How fast do hammer corals grow?

[starfishguy869]

Hello, I was wondering how fast hammer corals grow. My parameters are:
NO3: 2
PO4: 0.04
Alk: 10.8
Mag: 1500+ (I need to work on this)
Cal: 500+ (I need to work on this)
pH: 9

Also, if anyone can give me any critical judgment and advice on bringing calcium and magnesium down, it would be greatly appreciated.
(Hammer is 1 month old and has 2 heads).

 

[TX_REEF]

Water changes should bring mag and cal down, unless your salt mix has an insane amount of both. You should also stop dosing.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

they are fairly slow growers. I started with one polyp about 4.5 years ago, now it has (guessing) about 2 dozen polyps, its about the size of a large cantaloupe.

 

[Kerbash]

For me they depend on the type the thin stalk ones grow pretty fast, they double their head count around once every 2-3 months. The thick stalk ones double once every 6 months if I'm lucky, I got one thats been the same size for a year and a half now.

 

[Lowsingle]

For me, hammers grow slow. Given your parameters I would recommend you test your salinity measurement method. When all parameters are high like that salinity is the first item I check. Also, that pH seems pretty high, how often do you calibrate your probe?

Darren

 

[starfishguy869]

1/2 to 3/4 inch branch.

 

[kevgib67]

I have a bicolor that is very slow growing, two heads. I’ve have a gold one next to it that has about 8 heads and just keeps spitting them out. I got the gold after the bicolor so in my experience it depends on the hammer.

 

[i cant think]

Hello, I was wondering how fast hammer corals grow. My parameters are:
NO3: 2
PO4: 0.04
Alk: 10.8
Mag: 1500+ (I need to work on this)
Cal: 500+ (I need to work on this)
pH: 9

Also, if anyone can give me any critical judgment and advice on bringing calcium and magnesium down, it would be greatly appreciated.
(Hammer is 1 month old and has 2 heads).

I’ve had a bicolour hammer that was 2 heads when I got it, a year or so later and it had ~15 (Including the heads that were splitting).

I have however, found the bicolours are much more sensitive to phosphate swings than other morphs.

 

[VintageReefer]

1 yr growth
Started as 2 heads Feb 2023
And in Feb 2024 it’s over 30 heads

It’s in the same spot that I originally mounted it, seems to be doing well. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it next year if it continues to grow like this

 

[steveschuerger]

1 yr growth
Started as 2 heads Feb 2023
And in Feb 2024 it’s over 30 heads

It’s in the same spot that I originally mounted it, seems to be doing well. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it next year if it continues to grow like this

I love your answer. In one year it grows 28+ heads and is just “seems” like it’s doing well. Seriously though, it’s a beautiful colony.

 

[VintageReefer]

I love your answer. In one year it grows 28+ heads and is just “seems” like it’s doing well. Seriously though, it’s a beautiful colony.

Next time it’s retracted I’ll get an official count.

 

[VintageReefer]

Next time it’s retracted I’ll get an official count.

9 more buds that will turn into heads. And that’s just on the front half that I can see

 

[Project]

I think hammer corals love lots of light and flows. As much as SPS but not blowing directly at them. Branching type will be faster grower compare to wall type. I have 4 branching and 3 wall type hammers. All mixed within. I started with 4 and added 3 more later.

Here are my hammer collection. Tank is about 1.5yrs old.

Before:

Yesterday while doing a water change:

 

[VintageReefer]

I think hammer corals love lots of light and flows. As much as SPS but not blowing directly at them. Branching type will be faster grower compare to wall type. I have 4 branching and 3 wall type hammers. All mixed within. I started with 4 and added 3 more later.

Here are my hammer collection. Tank is about 1.5yrs old.

Before:

Yesterday while doing a water change:

That’s a great collection and arrangement

 

[snorklr]

single head to 20+ in 18 mo...neon green branching...leave a couple inches of room, mine started stinging a florida ric next to it when it only had 2 heads...it takes a while initially but once they get going splitting makes them grow exponentially...2 to 4,4 to 8, 8 to 16 etc

 

[legendhua]

exportation growth


2021_1018
PA140004 榔頭 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2022_0405
P4050003 鈕扣 榔頭 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2022_0710
P7100026 榔頭珊瑚 鈕扣 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2022_0918
DSC02507 榔頭珊瑚 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2022_1016
PA160010 榔頭珊瑚 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2022_1025
PA250007 榔頭珊瑚 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2023_0115
P1150098 榔頭珊瑚 by legendhua, 於 Flickr

P1150138 榔頭珊瑚 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


2023_0429

 

[starfishguy869]

Wow, that looks so cool. What are your parameters?

 

[twentyleagues]

Wow, that looks so cool. What are your parameters?

Have you checked your fresh salt mix parameters? If you dose what do you dose? I wouldnt worry about mag euphilia seem to like elevated levels. PH of 9 would worry me and over 460 calc would also be worrisome. Alk is a bit high but not terrible.
Last time I checked my mag it was 1600, I checked it 2 times both same. Most of my corals are euphilia and they all seem happy most started with 1 head and many have at least 10 now. That just over a year with a tank transfer a couple months ago.