My hammer is dying!

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

I got an order of 13 new frags from Aqua SD. Mostly LPS couple beginner SPS. The hammer, 4 Favia, 1 Acan, 1 Blasto, several chalice. All look well except for the Hammer. All parameters are good except my PO4 are off the charts. Just started running GFO last week. Also my red lined Wrasse is MIA, which really isn't out of the ordinary for a Wrasse. I've included some pics of the other new additions to see they look normal. Also a pic of it 2 days ago. The next day after I received it.

View attachment 20190421_190319.jpg

Dom · Apr 23, 2019

It's too soon to panic. When did you get the order? How long have they been in the tank? If everything else is good, I would think that the Hammer doesn't like where it is. Try relocating the Hammer. I find they like moderate light and flow.

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

Dom said:
It's too soon to panic. When did you get the order? How long have they been in the tank? If everything else is good, I would think that the Hammer doesn't like where it is. Try relocating the Hammer. I find they like moderate light and flow.

It's at the bottom with my lights down to 20% white 30% blue with no direct flow

Flippers4pups · Apr 23, 2019

You know what questions are coming........

Canned standard system questions:

1.) Source water? RO/DI water? Tap?
2.) How old is the tank?
3.) What lights are you running?
4.) What is your water parameters?
5.) Dosing anything?
6.) Dip corals?

Bonus question:
Any peppermint shrimp?

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

One side is completely gone now. Looks like its falling apart

View attachment 20190423_200329.jpg

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
You know what questions are coming........

Canned standard system questions:

1.) Source water? RO/DI water? Tap?
2.) How old is the tank?
3.) What lights are you running?
4.) What is your water parameters?
5.) Dosing anything?
6.) Dip corals?

Bonus question:
Any peppermint shrimp?

Bonus question first. Yes Peppermint Shrimp

Flippers4pups · Apr 23, 2019

Matt Carden said:
Bonus question first. Yes Peppermint Shrimp

Peppermint shrimp are notorious for damaging LPS corals, especially hammers and sometimes torches. I've personally seen them attack perfectly healthy hammers before.

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

RODI just changed filters. Water parameters :
Po4 off the charts
NI3 0-2PPM
Ph 8.3
Ca over 500
Kh 10.5
Mg 1350

Dom · Apr 23, 2019

Matt Carden said:
It's at the bottom with my lights down to 20% white 30% blue with no direct flow

What light are you using. Move it more in the path of flow.

Dom · Apr 23, 2019

Matt Carden said:
Bonus question first. Yes Peppermint Shrimp

Ding... Ding... Ding... we have a winner!!! LOL

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

Tank is 6 months.
SB reeflights 20% white 30% blue
Only thing dosing is GFO
Just started with these coral but I have 3 hitchhiker coral that are thriving.

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

Dom said:
Ding... Ding... Ding... we have a winner!!! LOL

Are they eating it?

Flippers4pups · Apr 23, 2019

Dom said:
Ding... Ding... Ding... we have a winner!!! LOL

Those little suckers are hell on hammers! I would remove the peppermint ASAP.

Flippers4pups · Apr 23, 2019

Matt Carden said:
Are they eating it?

Chances are, yes. I've even seen them attack frogspawn.

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
Peppermint shrimp are notorious for damaging LPS corals, especially hammers and sometimes torches. I've personally seen them attack perfectly healthy hammers before.

That sucks guess I'll have to get some Nudi and kill the Peppermint! What eats them?

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
Those little suckers are hell on hammers! I would remove the peppermint ASAP.

Will the hammer survive?

Flippers4pups · Apr 23, 2019

Matt Carden said:
That sucks guess I'll have to get some Nudi and kill the Peppermint! What eats them?

Remove the shrimp to the sump or re-home it. No need to kill. It's not their fault.

Matt Carden said:
Will the hammer survive?

If there is enough tissue, it may recover.

Dom · Apr 23, 2019

Matt Carden said:
Are they eating it?

From the looks of that picture, I'd say yes. Lit looks like it's picked clean.

Matt Carden · Apr 23, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
Remove the shrimp to the sump or re-home it. No need to kill. It's not their fault.

If there is enough tissue, it may recover.

But I can feed it to my fish in my DIY frozen blend! I can't find them now. Yes 2 of them. I overfeed heavily so they should have had plenty of uneaten food to eat.