Lower positioned Hammer heads die off normal?

[legrunt]

Over the past year, I have noticed a few of my hammer heads dying off. Also my Duncans. They are always positioned at the bottom part of the colony.
I have 2 colonies of Hammers, one normal one, and another thin branched toxic green hammer. Also a colony of Duncans. Noticing this die off behaviour on all three colonies.

My theory is that, if the lower positioned heads do not get enough light, they grow slower. And the slower they grow, the more they get overshadowed by the ones above. Eventually, they die off.
Now, if this is the case, would all colonies end up expanding out in a sphere like fashion, where only the outermost heads thrive?

 

[MnFish1]

Over the past year, I have noticed a few of my hammer heads dying off. Also my Duncans. They are always positioned at the bottom part of the colony.
I have 2 colonies of Hammers, one normal one, and another thin branched toxic green hammer. Also a colony of Duncans. Noticing this die off behaviour on all three colonies.

My theory is that, if the lower positioned heads do not get enough light, they grow slower. And the slower they grow, the more they get overshadowed by the ones above. Eventually, they die off.
Now, if this is the case, would all colonies end up expanding out in a sphere like fashion, where only the outermost heads thrive?

I do not think this is true - instead - what I've seen is that the lower colonies tend to either extend their polyps further - or the heads grow further out (to reach the light). However, that said - I've also seen what you're describing.

If you look like lets say a gonipora. They are spherical - but the bottom most areas don't tend to die off except for trauma. Instead thats a big growth area.

I would carefully monitor (at night as well) - for any potential coral warfare, etc.

 

[Dburr1014]

Over the past year, I have noticed a few of my hammer heads dying off. Also my Duncans. They are always positioned at the bottom part of the colony.
I have 2 colonies of Hammers, one normal one, and another thin branched toxic green hammer. Also a colony of Duncans. Noticing this die off behaviour on all three colonies.

My theory is that, if the lower positioned heads do not get enough light, they grow slower. And the slower they grow, the more they get overshadowed by the ones above. Eventually, they die off.
Now, if this is the case, would all colonies end up expanding out in a sphere like fashion, where only the outermost heads thrive?

It your top is growing normal or quickly it does /will over shadow the lower. That will tend to happen that the bottom heads die off. You could frag them off if you see that happening.

 

[MnFish1]

Over the past year, I have noticed a few of my hammer heads dying off. Also my Duncans. They are always positioned at the bottom part of the colony.
I have 2 colonies of Hammers, one normal one, and another thin branched toxic green hammer. Also a colony of Duncans. Noticing this die off behaviour on all three colonies.

My theory is that, if the lower positioned heads do not get enough light, they grow slower. And the slower they grow, the more they get overshadowed by the ones above. Eventually, they die off.
Now, if this is the case, would all colonies end up expanding out in a sphere like fashion, where only the outermost heads thrive?

PS - can you share a picture of what you're talking about?One thing - a coral depending on how it was 'cut' - is a colony. Meaning the lower branches SHOULD receive at least some nutrients from the rest of the colony and still extend. @Dburr1014 is correct though - if the top colonies are literally completely covering the lower - they can die off - this IMHO would be a slow process, as compared to in a couple days. Additionally, feeding a little may also help prevent this somewhat

 

[vetteguy53081]

Over the past year, I have noticed a few of my hammer heads dying off. Also my Duncans. They are always positioned at the bottom part of the colony.
I have 2 colonies of Hammers, one normal one, and another thin branched toxic green hammer. Also a colony of Duncans. Noticing this die off behaviour on all three colonies.

My theory is that, if the lower positioned heads do not get enough light, they grow slower. And the slower they grow, the more they get overshadowed by the ones above. Eventually, they die off.
Now, if this is the case, would all colonies end up expanding out in a sphere like fashion, where only the outermost heads thrive?

Sounds like either lighting or water quality. I have many hammers. They do best at lower third of tank where there is moderate light and water flow. Duncan have similar behavior with exception of location in tank. Since they are a large polyp stony coral, calcium and alkalinity are two very important water parameters that will affect the growth of your coral. This coral will start to die off if the calcium levels are too low. A calcium level of about 400 ppm is just right.
Avoid extremely bright locations or areas of very high current, and avoid areas that are too dark or with currents that are too low. Fast currents risk damaging the soft, fleshy polyps (and getting an infection). Bright lights will cause bleaching. Insufficient lighting will cause the poor coral to wither away and starve to death.
Hammer corals only require a moderate amount of light for photosynthesis and can grow well in the intermediate regions of your tank. Just about any reef LED lighting should be sufficient for most tanks. Reduce white light intensity and get it off the sand bed which sand can irritate it.
The polyps should sway in the current, but not sustain so much pressure they are constantly bent over their skeleton. Too much flow will tear the polyps (worst case) and cause the polyps do not extend in the first place (best case). So, don’t give them too much flow.

