Hammer Bleaching?

Kaiser Tang · 07/10/2006, 08:37 PM

I have a hammer coral that is starting to bleach out. I've had this hammer for several years with no problems, now the outer heads are starting to lose their color. No recent changes that I can think of. All water params are on track. pH is a little low, 7.9, but that's not unusual for my tank. Any ideas?

ACBlinky · 07/10/2006, 08:43 PM

How hot is the tank? I'm having trouble with bleaching right now and I think I've narrowed the cause down to heat -- my tanks are running VERY warm right now, 85F during the night, 86-87F during the day. I wish I could get a chiller; a/c, ceiling fans in each room and fans over the tanks can only do so much when it's humid and 85-90F outside.

Kaiser Tang · 07/10/2006, 09:05 PM

Warm, but not that warm. 83 degrees tops.

Kaiser Tang · 07/11/2006, 11:28 AM

Other thoughts?

SDguy · 07/11/2006, 11:38 AM

What kind of light do you have? I had a torch that slowly bleached over a year or so from too much light.

Kaiser Tang · 07/11/2006, 01:04 PM

I don't think it too much light. It's been under the same light for almost a year. This bleaching has happend over the past couple of days. I'm at a loss. Everything else looks great!

theop · 07/11/2006, 01:10 PM

Maybe too little light? What type of lighting and when did you last change the bulbs. They could be fading, especially if over a year old.

Kaiser Tang · 07/11/2006, 01:18 PM

That's my thought. I actually have the bulbs and I plan on starting the switch tonight. Hope it works, it's a really beautiful hammer.

argo · 07/11/2006, 01:23 PM

Do you feed your hammer?

outta names · 07/11/2006, 02:39 PM

FYIW if I feel something is wrong with my tank and my tests come back o.k. I always like to take a water sample to my lfs just to make sure my equipment/tests haven't gone bad. Just my 2 cents, good luck.

1package · 07/11/2006, 03:08 PM

My hammer did the same thing. I was using ICH KICK or KICK ICH (whichever?) after I introduced a PBT with some spots. I was out of town and the hammer fell over. It was on it side for about 2 days. When I returned it was broke in half (8/10 heads each) and began to bleach, nearly transparent except the tips (green). Do not think the fall had anything to do with it. It has stayed that way for the past 3 months. Extends every day just like normal, growing. The small buds on it are also clear.

Only this past week have I noticed that a new bud had color.

I was thinking of selling it as albino or something.

07/10/2006, 08:37 PM	#1
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	Hammer Bleaching? I have a hammer coral that is starting to bleach out. I've had this hammer for several years with no problems, now the outer heads are starting to lose their color. No recent changes that I can think of. All water params are on track. pH is a little low, 7.9, but that's not unusual for my tank. Any ideas? __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

07/10/2006, 08:43 PM	#2
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	How hot is the tank? I'm having trouble with bleaching right now and I think I've narrowed the cause down to heat -- my tanks are running VERY warm right now, 85F during the night, 86-87F during the day. I wish I could get a chiller; a/c, ceiling fans in each room and fans over the tanks can only do so much when it's humid and 85-90F outside. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

07/10/2006, 09:05 PM	#3
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	Warm, but not that warm. 83 degrees tops. __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

07/11/2006, 11:28 AM	#4
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	Other thoughts? __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

07/11/2006, 11:38 AM	#5
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	What kind of light do you have? I had a torch that slowly bleached over a year or so from too much light. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

07/11/2006, 01:04 PM	#6
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	I don't think it too much light. It's been under the same light for almost a year. This bleaching has happend over the past couple of days. I'm at a loss. Everything else looks great! __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

07/11/2006, 01:10 PM	#7
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	Maybe too little light? What type of lighting and when did you last change the bulbs. They could be fading, especially if over a year old.

07/11/2006, 01:18 PM	#8
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	That's my thought. I actually have the bulbs and I plan on starting the switch tonight. Hope it works, it's a really beautiful hammer. __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

07/11/2006, 01:23 PM	#9
argo Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: CNJ Posts: 397	Do you feed your hammer? __________________ Art. Current Tank Info: 90G main, 6-bulb Tek Light T5, about 90# of Tonga branch and Fiji rock; 200# of SD/Live sand; Octopus NW-150RC, DIY 25G sump, building sump/equipment corner cabinet

07/11/2006, 02:39 PM	#10
outta names Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 360	FYIW if I feel something is wrong with my tank and my tests come back o.k. I always like to take a water sample to my lfs just to make sure my equipment/tests haven't gone bad. Just my 2 cents, good luck.

07/11/2006, 03:08 PM	#11
1package Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WV Posts: 975	My hammer did the same thing. I was using ICH KICK or KICK ICH (whichever?) after I introduced a PBT with some spots. I was out of town and the hammer fell over. It was on it side for about 2 days. When I returned it was broke in half (8/10 heads each) and began to bleach, nearly transparent except the tips (green). Do not think the fall had anything to do with it. It has stayed that way for the past 3 months. Extends every day just like normal, growing. The small buds on it are also clear. Only this past week have I noticed that a new bud had color. I was thinking of selling it as albino or something.