Hammer coral is in trouble

pistorius4 · 06/14/2008, 06:25 PM

I purchased a hammer wall coral 2 weeks ago. At first it appeared to be doing ok. There are now 2 areas about an inch each that are just skeleton. The tentacles close to those areas are now turning black. I tried to research brown jelly disease and it does not appear to be that. I wish I had the ability to show some pics. I acclimated it by floating it.I did not drip it or dip it. I also put it close to the top of the tank with 150 watt halide. It was under halides at the fish store. I am not sure what to do.

I have a leather coral not even close to it. Nothing else near by to sting it. I have 6 hermits, 6 snails, 1 clown, and 2 cleaner shrimp in a 34 gallon tank that is 3 months old.

Tank parameters:

sg:1.024
temp: 77-81
ammonia:0
nitites:0
Nitrates 10ppm
calcium:400-425
DKH:13.5
Any help would be appreciated. I know it is hard without a picture.

ludnix · 06/14/2008, 06:56 PM

That's interesting, your setup is almost identical to mine, only my tank has been established longer. About a month and half ago I added a hammer coral to my tank, I placed it as high as I could under my 150watt halide, mine's loving the light and looks better than in the LFS. I don't know what the problem your describing is, I haven't heard of a coral turning black before.

pistorius4 · 06/14/2008, 08:13 PM

The coral is no longer opening up. It looks like some tentacles are just dying.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Should I try lowering it in my tank?

new2sw776784 · 06/14/2008, 08:21 PM

How much flow does it have?

The one i have was looking kind of weird i moved it from the top to the sand bed out of the major flow it must of still had to much cause all i did was move it over 6" and it is more open now than i have seen it in weeks. i have had it approx 2-3 months.

mine is in a 10 gallon with pcs

pistorius4 · 06/14/2008, 08:25 PM

It is getting a decent amount of flow. Maybe I should try reducing it by moving to the front of the tank. Maybe that will help. I have just not heard of a coral getting damaged that much by too much flow.
I will try moving it and see what happens. It certainly cant hurt.

Tswifty · 06/14/2008, 08:51 PM

Hammer corals are finicky to say the least. Any little change in flow or lighting can stress them out and cause them to retract.

I have a pink hammer coral in my tank. The other day I notice 2 of the heads were completely retracted to the point where it almost looked like they were dying.

After some closer observation I realized 2 vermetid snails had cast their nets over the coral, which caused it ot retract, and I'm guessing could have eventually killed the coral. Anyway... I took care of those suckers with some needle nose pliers and the coral was back to normal in a few hours.

Is this a fairly recent developement, or has it not opened since introduction?

Percula9 · 06/15/2008, 12:04 PM

The coral may be to close to the light. It may be suffering from light shock. Move coral to the sand bed.

orgtizz · 06/15/2008, 02:09 PM

When I first put my hammer in my tank, I put it high up becuase the LFS said it needed plenty of light. I soon found out that it do not like that amount of light. I sucked into it's self, and did not come out until I moved it mid way in my tank. After moving it, it came out bigger than before.

Also, maybe it's just me, but I like to drip acclimate oppose to floating anything. You might want to read up on that, I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction.

06/14/2008, 06:25 PM	#1
pistorius4 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8	Hammer coral is in trouble I purchased a hammer wall coral 2 weeks ago. At first it appeared to be doing ok. There are now 2 areas about an inch each that are just skeleton. The tentacles close to those areas are now turning black. I tried to research brown jelly disease and it does not appear to be that. I wish I had the ability to show some pics. I acclimated it by floating it.I did not drip it or dip it. I also put it close to the top of the tank with 150 watt halide. It was under halides at the fish store. I am not sure what to do. I have a leather coral not even close to it. Nothing else near by to sting it. I have 6 hermits, 6 snails, 1 clown, and 2 cleaner shrimp in a 34 gallon tank that is 3 months old. Tank parameters: sg:1.024 temp: 77-81 ammonia:0 nitites:0 Nitrates 10ppm calcium:400-425 DKH:13.5 Any help would be appreciated. I know it is hard without a picture.

06/14/2008, 06:56 PM	#2
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	That's interesting, your setup is almost identical to mine, only my tank has been established longer. About a month and half ago I added a hammer coral to my tank, I placed it as high as I could under my 150watt halide, mine's loving the light and looks better than in the LFS. I don't know what the problem your describing is, I haven't heard of a coral turning black before. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

06/14/2008, 08:51 PM	#6
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Hammer corals are finicky to say the least. Any little change in flow or lighting can stress them out and cause them to retract. I have a pink hammer coral in my tank. The other day I notice 2 of the heads were completely retracted to the point where it almost looked like they were dying. After some closer observation I realized 2 vermetid snails had cast their nets over the coral, which caused it ot retract, and I'm guessing could have eventually killed the coral. Anyway... I took care of those suckers with some needle nose pliers and the coral was back to normal in a few hours. Is this a fairly recent developement, or has it not opened since introduction? __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

06/14/2008, 08:13 PM	#3
pistorius4 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8	The coral is no longer opening up. It looks like some tentacles are just dying. Does anyone have any recommendations? Should I try lowering it in my tank?

06/14/2008, 08:21 PM	#4
new2sw776784 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: newark ohio Posts: 383	How much flow does it have? The one i have was looking kind of weird i moved it from the top to the sand bed out of the major flow it must of still had to much cause all i did was move it over 6" and it is more open now than i have seen it in weeks. i have had it approx 2-3 months. mine is in a 10 gallon with pcs

06/14/2008, 08:25 PM	#5
pistorius4 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8	It is getting a decent amount of flow. Maybe I should try reducing it by moving to the front of the tank. Maybe that will help. I have just not heard of a coral getting damaged that much by too much flow. I will try moving it and see what happens. It certainly cant hurt.

06/15/2008, 12:04 PM	#7
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	The coral may be to close to the light. It may be suffering from light shock. Move coral to the sand bed.

06/15/2008, 02:09 PM	#8
orgtizz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hbg PA Posts: 195	When I first put my hammer in my tank, I put it high up becuase the LFS said it needed plenty of light. I soon found out that it do not like that amount of light. I sucked into it's self, and did not come out until I moved it mid way in my tank. After moving it, it came out bigger than before. Also, maybe it's just me, but I like to drip acclimate oppose to floating anything. You might want to read up on that, I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction.