All hammers hiding

[macdav7]

Yesterday I noticed all my hammers hiding, while my torch and the rest of my corals were fine. Today I noticed tissue recession, so I tested my params and they were normal. The only thing I could think of is that I added a purple pincushion urchin on Dec. 24. What do I do to save my hammers?

 

[Dom]

Provide water chemistry numbers. Also, the kind of lighting you have and if you have any power heads installed.

 

[Troylee]

Hard to tell from that picture.. do you see brown jelly?

 

[macdav7]

Hard to tell from that picture.. do you see brown jelly?

No, but I do see white flim

 

[Troylee]

No, but I do see white flim

Have you dipped to check for pests?

 

[macdav7]

Provide water chemistry numbers. Also, the kind of lighting you have and if you have any power heads installed.

Params:
(20 Gal)

Salinity: 1.024
PH: 8.2
Nitrate: 10 ppm
Temp: 79F

Lighting (One AI prime):
I lowered it today

 

[macdav7]

Have you dipped to check for pests?

I haven’t dipped bc I don’t want to stress further, but see no signs of flatworms

 

[Koty]

How old is your tank and do you have Mg ppm?

 

[twentyleagues]

Alk, Calc? probably not the issue with other euphillia doing ok but could be.

 

[sfin52]

Did you change anything.

 

[Dom]

Params:
(20 Gal)

Salinity: 1.024
PH: 8.2
Nitrate: 10 ppm
Temp: 79F

Lighting (One AI prime):
I lowered it today

Excellent lighting choice!

Hammers do not require a tremendous amount of light and flow to be happy. But it is important to lower the intensity of the lights when adding new coral so that the new additions can acclimate.

Your numbers look good, but check to see that you Alkalinity is around 8dKH.

 

[macdav7]

Alk, Calc? probably not the issue with other euphillia doing ok but could be.

Alk (kh): 143 ppm
Calc: 480 ppm

 

[macdav7]

Also, my tank is 9 months old and the hammer frags are about 6 months old. It's a shame bc they were all thriving and growing new heads until yesterday. My heater is very old, every so often it overheats so water was 84F yesterday, but I corrected it so now temp is back at 79. I don't think that would cause such tissue recession. I think it's the new purple pincushion urchin trying to eat them.

 

[Dom]

Alk (kh): 143 ppm
Calc: 480 ppm

That Alk is through the roof. Maybe test again to confirm?

 

[twentyleagues]

That Alk is through the roof. Maybe test again to confirm?

alk looks good thats like 8dkh which is fine.

 

[Dom]

alk looks good thats like 8dkh which is fine.

My bad. Op did say 143ppm.

How is that calculated?

 

[twentyleagues]

My bad. Op did say 143ppm.

How is that calculated?

multiply ppm x.056
good range in ppm is 120-200

 

[Dom]

multiply ppm x.056
good range in ppm is 120-200

And where does the .056 come from?

 

[twentyleagues]

And where does the .056 come from?

I dont remember tbh. Its like the gallons of a tank = lxwxh/231 I think but dont rememer for sure 231 is cubic inches in a gallon but not sure I just know its right...lol. I think its %dkh per ppm.

 

[macdav7]

This is the hammer now. I placed it in a little nursery net while I try to rehome that urchin. It's tissue is now mostly receded but I think it has stabilized. No brown jelly or more white film, and polyps are still there. Can this still recover or is it a goner?