 

[Dburr1014]

PS - can you share a picture of what you're talking about?One thing - a coral depending on how it was 'cut' - is a colony. Meaning the lower branches SHOULD receive at least some nutrients from the rest of the colony and still extend. @Dburr1014 is correct though - if the top colonies are literally completely covering the lower - they can die off - this IMHO would be a slow process, as compared to in a couple days. Additionally, feeding a little may also help prevent this somewhat

Absolutely, it is a slow process.
It would take a week or two to see one head die while the colony grows 3 or 4 heads in the same time frame. My colony is is the size of a small soccer ball tho.
A pic would be helpful if heads are dying quickly.
Vetteguy53081 has great advice also.

 

[MnFish1]

Absolutely, it is a slow process.
It would take a week or two to see one head die while the colony grows 3 or 4 heads in the same time frame. My colony is is the size of a small soccer ball tho.
A pic would be helpful if heads are dying quickly.
Vetteguy53081 has great advice also.

1. Nice tank.
2. The hammer I can easily see the lower branches dying off. SLOWLY. as the upper ones cover it - especially with a colony that large (thats why pictures are important)
3. I would also suggest the likelihood of some coral warfare going on as well

 

[legrunt]

Not in a position to get some pictures now...
But yeah, the die off doesn't happen quickly. Like I said in the top post, it is over the course of the past year.

Thanks for the responses everyone. Overall, net count of heads is increasing. So it is like what you said, one dies off, while another 2-3 are splitting off from the heads above.

 

[legrunt]

And... is that true?? That the polyps somehow share nutrients across the colony? I always thought they were individual animals?

 

[PghReef]

I think shading and flow restrictions affect the lower heads. I bought a Branching frogspawn a little over a year ago, was about 3 heads not fully split. Grew to about 14 heads with a few splitting currently.

Few months ago I noticed the 3 heads on the bottom slowly losing flesh and not extending as well. The others all look healthy and have nice flesh going down the stalk part of the skeleton, the 3 bottom heads had the flesh receded right up to the polyp. Then 1 head completely died, another looked close to being gone.

I didn't want disease to set in and spread so made the choice yo break up the colony and dispose of the 3 heads that had died/ were receding. Remounted the remaining heads and spread them out some. Still have 9 heads in the spot plus another across the tank and 1 in my spare tank.

Here's the colony prior to the split. You can barely even see the 3 heads on the bottom they got so overgrown and overrun by the top.

 

[legrunt]

Here are a couple of pics of my Duncans and Hammers.
I can't get a good angle of the toxic hammers, as the dying heads are too deep.

Sorry, the glass is rather dirty.

 

[mdb_talon]

Sounds like either lighting or water quality. I have many hammers. They do best at lower third of tank where there is moderate light and water flow. Duncan have similar behavior with exception of location in tank. Since they are a large polyp stony coral, calcium and alkalinity are two very important water parameters that will affect the growth of your coral. This coral will start to die off if the calcium levels are too low. A calcium level of about 400 ppm is just right.
Avoid extremely bright locations or areas of very high current, and avoid areas that are too dark or with currents that are too low. Fast currents risk damaging the soft, fleshy polyps (and getting an infection). Bright lights will cause bleaching. Insufficient lighting will cause the poor coral to wither away and starve to death.
Hammer corals only require a moderate amount of light for photosynthesis and can grow well in the intermediate regions of your tank. Just about any reef LED lighting should be sufficient for most tanks. Reduce white light intensity and get it off the sand bed which sand can irritate it.
The polyps should sway in the current, but not sustain so much pressure they are constantly bent over their skeleton. Too much flow will tear the polyps (worst case) and cause the polyps do not extend in the first place (best case). So, don’t give them too much flow.

For anyone wanting the full blog post he copied.

Hammer coral care: placement & feeding of Euphyllia ancora

Looking for a great coral to jazz up your tank without being too difficult to care for? You might be in the market for a hammer coral. Before you buy...

www.saltwateraquariumblog.com

 

[Dburr1014]

For anyone wanting the full blog post he copied.

Hammer coral care: placement & feeding of Euphyllia ancora

Looking for a great coral to jazz up your tank without being too difficult to care for? You might be in the market for a hammer coral. Before you buy...

www.saltwateraquariumblog.com

Oh geez, thanks. A link would have been quicker... No?