Hammer corals dying

[muggle0981]

Hammer coral is a 12 -13 yr old colony-about 40+ heads

About a month ago started losing heads randomly-not jelly brown slime-polyp bailout? When the polyps wither away keft with bleach white skeleton.

Lights havent changed-added mp40 back in august replacing gyre-

Here are current parameters-
Salinity 1.026

Dont have a ph tester

Magnesium 1440-salifert

Calcium 480–salifert

Phosphate-.14- hanna checker

Nitrate 12.6- hanna checker

Alkalinity-8.5 hanma checker


Did replace refugium light recently snd bow chaeto is taking off for growth-

Phosphates seemed to have dipped to .04 about 2 weeks ago-

Last year when i put on a media for gfo it seemed to strip me down to .02 for phosphates and corals didnt seem happy-they seem to like .14-.20 for phosphates


Tank is softy and lps

Could the phosphate swing cause the dying off in the hammer coral

Everything else has been generally consistent

 

[*GAREEF*]

How often are you checking phosphate?
Is there a chance it’s been dipping to zero?
My hammers and torches looked real bad when my phosphates bottomed out to zero and probably would have died if I had not caught it in time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m not seeing a chemical reason in the data posted. How are other corals and what are they?

 

[muggle0981]

Check once a week levels


Other corals in tank

Favia’s, lobos, frogspawn, candy canes, musbrooms, toadstools, other softies/leathers,

 

[muggle0981]

This was like 3 minth ago

 

[Uncle99]

This was like 3 minth ago

Very nice, softy dominant.
Where’s the old hammer?

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

if Randy can’t answer it then i’ll say this: sometimes corals just die. That’s what I learned along the way.

Sorry man. It sucks. Did you try an iodine dip? That’s what I would do. Some people also dip in revive if there is a parasite.

 

[muggle0981]

It was the colony above the purple toadstool

Ive fragged it up

 

[muggle0981]

Yes i figured maybe its just time to die

 

[JonoH]

Could try a KFC dip?
https://kungfucorals.com/blogs/news/the-kfc-dip-a-game-changer-in-keeping-healthy-euphyllia

 

[lwien01]

Hammer coral is a 12 -13 yr old colony-about 40+ heads

About a month ago started losing heads randomly-not jelly brown slime-polyp bailout? When the polyps wither away keft with bleach white skeleton.

Lights havent changed-added mp40 back in august replacing gyre-

Here are current parameters-
Salinity 1.026

Dont have a ph tester

Magnesium 1440-salifert

Calcium 480–salifert

Phosphate-.14- hanna checker

Nitrate 12.6- hanna checker

Alkalinity-8.5 hanma checker


Did replace refugium light recently snd bow chaeto is taking off for growth-

Phosphates seemed to have dipped to .04 about 2 weeks ago-

Last year when i put on a media for gfo it seemed to strip me down to .02 for phosphates and corals didnt seem happy-they seem to like .14-.20 for phosphates


Tank is softy and lps

Could the phosphate swing cause the dying off in the hammer coral

Everything else has been generally consistent

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Do you run carbon with all those leathers in the tank? The toxins will have a slow affect on lps corals, is your coral dying fast or slow?

 

[lwien01]

Hey there,

Hammer corals. Especially wall hammers are sensitive when there are sudden changes in either PH, Nitrates, Phosphates
From water changes or adding phosphate remover or carbon that sucks all the nutrients and phosphates from the tank
One of those elements dropped and your
Hammers died right off

Remember stability is key
Good luvk

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hammer coral is a 12 -13 yr old colony-about 40+ heads

About a month ago started losing heads randomly-not jelly brown slime-polyp bailout? When the polyps wither away keft with bleach white skeleton.

Lights havent changed-added mp40 back in august replacing gyre-

Here are current parameters-
Salinity 1.026

Dont have a ph tester

Magnesium 1440-salifert

Calcium 480–salifert

Phosphate-.14- hanna checker

Nitrate 12.6- hanna checker

Alkalinity-8.5 hanma checker


Did replace refugium light recently snd bow chaeto is taking off for growth-

Phosphates seemed to have dipped to .04 about 2 weeks ago-

Last year when i put on a media for gfo it seemed to strip me down to .02 for phosphates and corals didnt seem happy-they seem to like .14-.20 for phosphates


Tank is softy and lps

Could the phosphate swing cause the dying off in the hammer coral

Everything else has been generally consistent

When this happens, may be too much flow, light or elevated phosphates. Inspect the coral at night with a flashlight and see if you notice ant pests such as flatworms or black bugs

 

[muggle0981]

I’m thinking it’s the phosphates going from like .12-.18 that I run to it dropping to .04 or less-I had it test at .04


I’m thinking phosphates are the issues


Nitrates were running in the 20-25 range and now and down to running about 12-15

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m thinking it’s the phosphates going from like .12-.18 that I run to it dropping to .04 or less-I had it test at .04


I’m thinking phosphates are the issues


Nitrates were running in the 20-25 range and now and down to running about 12-15

Might be, especially if the less than 0.04 was substantially less.

 

[muggle0981]

True-the hanna checker is just a gauge and could swing one way or the other

 

[muggle0981]

Thank you

 

[Kodock]

Any chance your salinity is swinging? Any leaks or changes to your top-off methods? Any new salt or at the bottom of your salt used for a water change?

Could be chemical warfare.. those toadstool can produce a prominent slime.. maybe something happened at night.

 

[muggle0981]

think nothing major-pretty stable