hammer coral

cularry84 · 01/12/2014, 06:42 PM

hey guys I just noticed that my hammer coral that has been closed for the last 3 weeks seems to be turning to stone???? it was perfectly fine and then it closed so I moved it. it still wouldn't open so I moved it back to its original position. I just decided to move it again and when I touched the base my finger hit the coral and its like starting to calcify??? HELP GUYS!!!! I'm gonna

myself if it dies. it was beautiful!!!

Maxxumless · 01/12/2014, 06:52 PM

Need some more info and a picture of the coral if possible...

Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, & phosphates (Ca, Alk, Mg helpful too). Tank age, filtration (to you run low-nutrient), powerheads, kind of lights, and any other information that you think may be important.

Hammers are very sensitive to water quality. They like some nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) along with medium water flow. If it's closed up tight there's something wrong with the water or your lights.

rlm2005 · 01/12/2014, 06:54 PM

Do you see any tissue on it or is it a skeleton now?

cularry84 · 01/12/2014, 07:17 PM

the coral has been in for about 2 months now. I was keeping a close eye on my water by bringing it into the local LFS but my dad got sick and I'm having to help with his care. I do admit that I need to bring my water in. as a beginner I'm sure I have fallen into the rut of the tank looks clean and the fish are fine and its easy to assume the levels are fine too. My LFS is not very informative and I feel like they are just selling me stuff to make $$$ but they are the closest place I have to purchase saltwater fish and corals. they did not mention any type of nutrients or specific foods for the corals???? it does have some buds left on it but its getting pretty hard. I took it out and put it in a clean container with an air stone just about an hour ago. is there something I can do to help bring it back. I'm so sad cuz it was amazing to watch.

cularry84 · 01/12/2014, 07:21 PM

oh another thing I used a product called kick ick about 5 weeks ago now that I think about it. it is a copperless product to kill ick which I prob got from the LFS when I purchased a fish from them. it seems to be a vicious cycle with them. could this have been the culprit? I had to use it for 14 days every 3 days??

rlm2005 · 01/12/2014, 07:22 PM

It would help if you could post a picture. I would leave it in the tank for now. Do you have any coral rx or anything similar? You could try a dip but if it's gone there is nothing you can do for it. What kind of lights do you have? What other corals are in your tank? You will need to purchase your own test kits, this is important if you are keeping corals. What is your salinity? I don't really feed my hammers, they grab food when I feed the tank.

rlm2005 · 01/12/2014, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cularry84

oh another thing I used a product called kick ick about 5 weeks ago now that I think about it. it is a copperless product to kill ick which I prob got from the LFS when I purchased a fish from them. it seems to be a vicious cycle with them. could this have been the culprit? I had to use it for 14 days every 3 days??

I'm not familiar with that product. What is in it?

Maxxumless · 01/12/2014, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cularry84

oh another thing I used a product called kick ick about 5 weeks ago now that I think about it. it is a copperless product to kill ick which I prob got from the LFS when I purchased a fish from them. it seems to be a vicious cycle with them. could this have been the culprit? I had to use it for 14 days every 3 days??

It very well could have been this product, but I've never used it. Maybe someone can chime in that has. I personally never dose a tank unless I can test for it. Look at the stickies on how to deal with fish diseases.

Right now we need to deal with the coral. Doing some water changes would be a good start. Twenty percent using RO/DI water is a good start.

Hammer coral also need good, medium, lighting. Can you tell us about what you're using?

cularry84 · 01/14/2014, 08:49 PM

i have blue lights and then regular lights i believe that called the light a T5??? i think my problem is my levels. I didn't know anything about that. Like I said my LFS isn't exactly good about helping me succeed i feel. they just keep pumping me with crappy info. i need to go to them and tell them what i want. so please give me some advice on what i can get to help my hammer. i'll try and post a pic if i can figure out how to do it LOL!!!

rlm2005 · 01/14/2014, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cularry84

i have blue lights and then regular lights i believe that called the light a T5??? i think my problem is my levels. I didn't know anything about that. Like I said my LFS isn't exactly good about helping me succeed i feel. they just keep pumping me with crappy info. i need to go to them and tell them what i want. so please give me some advice on what i can get to help my hammer. i'll try and post a pic if i can figure out how to do it LOL!!!

