What could cause this

[sharkbait1122*]

I have had this hammer for about 2 months now. Parameters have been stable: alk9.2 ph.8.15 calcium 420 salinity 1.026. The coral sits I. The middle third of the tank and probably gets about 100-110 par currently. It gets medium flow also. I recently noticed these tips looking shriveled and white. Any idea what could cause just these to look like this when the rest of the head and the second head all look healthy?

 

[Jekyl]

@vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hopefully your light is brighter than what your pictures show.
You showed your parameters. What test kits are you using ?
Major swings are their enemy. Assure you have accurate readings. If youre using API kits, you may have levels that are hurting this hammer. Hammers aren’t terribly picky when it comes to the proper placement in your tank. The trick would really be just to avoid the extremes. Avoid extremely bright locations or areas of very high current, and avoid areas that are too dark or with currents that are too low. Fast currents risk damaging the soft, fleshy polyps (and getting an infection). Bright lights will cause bleaching. Insufficient lighting will cause the poor coral to wither away and starve to death.
Hammer corals only require a moderate amount of light for photosynthesis and can grow well in the intermediate regions of your tank. Just about any reef LED lighting should be sufficient for most tanks. Reduce white light intensity and get it off the sand bed which sand can irritate it.
The polyps should sway in the current, but not sustain so much pressure they are constantly bent over their skeleton. Too much flow will tear the polyps (worst case) and cause the polyps do not extend in the first place (best case). So, don’t give them too much flow.

 

[sharkbait1122*]

Hopefully your light is brighter than what your pictures show.
You showed your parameters. What test kits are you using ?
Major swings are their enemy. Assure you have accurate readings. If youre using API kits, you may have levels that are hurting this hammer. Hammers aren’t terribly picky when it comes to the proper placement in your tank. The trick would really be just to avoid the extremes. Avoid extremely bright locations or areas of very high current, and avoid areas that are too dark or with currents that are too low. Fast currents risk damaging the soft, fleshy polyps (and getting an infection). Bright lights will cause bleaching. Insufficient lighting will cause the poor coral to wither away and starve to death.
Hammer corals only require a moderate amount of light for photosynthesis and can grow well in the intermediate regions of your tank. Just about any reef LED lighting should be sufficient for most tanks. Reduce white light intensity and get it off the sand bed which sand can irritate it.
The polyps should sway in the current, but not sustain so much pressure they are constantly bent over their skeleton. Too much flow will tear the polyps (worst case) and cause the polyps do not extend in the first place (best case). So, don’t give them too much flow.

I use Salinger’s calcium magnesium and ph test kits and I use a Hanna checker for alk. The light is a Kessil a160we running at 60%intensity. I don’t have a par meter so my par estimate is based on a brs par breakdown for the a360 at depths of 6,12,18 from the waterline. Based on their numbers at 50% intensity at about 12 inches from water surface the par is about 90 at that range so I’m slowly bringing the light up to 80% intensity over the next few weeks, parameters are all level so it’s only light that’s changing. Could those tips be bleaching? Is that die off? Or could it be from nipping?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I use Salinger’s calcium magnesium and ph test kits and I use a Hanna checker for alk. The light is a Kessil a160we running at 60%intensity. I don’t have a par meter so my par estimate is based on a brs par breakdown for the a360 at depths of 6,12,18 from the waterline. Based on their numbers at 50% intensity at about 12 inches from water surface the par is about 90 at that range so I’m slowly bringing the light up to 80% intensity over the next few weeks, parameters are all level so it’s only light that’s changing. Could those tips be bleaching? Is that die off? Or could it be from nipping?

Im pointing at light. The 160 as you know is adjustable. Increase to 80%. That may make a difference. Be sure to feed foods such as Mysis shrimp

 

[sharkbait1122*]

Here is what it looks like with 60%intensity and 20%color the head on the right is looking good. It’s just the left head. Could the new piece of rock be reflecting light onto that left head making it wither?

 

[sharkbait1122*]

One more picture to help

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here is what it looks like with 60%intensity and 20%color the head on the right is looking good. It’s just the left head. Could the new piece of rock be reflecting light onto that left head making it wither?

Yeah, thats a little low. Here is my intensity at some of my hammer

 

[HB AL]

Listen to all of what @vetteguy53081 is telling you, he is the master on these things. After 35+ years of experience myself I still read all posts by certain individuals on R2R to keep learning more. I would raise the intensity on the 160 to 100%. And by the way your hammer looks fine, doesnt look like its on its last legs or anything close. Good luck

 

[Shirak]

Good to see you are making progress on the Par questions..

If you could turn the whites on for photos though that would help a lot. I can't really see much with the deep blue.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Listen to all of what @vetteguy53081 is telling you, he is the master on these things. After 35+ years of experience myself I still read all posts by certain individuals on R2R to keep learning more. I would raise the intensity on the 160 to 100%. And by the way your hammer looks fine, doesnt look like its on its last legs or anything close. Good luck

Agreed- unhappy, not sick coral