Is this normal please?

[mbmikebray]

A few weeks ago my girlfriend bought this hammer coral for me and it has been opening and looking very healthy until a couple of days ago, the left side has the skeleton very visible and it doesn't open much compared to previously! I hope its going to be ok she paid $70 for it. The only change recently has been the addition of 4 peppermint shrimp which I introduced after finally removing 2 mantis shrimp. (All aiptasia have now gone from the tank).
am, ni and na all at 0. alk 8.4 cal 415. mag 1500 sg 1.026 temp 80.
Thank you.

[All6Fish]

Ca looks low, I would aim more like 440 - 460 Mag 1300 Salinity 1.025 Temp is good.

[Zeus30]

It looks as though something ****ed it off. Maybe the shrimp or some other CUC has been picking at it.

How long have you had it?

[All6Fish]

There is one thing that I can tell you right off, hammers like a good amount of flow and will benefit from changing flow. It is also a LPS. Your placement should be low because of your lights and in an area of changing medium flow.

You want your flow GPH to be 20-30 times that of your volume, also the your currents should be changing.

Couple other things you need to test for. Calcium, phosphates, Alkalinity are the big ones that you need to worry about.

What salt are you using? If it's a good salt then shouldn't have to supplement really, especially after a water change.

Do you run a skimmer?

[mbmikebray]

Originally Posted by Zeus30

It looks as though something ****ed it off. Maybe the shrimp or some other CUC has been picking at it.

How long have you had it?

Since 9/23/12 so about 4 weeks, the peppermint shrimp do walk over it and take food that gets between the pollips of the hammer-frozen mysis usually.

[mbmikebray]

Originally Posted by All6Fish

There is one thing that I can tell you right off, hammers like a good amount of flow and will benefit from changing flow. It is also a LPS. Your placement should be low because of your lights and in an area of changing medium flow.

You want your flow GPH to be 20-30 times that of your volume, also the your currents should be changing.

Couple other things you need to test for. Calcium, phosphates, Alkalinity are the big ones that you need to worry about.

What salt are you using? If it's a good salt then shouldn't have to supplement really, especially after a water change.

Do you run a skimmer?

Using Instant Ocean and skimming also. Plenty of flow, I alter the position of the power heads reguarly.

[mbmikebray]

My algie Blennie likes to play with its reflection in the glass and disturbs the sand-I can see some grains of sand in the skeleton, could this be causing a problem?

[laugh]

I would highly suspect the peppermint shrimp. See if you can catch them picking at it after lights out.