I don't even know if it can be helped. Closed for 3 weeks and turning to stone doesn't sound too good. We really need to see a picture.

MSreefdoc · 01/14/2014, 09:11 PM

Sound like your problem was probably the ich treatment product. But what is your flow like? is is one constant direction? If the hammer is getting pushed by flow from one side constantly, it could very well have died from the flow. If this is the case you need to reposition your pumps so that flow is more random in your tank.

01/12/2014, 06:42 PM	#1
cularry84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 8	hammer coral hey guys I just noticed that my hammer coral that has been closed for the last 3 weeks seems to be turning to stone???? it was perfectly fine and then it closed so I moved it. it still wouldn't open so I moved it back to its original position. I just decided to move it again and when I touched the base my finger hit the coral and its like starting to calcify??? HELP GUYS!!!! I'm gonna myself if it dies. it was beautiful!!!

01/12/2014, 06:54 PM	#3
rlm2005 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Diego Area Posts: 432	Do you see any tissue on it or is it a skeleton now? __________________ Rhonda 65 gallon mixed reef

01/12/2014, 07:22 PM	#6
rlm2005 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Diego Area Posts: 432	It would help if you could post a picture. I would leave it in the tank for now. Do you have any coral rx or anything similar? You could try a dip but if it's gone there is nothing you can do for it. What kind of lights do you have? What other corals are in your tank? You will need to purchase your own test kits, this is important if you are keeping corals. What is your salinity? I don't really feed my hammers, they grab food when I feed the tank. __________________ Rhonda 65 gallon mixed reef

01/12/2014, 06:52 PM	#2
Maxxumless To the Max... Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,364	Need some more info and a picture of the coral if possible... Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, & phosphates (Ca, Alk, Mg helpful too). Tank age, filtration (to you run low-nutrient), powerheads, kind of lights, and any other information that you think may be important. Hammers are very sensitive to water quality. They like some nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) along with medium water flow. If it's closed up tight there's something wrong with the water or your lights.

01/12/2014, 07:17 PM	#4
cularry84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 8	the coral has been in for about 2 months now. I was keeping a close eye on my water by bringing it into the local LFS but my dad got sick and I'm having to help with his care. I do admit that I need to bring my water in. as a beginner I'm sure I have fallen into the rut of the tank looks clean and the fish are fine and its easy to assume the levels are fine too. My LFS is not very informative and I feel like they are just selling me stuff to make $$$ but they are the closest place I have to purchase saltwater fish and corals. they did not mention any type of nutrients or specific foods for the corals???? it does have some buds left on it but its getting pretty hard. I took it out and put it in a clean container with an air stone just about an hour ago. is there something I can do to help bring it back. I'm so sad cuz it was amazing to watch.

01/12/2014, 07:21 PM	#5
cularry84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 8	oh another thing I used a product called kick ick about 5 weeks ago now that I think about it. it is a copperless product to kill ick which I prob got from the LFS when I purchased a fish from them. it seems to be a vicious cycle with them. could this have been the culprit? I had to use it for 14 days every 3 days??

01/14/2014, 08:49 PM	#9
cularry84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 8	i have blue lights and then regular lights i believe that called the light a T5??? i think my problem is my levels. I didn't know anything about that. Like I said my LFS isn't exactly good about helping me succeed i feel. they just keep pumping me with crappy info. i need to go to them and tell them what i want. so please give me some advice on what i can get to help my hammer. i'll try and post a pic if i can figure out how to do it LOL!!!

01/14/2014, 09:11 PM	#11
MSreefdoc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 68	Sound like your problem was probably the ich treatment product. But what is your flow like? is is one constant direction? If the hammer is getting pushed by flow from one side constantly, it could very well have died from the flow. If this is the case you need to reposition your pumps so that flow is more random in your tank.