New Duncan and Hammer Dying

[SpenserJ9]

Hello!

Yesterday I purchased a Duncan and hammer coral for my new tank, which has been cycling for a month now. I added them to the tank, and noticed this morning they are still closed, and the hammer is showing signs of its skeleton. A lot of flesh has fallen off it, and I’m unsure what happened.

I used an API saltwater test kit and it shows all levels are normal, nitrate being 30ppm. I’ll be doing a water change tonight, but I’m not sure what the problem is. The store I purchased it from recommended it for a beginner. The Duncan isn’t looking to good either, but still has tentacles

 

[Nate Chalk]

That's dead because you added coral 1 month into reefing.

In what looks like a dry rock sterile tank.

 

[musel101]

Hello!

Yesterday I purchased a Duncan and hammer coral for my new tank, which has been cycling for a month now. I added them to the tank, and noticed this morning they are still closed, and the hammer is showing signs of its skeleton. A lot of flesh has fallen off it, and I’m unsure what happened.

I used an API saltwater test kit and it shows all levels are normal, nitrate being 30ppm. I’ll be doing a water change tonight, but I’m not sure what the problem is. The store I purchased it from recommended it for a beginner. The Duncan isn’t looking to good either, but still has tentacles

What kind of light are you using? If I may ask? I have a bunch of Dunkins in my tank.

 

[jabberwock]

LFS lied to you to make the sale. I would fire them. You need at lest 6 months to think about corals.

 

[Katrina71]

There is a chance they can come back. Don't toss them. I'd probably try lowering nitrates too.

 

[The_Paradox]

Did they look good in the store? Short of predation your water would have to be way out of whack to melt the face off a coral like that overnight.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Did they look good in the store? Short of predation your water would have to be way out of whack to melt the face off a coral like that overnight.

Exactly my thought!

 

[lil sumpin]

You’re gonna want alkalinity and calcium test kits. Maybe even magnesium but the first two for sure. Go with Salifert. I don’t think API is as reliable

 

[LandLockedJones]

Hello!

Yesterday I purchased a Duncan and hammer coral for my new tank, which has been cycling for a month now. I added them to the tank, and noticed this morning they are still closed, and the hammer is showing signs of its skeleton. A lot of flesh has fallen off it, and I’m unsure what happened.

I used an API saltwater test kit and it shows all levels are normal, nitrate being 30ppm. I’ll be doing a water change tonight, but I’m not sure what the problem is. The store I purchased it from recommended it for a beginner. The Duncan isn’t looking to good either, but still has tentacles

I also did the dumb when I set up my first tank and got coral too quickly. I still have 2 of them 2 years later but lost 2 completely. I misremembered some info thinking 6 weeks was okay. When in reality it’s more like 6 months as others mentioned.

The main thing you did wrong was add them too early. It happens we all make mistakes.

Judging by the amount of light I’m seeing i wonder if you dimmed your lights at all when adding them. Corals don’t like new lights and need to be acclimated to a new light source. They were used to the ones at your lfs, so if you didn’t shelter it and set it out in the open without dimming your light it may have irritated it some as well.

Also 30 ppm nitrates is on the high side. Most kits measure higher, but with a reef tank you should be aiming to stay under 20ppm. So it’s high, and may have contributed, but it’s nothing a few good water changes can’t solve.

All in all, sorry, I know from experience that’s a rough start to the hobby. But I do recommend you stick with it. Just enjoy watching the fish swim around and keep the tank clean for a bit while the tank matures.

 

[SpenserJ9]

Thank you for all the replies. It’s been years since I’ve had a reef tank, and I believed that it would be ready. The Duncan looks a bit better, but I’m going to hold off on coral for a bit until the tank matures and my water quality stabilizes

 

[SpenserJ9]

What kind of light are you using? If I may ask? I have a bunch of Dunkins in my tank.

I’m using a AI prime, on acclimation mode

 

[SpenserJ9]

You’re gonna want alkalinity and calcium test kits. Maybe even magnesium but the first two for sure. Go with Salifert. I don’t think API is as reliable

I’ve ordered some!

 

[dbroncos]

That's dead because you added coral 1 month into reefing.

In what looks like a dry rock sterile tank.

not true

 

[twentyleagues]

You dont have to wait 6 months to add coral. You do need to acclimate corals to your tank parameters, alk, calc, nitrate, temp, sg, and lighting, flow. Its not great to have corals and go through the algae phase sure. If you are on top of it with correct cuc or manually its ok. Its not because this tank was set up a month ago. I'd like to see pics of the corals under white light before and after addition and actual parameters of the above before I would be saying its because its a new tank. I mean its been 1 day if the hammer was ok truly ok when purchased its not in that shape from it being a new tank that is actually cycled.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

As you say, your parameters are "normal", but we can already see the nitrate is higher than the "average" reef tank. What are the phosphate, alk, calcium, mag levels?

Being a brand new tank, its very likely the parameters are not matching the mature reef tank parameters that the corals came from. Obviously the light and flow are also different than the tank where the corals came from, so they are having a very hard time to acclimate to your tank.

 

[The_Paradox]

As you say, your parameters are "normal", but we can already see the nitrate is higher than the "average" reef tank. What are the phosphate, alk, calcium, mag levels?

Being a brand new tank, its very likely the parameters are not matching the mature reef tank parameters that the corals came from. Obviously the light and flow are also different than the tank where the corals came from, so they are having a very hard time to acclimate to your tank.

That’s a lot more than acclamation stress.

 

[twentyleagues]

That’s a lot more than acclamation stress.

Pretty sure the was on its way out before purchase, or damaged during transport or from flow.

 

[The_Paradox]

Pretty sure the was on its way out before purchase, or damaged during transport or from flow.

Agreed. That’s my bet. That or predation.

 

[Nate Chalk]

not true

Disagree

 

[The_Paradox]

Disagree

You can throw the coral being discussed here into a tank on day one, if you know what your doing.