Possible water quality issues in aquarium

[reefandfish85]

For pas couple of weeks my gold hammer started loosing tissue and closing up but only half of it, other half opens fully everyt day might slight tissue retraction as well. the first branch has lost one of its heads already but rest keeps opening somewhat. Splatter hammer coral right next to this seems to have some tissue retraction and same as orange hammer next to them. Rest of my tank seems to be doing well and growing well. there was no change in lighting , flow , food or anything major. still doing 5G water change in 60G tank.

Parameters are:

Alk: 8-8.2
CA: 435
PH: 8.09 night - 8.32 day
Salt: 1.026
Temp 78.5-79.3
Phospahe: 0.1
Nitrate: 7

for light using Hybrid T5 with 2x Hydra 26

Any suggestions ? or is this cycle of life

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

Sounds like a bacterial infection. I would do an antibacterial dip with an iodine product or melafix.

 

[reefandfish85]

I will try iodine dip and see if it helps

Here are some pictures

 

[ptrusk]

The torch looks pretty close to hammer. Watch for sweepers.

 

[dedragon]

The torch looks pretty close to hammer. Watch for sweepers.

this and also that chalice coral is too close as well

 

[reefandfish85]

They have been like that for past 1.5 years and no issues, I did iodine dip today so let’s see what happens now

 

[reefandfish85]

well after little over a month it is still retracting and lost some heads not I think my NY Knicks torch started diong same thing. I have tried to dip both of my hammers in Iodine and coral wash they would stay close for maybe 1/2 hour but then reopen fully.. and that did not stop the tissue retraction either.

only what I can think of is maybe my filefish might be nipping at it ? so I will re home that one.

other thatn that my water paramams are still good

Alk: 8.5
CA: 435
Mg: 1390
PH: 8.09 night - 8.39 day
Salt: 1.026
Temp 78.5-79.3
Phospahe: 0.1
Nitrate: 4

 

[ptrusk]

Oh filefish are evil. I have observed mine nipping acan, gorgonian, nepthea., birdsnest. I suspect he also chowed my wall hammer, palys, zoas and finger leather but never actually caught him in the act. Got rid of the Aiptasia though