Which is hardiest? Hammer, Torch, Frogspawn?

Been_There8 · 10/03/2009, 10:10 AM

Well, im a begginer to saltwater fish tanks, i have 2 clowns, 1 cleaner shrimp and a bear bottom tank. 14 gallon biocube(with stock lights).

Currently, for my tank, i just drop a half cap of phytoplankton in once a week, and i really dont want to spot feed any of the new corals i want to get. I feed my clowns and shrimp fish flakes right now.

So i was wondering two things, which is the hardiest, a hammer, torch, or frogspawn? Im a beginer, so i started small with mushrooms and polyps, they are doing fine, so im just moving up the ladder.

-My nitrates are around 12-15 right now, and it doesnt look like its bugging anything, but im getting them lower, i do a 20% wc every 2 weeks.

So basically, i was wondering which one of these would fit good for me, i think they all look sweet and amazing, and i love how they have tenicals.

Ryan45 · 10/03/2009, 11:38 AM

Great question, hope you don't mind if I tag along, I have the same question.

Been_There8 · 10/03/2009, 11:49 AM

Sure.

Reefun · 10/03/2009, 11:59 AM

I would say that hammers and frogspawns are hardier than a torch but that is just my experience. I would watch you alk / cal if you want to do one of these. Thay con pull a lot out of the water if they are hapy and growing. You should also keep a eye on you PH with a biocube. Because of the way the hood is they are bad about running low PH. Also if you have the bioballs in the back that may have somthing to do with your nitrats being a little high.

Hope that helps and we always like pics hent hent

Been_There8 · 10/03/2009, 01:05 PM

and do any of them have a skeleton?

stoneyj33 · 10/03/2009, 05:09 PM

all three are pretty hardy, in my experience the colors fade the higher the nitrates until it reaches its tipping point and everything dies.

Id say cut back on photo, half a cup is a lot and it might be dying off and adding to your nitrate problem. Plus photo is really only used to feed clams and rotifers. Id suggest getting frozen brine shrimp and feed your tank just that. Clowns will love it and some will get stuck in the lps corals and provide food. I don't feed my mushrooms or polyps they just needs light and a little bit of nutrients.

hyperfocal · 10/03/2009, 05:19 PM

Funny how experiences differ -- I've found torch corals to be the hardiest of the euphyllias. Frogspawn the touchiest and hammers are somewhere in between IME. As far as feeding goes, I wouldn't only feed brine shrimp since they aren't the most nutritious thing out there; alternating between mysis, brine shrimp, cyclop-eeze and one of the better carnivore mixes (Rod's Food, for example) is my suggestion.

Oh yeah, and I'd stop with the Phyto. Like stonyj33 says, it doesn't directly help much other than clams and some softies. And cyano.

zimmyfan · 10/03/2009, 10:41 PM

I have all 3 and, in my opinion, are pretty much the same as far as hardiness and care

murphreef · 10/03/2009, 11:09 PM

ive kept hamrs and frogspawns both relatively easy low maintenance

i have a hammer now green with pink hammers nice coral

RealReef7 · 10/04/2009, 12:45 PM

torch corals are always hardy. always one of the first in my tank.

Reefun · 10/04/2009, 05:16 PM

That really is funny. I didn't have much luck with torches when I started out. And have seen them go first a few times in tanks with low ALK. But that was years ago maybe the ones I have experience with were being collected somewhere different. Or it was just coincidence and I read more into it than I should have. anyway they are what I would consider a beginner coral and you more than likely will have good luck with any of the Euphyllia.

nattarbox · 10/05/2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

I would watch you alk / cal if you want to do one of these. Thay con pull a lot out of the water if they are hapy and growing.

Yeah I just noticed this as well. Added a torch coral about a month back and a higher consumption of calcium and a drop in alkalinity was immediately noticeable. I've had very fast growing Montipora in my tank for awhile and never noticed a dip in these levels, but a week after adding the torch my calcium dropped a few points. Sort of surprising.

