Hammer receding

mmark · 07/07/2014, 03:08 AM

Put a small 5 head hammer into my DT on Sat morning. It seemed to open up fine. Last night I noticed 2 of the heads receded so I reduced the flow on it and lights out. Peeked at it this morning and all heads are receded. Is this normal for this coral. It is at the bottom of the tank --is it looking for more light-- should it be moved up.

shesacharmer · 07/07/2014, 05:52 AM

Mine get very cranky for no reason I can discern. Last night my two head was HUGE! This morning one is totally receded and the other more than half receded. Did nothing and now an hour later one is 2/3 full and the other though small looks healthy.

I recommend watch and see approach for a full 24 hours. If no change you can think about moving it to an area with moderate light but mild to moderate flow. Did you dip it before you put it in your tank?

justthewife · 07/07/2014, 06:06 AM

When you are saying receding are you meaning losing flesh or are you meaning the polyps are retracted in? It is normal for this coral to have retracted polyps at night when the lights go dim or out and then come back out in the light. I agree it is a watch and see thing right now.

Kyle918 · 07/07/2014, 09:35 AM

In would watch and see. Hammers can be finicky sometimes but are very hardy. Reducing flow was a good idea as they don't like much flow. Low to low-medium is good and nothing too direct. The like a lot of light and may not extend fully with less than adequate light. I believe it can adapt though over time so again, I would give it a few days before taking any further action. Where is it in your tank and what lights do you have?

mmark · 07/07/2014, 09:38 AM

I meant retracting. Wrong choice of words. Last night two of the heads were completely retracted. This morning all were out but nowhere near as full at the hammer has been since putting it in. I will go with the watch and see approach for now. Tank is only up for 6 months and the corals are my first so very inexperienced as to how they may act. Thanks for the reply.

Duanne · 07/07/2014, 10:28 AM

Hi, can I ask if your water parameters are within the specified tolerances, pH, calcium, magnesium and DKh?

07/07/2014, 03:08 AM	#1
mmark Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Scranton Pa. Posts: 71	Hammer receding Put a small 5 head hammer into my DT on Sat morning. It seemed to open up fine. Last night I noticed 2 of the heads receded so I reduced the flow on it and lights out. Peeked at it this morning and all heads are receded. Is this normal for this coral. It is at the bottom of the tank --is it looking for more light-- should it be moved up.

07/07/2014, 05:52 AM	#2
shesacharmer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Central NH Posts: 1,241	Mine get very cranky for no reason I can discern. Last night my two head was HUGE! This morning one is totally receded and the other more than half receded. Did nothing and now an hour later one is 2/3 full and the other though small looks healthy. I recommend watch and see approach for a full 24 hours. If no change you can think about moving it to an area with moderate light but mild to moderate flow. Did you dip it before you put it in your tank? __________________ 75 gal, LR w/refugium, 79 deg, PH 8.0, sg 1.025, amm 0/nit 0/nit 0, Calcium 420, dKH 8.3, mag 1300, Phos 0 Current Tank Info: A work in progress...

07/07/2014, 06:06 AM	#3
justthewife Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Endicott, NY Posts: 909	When you are saying receding are you meaning losing flesh or are you meaning the polyps are retracted in? It is normal for this coral to have retracted polyps at night when the lights go dim or out and then come back out in the light. I agree it is a watch and see thing right now. __________________ 90 gallon Fish only tank Current Tank Info: 90 gal tank AquaMax skimmer LED EchoTech Gen 3 lights Gyre150 RO/DI water

07/07/2014, 09:35 AM	#4
Kyle918 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 642	In would watch and see. Hammers can be finicky sometimes but are very hardy. Reducing flow was a good idea as they don't like much flow. Low to low-medium is good and nothing too direct. The like a lot of light and may not extend fully with less than adequate light. I believe it can adapt though over time so again, I would give it a few days before taking any further action. Where is it in your tank and what lights do you have? __________________ Work in Progress: 75g Rimless DT \| 20g sump \| Aquamaxx ConeS-1 \| Two Tunze Turbelle 6025 Tank established 02/16/14

07/07/2014, 10:28 AM	#6
Duanne Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Lincoln, UK Posts: 4	Hi, can I ask if your water parameters are within the specified tolerances, pH, calcium, magnesium and DKh? __________________ I have the body of a God! Just a shame it's Buddha........... Current Tank Info: NDA 5x2x2 ATI Sunpower, TMC Blue/White LED x 2, Deltec Skimmer, Tunze Streams x 3, Jebao 6000 Return, Cleartides Phosphate/Carbon Reactor

07/07/2014, 09:38 AM	#5
mmark Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Scranton Pa. Posts: 71	I meant retracting. Wrong choice of words. Last night two of the heads were completely retracted. This morning all were out but nowhere near as full at the hammer has been since putting it in. I will go with the watch and see approach for now. Tank is only up for 6 months and the corals are my first so very inexperienced as to how they may act. Thanks for the reply.