Hammer Coral Help

[gracie3700]

Hi I’m on the newer side of the reefing hobby, and I have a hammer coral that seems super unhappy. Pictures attached. I’ve taken my water to an accredited reef store in my area and they tested all my parameters with the Hanna Testing kits. Nitrates came back high and I did a 5 gallon water change on my 14 gallon nano tank. My mushroom corals, gsp, are fine. The anemone is shriveled up today but I think that’s due to the increased temperature today. I have had a bit of a nuisance algae problem on the glass but I am at a loss for the hammer coral. I don’t see any bleaching but it is extremely retracted no brown jelly or anything. I’ve moved it around the tank quite a bit to see if that was the issue and it hasn’t opened up. I’m running this light by amazon:
On a LPS setting but I have turned down the white light and turned up the blue lights. Salinity is testing at 1.025, Ph around 8.3, calcium 450, alk was around 10.2 when I checked. Temp is usually at 76 but spiked to 80 with heat wave today. Has been 76 for the week i’ve had the coral. Tank is host to a pair of clowns and some hermit crabs. Tank is about 6 almost 7 months old.

 

[KrisReef]

What do you use for water circulation?
Are you using RODI for top off water?
Stop moving the coral.

 

[gracie3700]

What do you use for water circulation?
Are you using RODI for top off water?
Stop moving the coral.

It does pretty good with the top I have on it, doesn’t need top off water in-between changes. I’m using just the filter flow because it’s adjustable. Sometimes one of the hammers or two come out and they sway gently.

 

[KrisReef]

It does pretty good with the top I have on it, doesn’t need top off water in-between changes. I’m using just the filter flow because it’s adjustable. Sometimes one of the hammers or two come out and they sway gently.

The surface flow is what brings oxygen into the water and can help keep the tank cool from evaporation.

The ocean currents move a lot more water than a filter and the water motion helps keep the corals healthy.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Hi,

Agree with Kris that you should stop moving it around. I see no flesh band, which is not a good sign at all.

Do you dip your coral at all?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What kind of filter? A hob filter? That provides slight waterfall but not flow, flow means pushing water from one side of the tank to the other. Need a powerhead for that. Flow will help with all that green growing over everything.

Is the alk always 10.2?

What kind of lighting do you have? How old is your tank?

 

[gracie3700]

Hi,

Agree with Kris that you should stop moving it around. I see no flesh band, which is not a good sign at all.

Do you dip your coral at all?

I didn’t dip this one which I now see is stupid after some more research. I have a Powerhead on the way now as well. Here is hopefully a better picture for you.

 

[gracie3700]

The surface flow is what brings oxygen into the water and can help keep the tank cool from evaporation.

The ocean currents move a lot more water than a filter and the water motion helps keep the corals healthy.

Will order one today!

 

[gracie3700]

What kind of filter? A hob filter? That provides slight waterfall but not flow, flow means pushing water from one side of the tank to the other. Need a powerhead for that. Flow will help with all that green growing over everything.

Is the alk always 10.2?

What kind of lighting do you have? How old is your tank?

Yeah it is a HOB with a built in skimmer. I just started testing ALK and calcium with the stores recommendation and dose calcium as needed. I have the lighting linked in the post and it’s about 7 months old with nothing but the clowns and anemone until now.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I didn’t dip this one which I now see is stupid after some more research. I have a Powerhead on the way now as well. Here is hopefully a better picture for you.

Never mind, I do see a flesh band now. I would say it's the flow.

 

[gracie3700]

Never mind, I do see a flesh band now. I would say it's the flow.

So more flow to get oxygen going? Would air pump with air stone work in the meantime until power head arrives?

 

[KrisReef]

Yeah it is a HOB with a built in skimmer. I just started testing ALK and calcium with the stores recommendation and dose calcium as needed. I have the lighting linked in the post and it’s about 7 months old with nothing but the clowns and anemone until now.

If you are doing regular water changes that may provide enough alk & Ca to avoid dosing either. In a small tank water changes are easier and safer to accomplish that alk dosing, in my noob-days recollection reflectometer?

Anyway, best to move parameters slowly. With water changes, the Alk and Ca will drop slowly with only a few corals and water changes generally can keep up.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

So more flow to get oxygen going? Would air pump with air stone work in the meantime until power head arrives?

Flow helps to remove dirt and detritus from the coral, and it brings oxygen and nutrients to the coral. Corals can’t move to get what they need so they are dependant on flow to bring it to them.

 

[gracie3700]

If you are doing regular water changes that may provide enough alk & Ca to avoid dosing either. In a small tank water changes are easier and safer to accomplish that alk dosing, in my noob-days recollection reflectometer?

Anyway, best to move parameters slowly. With water changes, the Alk and Ca will drop slowly with only a few corals and water changes generally can keep up.

Yeah I have one of those guys powerhead is coming Thursday what should I do in the meantime for params on that light? I think that’s also ticking it off but i’m not 100%

 

[gracie3700]

Flow helps to remove dirt and detritus from the coral, and it brings oxygen and nutrients to the coral. Corals can’t move to get what they need so they are dependant on flow to bring it to them.

Looks like power head is coming Thursday what is best option in the meantime?

 

[KrisReef]

Looks like power head is coming Thursday what is best option in the meantime?

An airstone will work but the popping bubbles are messy and create salt creep fairly quickly. Thursday should be soon enough.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi I’m on the newer side of the reefing hobby, and I have a hammer coral that seems super unhappy. Pictures attached. I’ve taken my water to an accredited reef store in my area and they tested all my parameters with the Hanna Testing kits. Nitrates came back high and I did a 5 gallon water change on my 14 gallon nano tank. My mushroom corals, gsp, are fine. The anemone is shriveled up today but I think that’s due to the increased temperature today. I have had a bit of a nuisance algae problem on the glass but I am at a loss for the hammer coral. I don’t see any bleaching but it is extremely retracted no brown jelly or anything. I’ve moved it around the tank quite a bit to see if that was the issue and it hasn’t opened up. I’m running this light by amazon:
On a LPS setting but I have turned down the white light and turned up the blue lights. Salinity is testing at 1.025, Ph around 8.3, calcium 450, alk was around 10.2 when I checked. Temp is usually at 76 but spiked to 80 with heat wave today. Has been 76 for the week i’ve had the coral. Tank is host to a pair of clowns and some hermit crabs. Tank is about 6 almost 7 months old.

While these corals are not picky about location, best is upper third of tank under both moderate light and water flow. Too little flow and they shrink, and too much flow, they risk polyps being torn off skeleton. Skeleton - Assure calcium is not below 400 and feed them mysis shrimp 2-3x a week

 

[gracie3700]

While these corals are not picky about location, best is upper third of tank under both moderate light and water flow. Too little flow and they shrink, and too much flow, they risk polyps being torn off skeleton. Skeleton - Assure calcium is not below 400 and feed them mysis shrimp 2-3x a week

are brine shrimp ok since corals are so small? I was told that I wouldn’t need to feed but I am still quite a noob in terms of the hobby

 

[vetteguy53081]

are brine shrimp ok since corals are so small? I was told that I wouldn’t need to feed but I am still quite a noob in terms of the hobby

Brine works but mysis has more nutritional content and you need to feed less opposed to brine shrimp