help with hammer coral

fish flipper · 05/09/2015, 10:41 AM

i am new to the reef hobby but have been doing freshwater for a year now and just got this tank from craigslist. its a 24 gallon fluval m60. all fish, inverts and coral seem to be doing really well except for one of my hammer corals. i have 2 green hammers that are doing great and 1 orange hammer that never extends and looks like it may be dying. all my parameters seem good and calcium levels are at 440. please help!

cloak · 05/09/2015, 11:22 AM

Check this out.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/10/corals

HTH.

Sk8r · 05/09/2015, 11:52 AM

Mg and alk? s/b 1300 and 8.3.

fish flipper · 05/09/2015, 11:55 AM

i don't have a mg or ak test. i have been adding marine trace twice a week.

fish flipper · 05/09/2015, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

Check this out.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/10/corals

HTH.

good article, thanks. i didn't find anything really about the specific issue i am having.

Sk8r · 05/09/2015, 12:01 PM

I'd recommend Salifert tests for those two items. Adding something for trace elements without tests for the amount of those elements present in the water (via the salt mix, especially) and without regard to whether and how much they're being consumed by the corals, can cause all sorts of troubles down the road.
Stop the trace supplement, run the two other tests, be sure your params are 8.3 alk and 1300 mg or a bit more, and do some water changes, 20%, wait two days, 20%, wait two days, 20%. That may help.

fish flipper · 05/09/2015, 12:20 PM

thanks for the replies, i will get the tests and do a water change. i will keep you posted

05/09/2015, 11:52 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Mg and alk? s/b 1300 and 8.3. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/09/2015, 12:01 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I'd recommend Salifert tests for those two items. Adding something for trace elements without tests for the amount of those elements present in the water (via the salt mix, especially) and without regard to whether and how much they're being consumed by the corals, can cause all sorts of troubles down the road. Stop the trace supplement, run the two other tests, be sure your params are 8.3 alk and 1300 mg or a bit more, and do some water changes, 20%, wait two days, 20%, wait two days, 20%. That may help. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/09/2015, 11:22 AM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Check this out. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/10/corals HTH.

05/09/2015, 11:55 AM	#4
fish flipper Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: PA Posts: 189	i don't have a mg or ak test. i have been adding marine trace twice a week.

05/09/2015, 12:20 PM	#7
fish flipper Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: PA Posts: 189	thanks for the replies, i will get the tests and do a water change. i will keep you posted