flukes and didn’t know much about it.
Sorry too about the hammers, hard to watch that happen.

I believe that they were in the fresh for 10 min. I think a better thing to do would have been to simply rinse the medicated water off in the fresh and put them back in the DT.

 

[MPS]

Can you please expand upon this?
Are you testing for some form of iodine and notice a deficiency?

I have not read any guidance on keeping euphyllia that recommends additional iodine levels beyond what is found in NSW.


To the OP: How old is your tank?
I had something similar happen when my tank was about 4 months old. A small wall hammer had total poly ejection.
After my tank was a year old I got another wall hammer and it has been thriving.
Maybe tank maturity and stability are helping?

You bring a good point. The tank is 9 months old. The purple hammer has been in this tank from the beginning and the gold hammer has been in this tank for about 6 months. I have been working to elevate and stabilize my major elements and that has created a few swings while I learned the tricks of dosing.

 

[MPS]

Very sorry for your loss

However, if you decide to try again, make sure you dose Iodine if you are growing Euphyllias. I had a very similar experience when I first started out that I turned around with dosing. They seem to pull it from the water faster than standard water changes can replenish it.

I have been dosing iodine. I started doing that shortly after i started supplementing CA, ALK and Mg. I have not been testing for iodine though. I guess i need to start that.

 

[NewbieReefer11]

Update. As mentioned above, I decided to dip my hammers in a medical dip then give them a freshwater dip to rid them of any parasites that might be causing them harm. Apparently, I left them in the freshwater too long. When I put them back in the display, they immediately began to melt. It was as if someone set fire to them and a smokey cloud eminated from both.
I do believe that I just killed both of my prized corals.
This is not a good night.

Maybe it was to do with your nitrates? 40 isnt the worst but that is the point where i would be doing a lot of water changes

 

[MPS]

Maybe it was to do with your nitrates? 40 isnt the worst but that is the point where i would be doing a lot of water changes

Yes, I think you’re on to something there. I’m going to focus on knocking them down and see if things turn around.

 

[Scotty Buttons]

Ive had nitrates around 60 for 2 years now and I have alot of LPS including hammers, doesn't affect them at all. Id be looking elsewhere IMO.

 

[MPS]

I read a quote a while back that said nothing good in this hobby happens quickly and anything that happens quickly is likely bad.
I do worry that I may be trying too many things, too quickly. I can’t help the panic...
If all of my parameters are stable maybe it’s something with my lighting and flow. These have changed somewhat.

 

[Scotty Buttons]

Have you checked for stray voltage?

 

[miyags]

FYI.I dipped 2 hammers I received,they had some flat worms on them.I did a dip in a freshwater bath for no longer than a minute.All the flat worms fell off and the corals are doing great.Sorry to hear about Yours.They are one of the corals that can come back even though they look completely dead.

 

[MPS]

FYI.I dipped 2 hammers I received,they had some flat worms on them.I did a dip in a freshwater bath for no longer than a minute.All the flat worms fell off and the corals are doing great.Sorry to hear about Yours.They are one of the corals that can come back even though they look completely dead.

Thanks for the input. You're right about them coming back. They've appeared to be completely gone multiple occasion but then have come back from the brink. They still look like crap but they are still alive so possibly its only a matter of time for them to heal.

 

[MPS]

Have you checked for stray voltage?

I have not. I have been meaning to bring my multi meter in to check.