My green hammer coral

24/7ReeFTime · Jan 3, 2020

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)

MERKEY · Jan 3, 2020

The aptasia is stinging it when you put it on the rocks.

Move it to the sand again.

THEN ELIMINATE THE APTASIA...YOU HAVE A FULL ON OUTBREAK.

Sorry to be dramatic but those little anenome looking things will kill and coral next to them when they get that bad.

Magellan · Jan 3, 2020

Those aptasia around it are killing it. Agree with the above!

24/7ReeFTime · Jan 3, 2020

Thank you so much I didn’t know what that stuff is can you tell me how to remove it

MERKEY · Jan 3, 2020

jaxon meller said:
Thank you so much I didn’t know what that stuff is can you tell me how to remove it

With as much as in your tank that is a hard one....if you can get all the rock out and soak it in peroxide that would be the best.

But let's see what others say!!

@ReefSquad not sure why your name came first haha

24/7ReeFTime · Jan 3, 2020

So do you think my coral will make it? I just moved it to the sand.

MERKEY · Jan 3, 2020

jaxon meller said:
So do you think my coral will make it? I just moved it to the sand.

Ya it looked still good in the pic. I think you got it in time

If it was totally in its skeleton I'd be more worried. But he was still poking out like help me!!

Billldg · Jan 3, 2020

You can try Aiptasia-X, but that's a lot of aptasia. I would recommend Berghia Nudis. You can also buy a Aiptasia eating File fish.

24/7ReeFTime · Jan 3, 2020

Thank you all so much I would have probably lost all my corals without you.

MERKEY · Jan 3, 2020

Billldg said:
You can try Aiptasia-X, but that's a lot of aptasia. I would recommend Berghia Nudis.

I thought of that but with them that big and that many hes up against a rock and a hard spot...hahah so to say

Billldg · Jan 3, 2020

MERKEY said:
I thought of that but with them that big and that many hes up against a rock and a hard spot...hahah so to say

Yea, that's why I edited it and added a aptasia eating file fish as Berghia really like smaller aptasia first, then the larger ones. I would try the File fish first.

24/7ReeFTime · Jan 3, 2020

Is the filefish big enough for a 55 gallon?

MERKEY · Jan 3, 2020

Billldg said:
You can try Aiptasia-X, but that's a lot of aptasia. I would recommend Berghia Nudis. You can also buy a Aiptasia eating File fish.

The more I think about it I take back the peroxide approach until all others have been tried.

If the aptasia is covered it wont live...therefore if you could take a small rock out 1 by 1 and use some sort of aptasia killer it would ease the stress of the tank and any die off that occured.

Billldg · Jan 3, 2020

MERKEY said:
The more I think about it I take back the peroxide approach until all others have been tried.

If the aptasia is covered it wont live...therefore if you could take a small rock out 1 by 1 and use some sort of aptasia killer it would ease the stress of the tank and any die off that occured.

Not familiar with the peroxide approach, so I can't say either way. I have had very good luck with berghia, and I am about to buy another batch as my friendly Aptasia are coming back, LOL!!!

Mical · Jan 3, 2020

jaxon meller said:
Is the filefish big enough for a 55 gallon?

Easily work in your tank. A note for you, don't expect an overnight miracle w/filefish. They are very shy and eat at night. Mine took over a week then one morning I noticed aiptasia was gone.