Waterobert · 10/05/2009, 10:39 AM

I have 3 hammers in my tank and they are very hardy. Torch and frog didn't make it in the same tank. I had hammers for over 4 years now, the other two lasted for about year and half.

justinmcleod · 10/06/2009, 09:35 PM

Strangely, I have a massive frogspawn doing great in my tank, but my torch slowly declined over a few months, go figure.

MeReefBeef · 10/07/2009, 06:39 AM

All hardy. Impossible to kill. Spread like wildfire.

SDguy · 10/07/2009, 07:42 AM

IME, branching hammers and frogs are the hardiest. Wall versions next up. Torches are the least hardy. All relatively speaking, of course.

Reefun · 10/07/2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

IME, branching hammers and frogs are the hardiest. Wall versions next up. Torches are the least hardy. All relatively speaking, of course.

that goes with what I have experienced.

shark007 · 10/09/2009, 12:09 PM

Frogspawn I think

speckled trout · 10/09/2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Frogspawn the touchiest and hammers are somewhere in between IME. As far as feeding goes, I wouldn't only feed brine shrimp since they aren't the most nutritious thing out there; alternating between mysis, brine shrimp, cyclop-eeze and one of the better carnivore mixes (Rod's Food, for example) is my suggestion.

I'm gonna have to disagree. I've found them to be extremelly hardy and tolerant to both the water quality and lighting.

Mine have continued to propagate without adding anything other than fish food for my fish. I never directly feed them and have several colonies that are 5+ years old. They will branch out even quicker when you occassionally trim some of their branches and allow more light to get to the new "buds" that continually try to form below existing polyps.

180+55reef · 10/12/2009, 09:32 AM

I have foung frog to be the easiest

lehireefer · 10/13/2009, 10:05 PM

I have a hammer that started out with 3 heads and in a year and a half it now has well over 10 and has almost outgrown the tank. It's a 24G nano. Guess it's time for a new tank. Also have frogspawn that has grown very big as well. My pink torch however only lasted a year before it faded away. Too bad, it was really nice with very light pink ends and very pink arms...

dan10342 · 10/13/2009, 10:22 PM

i find branching hammers and frogs to be easiest. then torches. lastly wall hammers and frogs are the hardest to keep IME.

droberts · 10/15/2009, 10:02 PM

i have frogspawn,hammers and torch they all do very well in my tank and get big under my lights and i don't feed any of them. they catch there own food when i feed the fish.

10/03/2009, 10:10 AM	#1
Been_There8 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 406	Which is hardiest? Hammer, Torch, Frogspawn? Well, im a begginer to saltwater fish tanks, i have 2 clowns, 1 cleaner shrimp and a bear bottom tank. 14 gallon biocube(with stock lights). Currently, for my tank, i just drop a half cap of phytoplankton in once a week, and i really dont want to spot feed any of the new corals i want to get. I feed my clowns and shrimp fish flakes right now. So i was wondering two things, which is the hardiest, a hammer, torch, or frogspawn? Im a beginer, so i started small with mushrooms and polyps, they are doing fine, so im just moving up the ladder. -My nitrates are around 12-15 right now, and it doesnt look like its bugging anything, but im getting them lower, i do a 20% wc every 2 weeks. So basically, i was wondering which one of these would fit good for me, i think they all look sweet and amazing, and i love how they have tenicals.

10/03/2009, 05:19 PM	#7
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	Funny how experiences differ -- I've found torch corals to be the hardiest of the euphyllias. Frogspawn the touchiest and hammers are somewhere in between IME. As far as feeding goes, I wouldn't only feed brine shrimp since they aren't the most nutritious thing out there; alternating between mysis, brine shrimp, cyclop-eeze and one of the better carnivore mixes (Rod's Food, for example) is my suggestion. Oh yeah, and I'd stop with the Phyto. Like stonyj33 says, it doesn't directly help much other than clams and some softies. And cyano. __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby Last edited by hyperfocal; 10/03/2009 at 05:25 PM.

