My green hammer coral

[24/7ReeFTime]

I have had a green hammer coral frag for a month or two now it was all great and probably 3” in diameter when fully opened. Now it has been almost a week and it has stopped opening up and looks sickly it is now only around 1/2” in diameter.
it did cost me over 50 dollars and I would like to keep it alive.
Any ideas? Thanks.

Before(bottom) now(top)

 

[Cory]

Can you list all your water parameters and what testing devices or kits you use.

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

I need a better test kit because I only can test for ammonia nitrite nitrate and ph.
My ph is around 7.8 my ammonia is low as well as my nitrite

 

[Cory]

Whats you salinity and alkalinity and temperature?

 

[krash7172]

1) Put it back where it was doing well.

2) Is that not a bunch of aiptasia?

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

Salinity is around 25 I have no akh test and temp around 78

 

[DnA-Aquatics LLC]

I think you have a massive Aiptasia problem. Those little anemones are stinging your hammer. And probably everything else. I have never witnessed an infestation that bad.

 

[Cory]

You need to know your alk, calcium, magnesium, salinity, and temperature. These need to be stable and accurate for corals.

 

[lapin]

The nems are killing your hammer as stated above. Thats the first problem to solve.

 

[ankloss]

Hello
First and most importend is Akh , get a testkit and looking akh is not lower as 8.0 is can by higher is okay , but not over 12.0 My akh is 8.2 low to 8.8 high.
To ajust akh you can use NA, (bacing soda) is chep and can get on most shops. Or buy from your local fish shop akh.

Then check Cal and Ma, and get it in range if is need.

 

[MichaelReefer]

That aiptasia is like way out of control. Like everyone else said, they are probably stinging the coral.

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

That aiptasia is like way out of control. Like everyone else said, they are probably stinging the coral.

Best way to get rid of it. I know it is really bad.

 

[krash7172]

Do you have any fish? Try a file fish. Starve the tank and it will eat them.

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

Can I still feed my hawk fish blood worms from my hand

 

[DnA-Aquatics LLC]

Peppermint shrimp will eat them. But i like to use my laser to kill them in my tank.

 

[Mical]

Peppermint shrimp will eat them. But i like to use my laser to kill them in my tank.

Problem with your laser is all you doing is annoying them. Aiptasia is an anemone and when annoyed or threatened they split then split again. To the OP a filefish would be my first choice or a peppermint shrimp - natural elimination.

 

[DnA-Aquatics LLC]

Problem with your laser is all you doing is annoying them. Aiptasia is an anemone and when annoyed or threatened they split then split again. To the OP a filefish would be my first choice or a peppermint shrimp - natural elimination.

No, my 6 watt engraving laser melts them very quickly. I can hear it crackling as its boils into a black ball of goo. My initial purge (about 6 Aiptasia and a bunch of vermitid snails) was about 2 and a half months ago, and from then on i have only had to deal with 2 more. I am sure there are more in my tank, but when they come into view, i will be waiting, with my laser.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Not kidding, you’re not keeping an aptasia tank are you? That frag seems overpriced imo

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

I

Problem with your laser is all you doing is annoying them. Aiptasia is an anemone and when annoyed or threatened they split then split again. To the OP a filefish would be my first choice or a peppermint shrimp - natural elimination.

update:
Got a filefish (I used to have a peppermint shrimp but my hawk fish ate it).

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

Not kidding, you’re not keeping an aptasia tank are you? That frag seems overpriced imo

Yes after I bought it I looked it up and it comes much cheaper. I got excited when i saw it and just bought it so....