Help!! Hammer coral sick? Not well

[vetteguy53081]

What should they be?? I’ve been using this for a reference?

Ammonia less than .025
phos - .04-.06
nitrate - 10-20ppm
salinity 1.025
Temp 77-79
CA 400-440

Moderate light and water flow and place off sand bed which sand will irritate them. I have no confidence in Api kits often producing false or hard to read results.
Take a water sample if unsure to a reliable LFS that does Not use Api test kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours
Too much light or water flow will cause them to receed

 

[Belivie0619]

I call that a zero but I would get a different brand test kit.

I agree, we did just set up a ro/di water system as well.

 

[Belivie0619]

Ammonia less than .025
phos - .04-.06
nitrate - 10-20ppm
salinity 1.025
Temp 77-79
CA 400-440

Moderate light and water flow and place off sand bed which sand will irritate them. I have no confidence in Api kits often producing false or hard to read results.
Take a water sample if unsure to a reliable LFS that does Not use Api test kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours
Too much light or water flow will cause them to receed

Thank you for the information, I keep telling my husband we should take water with us to be tested when we go to a fish store. We have forgotten a sample the last 2 times we went. I’m looking to replace our testing kits with Red Sea. I like them better. While they may be time consuming I feel like they are more accurate.

 

[Rmckoy]

Here’s my problem with API’s test. This is darker than zero but not 5???

By looking at it , I would say it’s zero

could be anything between zero and 5 but the shade points more towards roughly 2

 

[Rmckoy]

Thank you for the information, I keep telling my husband we should take water with us to be tested when we go to a fish store. We have forgotten a sample the last 2 times we went. I’m looking to replace our testing kits with Red Sea. I like them better. While they may be time consuming I feel like they are more accurate.

For a comparable price I personally prefer salifert over Red Sea .

 

[Rmckoy]

What should they be?? I’ve been using this for a reference?

They are good numbers to reference
I keep mine at
Alk 7.5
Nitrates 5-10
Phosphates 0.03-0.1
Cal 425
Sg 1.026

I don’t test ph or mag

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for the information, I keep telling my husband we should take water with us to be tested when we go to a fish store. We have forgotten a sample the last 2 times we went. I’m looking to replace our testing kits with Red Sea. I like them better. While they may be time consuming I feel like they are more accurate.

Take a look also at salifert and Hanna brand ( review you tube to see how they work)

 

[Belivie0619]

Take a look also at salifert and Hanna brand ( review you tube to see how they work)

I will look to them also!! Question do you have a preferred brand for nutrient replacement?? Ie seachem, Red Sea, coral reef? Or are they all one and the same??

 

[vetteguy53081]

I will look to them also!! Question do you have a preferred brand for nutrient replacement?? Ie seachem, Red Sea, coral reef? Or are they all one and the same??

RED SEA A+B good . I personally just feed and furnish nutrients and occasionally broadcast feed my coral

 

[Belivie0619]

RED SEA A+B good . I personally just feed and furnish nutrients and occasionally broadcast feed my coral

What do you mean by broadcast feed??

 

[Dburr1014]

What do you mean by broadcast feed??

Really small food, mix with tank water, give it a good shake and dump in the tank.

 

[Belivie0619]

Really small food, mix with tank water, give it a good shake and dump in the tank.

Can you give me an example of types of food that would fall into this category?

 

[vetteguy53081]

What do you mean by broadcast feed??

Instead of feeding them directly with tube, I shut of pumps and drop food allowing it to fall onto coral for fedding. Fish and coral then both get a meal

 

[Dburr1014]

Can you give me an example of types of food that would fall into this category?

Reef Chile from brs.

 

[Dom]

What should they be?? I’ve been using this for a reference?

Feed heavy for a while and skip a water change. It will come up.

 

[Rmckoy]

Can you give me an example of types of food that would fall into this category?

Essentially … it’s anything but mostly coral
Food such as reef chilli , reef roids .
mixed with tank water and dumped in the tank .
Broadcast as it’s blown around the entire system .
Target feeding is more for one particular coral or fish . Generally coral

 

[Belivie0619]

Essentially … it’s anything but mostly coral
Food such as reef chilli , reef roids .
mixed with tank water and dumped in the tank .
Broadcast as it’s blown around the entire system .
Target feeding is more for one particular coral or fish . Generally coral

We have reef roids but I haven’t heard of reef chili?

 

[Rmckoy]

We have reef roids but I haven’t heard of reef chili?

Reef roids can increase phosphates but in small amounts either broadcasted or target feedings for some corals can help them .
if you do plan on using it be sure to have a good phosphate test kit such as Hanna ulr ( tests phosphorus in ppb and convert to phosphates .

there was posts awhile ago about which corals benefit from different foods .

 

[Dom]

We have a couple hammer corals who have declined recently. I’m not sure what is the best method to try to save them. We acquired tank since July and everything has flourished, I’m not sure what we are missing but would like some advice tip etc to try to save this coral before it’s too late. We have several pieces in 2 different colors the purple with orange tops seems to be doing better but a couple of pieces don’t look as nicely as they have in the past. The orange with purple tips are in my opinion critical right now. I’m attaching pics to reference. I appreciate advice and tips.
Last chemical check
Calcium 350
pH 8.03
Nitrate 0
Phos 0
Alkalinity 7-8

Bring up Calcium and ALK