Hammer coral not looking good

jmf305 · 06/27/2016, 11:35 AM

I got 2 hammer corals on saturday, they were both doing great but this morning the pink one is loozing very bad. I was told I can keep them next to each other, to me it looks like the other hammer next to it might have killed it or is killing it, any help would really be appreciated.

lespaul339 · 06/27/2016, 12:23 PM

They should be fine right next to one another. I doubt them being close to one another is the problem. Do you have high nitrates and phosphates? What are your calcium, alk, and magnesium levels?

jml1149 · 06/27/2016, 02:56 PM

Looks similar to recent events in my tank. My phosphate reads 0.06 on the Hannah checker, is that high enough to cause LPS death? I'm curious as to what your PO4 reads.

jmf305 · 06/27/2016, 04:06 PM

Here are my parameters

Salinity. 1.25
Alk 8-8.3
Cal 450
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10

I have never tested for phosphates.

mcgyvr · 06/27/2016, 04:28 PM

too much flow can also "tear" their thin skin and cause problems..
Probably not an issue with the one next to it..

consistent water parameters/gently flow/decent light and they should do ok..
They are also susceptible to a brown jelly disease..see any "brown" goo on it?

jmf305 · 06/27/2016, 06:02 PM

I just moved the pink hammer and it has very little hammers left and actually looks like if something was eating it. Look at the pictures what do you think?

OrQidz · 06/27/2016, 10:24 PM

Well, it doesn't look real happy, does it? I don't know if anything is eating it, you never know...that's how they look when they are going down the tubes as well. IF your other corals are ok, maybe it got banged around during shipping/packaging, or something.

Jah2707 · 06/28/2016, 09:22 AM

I had some doing something similar and moved it to low flow and it came right back.

jmf305 · 06/28/2016, 10:38 AM

I'm going to try moving it to a low flow area. Thanks everyone for the help.

SeattleReefer · 06/28/2016, 10:42 AM

could be too much light

jayball · 06/28/2016, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jml1149

Looks similar to recent events in my tank. My phosphate reads 0.06 on the Hannah checker, is that high enough to cause LPS death? I'm curious as to what your PO4 reads.

Not remotely, it could be 50 times higher than that without killing coral.

jmf305 · 06/28/2016, 06:35 PM

I think something was eating it or maybe something fell on it, it is missing part of it's skeleton on one branch. Do you think my one spot foxface could be feasting on it?

jmf305 · 07/08/2016, 06:33 PM

Update
I just caught my pepermint shrimp eating my other hammer coral.

Garridactull · 07/08/2016, 09:04 PM

i have seen dwarf angels nip at and eat hammer corals and ya jmf305 i have also had peppermint shrimp pick at hammers

06/27/2016, 12:23 PM	#2
lespaul339 Reefer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 903	They should be fine right next to one another. I doubt them being close to one another is the problem. Do you have high nitrates and phosphates? What are your calcium, alk, and magnesium levels? __________________ Reefer Madness! Current Tank Info: 60x24x24 150 gallon reef, 55 gallon sump.

06/27/2016, 02:56 PM	#3
jml1149 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Southern CT Posts: 818	Looks similar to recent events in my tank. My phosphate reads 0.06 on the Hannah checker, is that high enough to cause LPS death? I'm curious as to what your PO4 reads. __________________ 120g mixed reefer.

06/27/2016, 04:28 PM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	too much flow can also "tear" their thin skin and cause problems.. Probably not an issue with the one next to it.. consistent water parameters/gently flow/decent light and they should do ok.. They are also susceptible to a brown jelly disease..see any "brown" goo on it? __________________ Who me?

06/28/2016, 09:22 AM	#8
Jah2707 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: springfield Posts: 889	I had some doing something similar and moved it to low flow and it came right back. __________________ 24x24x18 cube tank - set up 4/18/16 (from established tank) led, Jebao RW-4s, Eshopps 20 sump. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2575082 Current Tank Info: 24x24x18 cube

06/28/2016, 06:35 PM	#12
jmf305 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 53	I think something was eating it or maybe something fell on it, it is missing part of it's skeleton on one branch. Do you think my one spot foxface could be feasting on it? Last edited by jmf305; 06/28/2016 at 06:43 PM.

06/27/2016, 04:06 PM	#4
jmf305 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 53	Here are my parameters Salinity. 1.25 Alk 8-8.3 Cal 450 Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 10 I have never tested for phosphates.

06/27/2016, 10:24 PM	#7
OrQidz Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 825	Well, it doesn't look real happy, does it? I don't know if anything is eating it, you never know...that's how they look when they are going down the tubes as well. IF your other corals are ok, maybe it got banged around during shipping/packaging, or something.

06/28/2016, 10:38 AM	#9
jmf305 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 53	I'm going to try moving it to a low flow area. Thanks everyone for the help.

06/28/2016, 10:42 AM	#10
SeattleReefer Moved On Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 230	could be too much light

07/08/2016, 06:33 PM	#13
jmf305 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 53	Update I just caught my pepermint shrimp eating my other hammer coral.

07/08/2016, 09:04 PM	#14
Garridactull Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Tahoma Posts: 25	i have seen dwarf angels nip at and eat hammer corals and ya jmf305 i have also had peppermint shrimp pick at hammers