10/03/2009, 11:09 PM	#9
murphreef Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: simi valley Posts: 3,208	ive kept hamrs and frogspawns both relatively easy low maintenance i have a hammer now green with pink hammers nice coral __________________ Justin Current Tank Info: 25G cube (finally back in the hobby in a small way)

10/07/2009, 07:42 AM	#16
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	IME, branching hammers and frogs are the hardiest. Wall versions next up. Torches are the least hardy. All relatively speaking, of course. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

10/03/2009, 11:38 AM	#2
Ryan45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 97	Great question, hope you don't mind if I tag along, I have the same question.

10/03/2009, 11:49 AM	#3
Been_There8 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 406	Sure.

10/03/2009, 11:59 AM	#4
Reefun Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 534	I would say that hammers and frogspawns are hardier than a torch but that is just my experience. I would watch you alk / cal if you want to do one of these. Thay con pull a lot out of the water if they are hapy and growing. You should also keep a eye on you PH with a biocube. Because of the way the hood is they are bad about running low PH. Also if you have the bioballs in the back that may have somthing to do with your nitrats being a little high. Hope that helps and we always like pics hent hent

10/03/2009, 01:05 PM	#5
Been_There8 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 406	and do any of them have a skeleton?

10/03/2009, 05:09 PM	#6
stoneyj33 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Apple Valley, MN Posts: 78	all three are pretty hardy, in my experience the colors fade the higher the nitrates until it reaches its tipping point and everything dies. Id say cut back on photo, half a cup is a lot and it might be dying off and adding to your nitrate problem. Plus photo is really only used to feed clams and rotifers. Id suggest getting frozen brine shrimp and feed your tank just that. Clowns will love it and some will get stuck in the lps corals and provide food. I don't feed my mushrooms or polyps they just needs light and a little bit of nutrients.

10/03/2009, 10:41 PM	#8
zimmyfan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Edina, MN Posts: 50	I have all 3 and, in my opinion, are pretty much the same as far as hardiness and care

10/04/2009, 12:45 PM	#10
RealReef7 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: bikini island Posts: 954	torch corals are always hardy. always one of the first in my tank.

10/04/2009, 05:16 PM	#11
Reefun Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 534	That really is funny. I didn't have much luck with torches when I started out. And have seen them go first a few times in tanks with low ALK. But that was years ago maybe the ones I have experience with were being collected somewhere different. Or it was just coincidence and I read more into it than I should have. anyway they are what I would consider a beginner coral and you more than likely will have good luck with any of the Euphyllia.

10/05/2009, 10:39 AM	#13
Waterobert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel ,Ca Posts: 437	I have 3 hammers in my tank and they are very hardy. Torch and frog didn't make it in the same tank. I had hammers for over 4 years now, the other two lasted for about year and half.

10/06/2009, 09:35 PM	#14
justinmcleod Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: D.C. Metro Area Posts: 101	Strangely, I have a massive frogspawn doing great in my tank, but my torch slowly declined over a few months, go figure.

10/07/2009, 06:39 AM	#15
MeReefBeef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 74	All hardy. Impossible to kill. Spread like wildfire.

10/09/2009, 12:09 PM	#18
shark007 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 321	Frogspawn I think

10/12/2009, 09:32 AM	#20
180+55reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: New England Posts: 359	I have foung frog to be the easiest

10/13/2009, 10:05 PM	#21
lehireefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Lehi, Utah Posts: 12	I have a hammer that started out with 3 heads and in a year and a half it now has well over 10 and has almost outgrown the tank. It's a 24G nano. Guess it's time for a new tank. Also have frogspawn that has grown very big as well. My pink torch however only lasted a year before it faded away. Too bad, it was really nice with very light pink ends and very pink arms...

10/13/2009, 10:22 PM	#22
dan10342 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneseo, NY Posts: 3,331	i find branching hammers and frogs to be easiest. then torches. lastly wall hammers and frogs are the hardest to keep IME.

10/15/2009, 10:02 PM	#23
droberts Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: stow ohio Posts: 1,277	i have frogspawn,hammers and torch they all do very well in my tank and get big under my lights and i don't feed any of them. they catch there own food when i feed the fish.