Help my hammer? Or wait and see?

[drolmaeye]

Had this guy for 3 weeks (one of my first three corals ever). First two weeks everything fine, last week things are looking grim for one of the two heads.

Water added to tank in January, one fish added the end of February. Other tankmates include a dozen small snails a tuxedo urchin, and a fire shrimp.

Temp 77.5 - 78.0
Nitrate 0.7
Phosphate 0.07
Salinity 35
Calcium 406
Alk 7.9
Mag 1290

Nitrates went down when I moved the lone fish out, not sure if low nitrates could explain the decline.

What would an experienced reefer do? Dip the hammer in one or more treatments? Or is it a wait-and-see sort of thing?

 

[Pistondog]

Id try to get the nitrates up a bit, maybe overfeed.

 

[twentyleagues]

Do you feed it directly? Hard to tell from the pic but looks like there are still polyps. See if it will take food. Keep the shrimp away from it.

 

[WestMI-Reefer]

Following. I have one (same purple tip hammer) in similar condition. Wonder if anyone will suggest iodine dip?

 

[twentyleagues]

Following. I have one (same purple tip hammer) in similar condition. Wonder if anyone will suggest iodine dip?

Probably wouldn't hurt to stave of infection.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

not sure if low nitrates could explain the decline.

You are literally starving the coral...

It looks to be in pretty rough shape, and I doubt it got that way overnight (or even in 3 weeks). Healthy hammers, frogspawn, torches, etc have flesh growing on the "stems" - yours has receded extensively.

 

[drolmaeye]

I appreciate the replies from everyone. The drop in nitrates is temporary and I was not sure how long that could be sustained without having an adverse effect on the coral(s). I will take steps to get that number back up over the coming days.

I may also try an iodine dip (seachem Reef Dip may be the only one immediately accessible) unless there is reson to believe that will make matters worse.

Finally, I see from similar posts that sometimes even under otherwise excellent conditions a coral just does not make it. This is one of just three corals I have in this new-to-me hobby so I suppose this may be one (of possibly many) humbling lessons along the way.