Hammer needs assistance

homelessdonut

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 11, 2025
Messages
9
Reaction score
2
Location
US
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Hey everyone,

Our tank is about to be 2 years old and we have a few fish (6) and a variety of corals. We have been having issues with a hammer that we recently bought and haven't had success with one yet. It looked nice and expanded for a few weeks but recently has started looking worse. Ive attached a few pictures.

its located on the bottom 1/3 of the tank , no direct flow but theres a fan above it and the gsp close to it has nice wavy flow.

Here are my parameters
Salinity 1.023
Temp 79
Ph 8.6
Alk 7.2
Mag 1070
Calcium 565
Nitrate 11.7
Nitrite .008
Phosphate .09
Ammonia 0

1000002679.jpg
1000002680.jpg
 
Last edited:

CeylonCorals

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 13, 2025
Messages
33
Reaction score
35
Location
Murrieta
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
What's your calcium and tank temperature? I like to keep my Mag at 1350, Alk at 9 and Cal at 450. I would bring up the salinity to 1.026 as well. Also, I place it in the middle of the tank instead of sitting at the bottom. It could be many reasons and the only way to figure it out is checking each parameter one by one.
 

Science/G

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 26, 2021
Messages
3,850
Reaction score
3,235
Location
Miami
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Your alkalinity is low at 7.2. shoot for between 8 and 9. Magnesium also low, should be around 1350. Your salinity is also on the low side. With alkalinity low and magnesium low my next thought is your calcium might be low as well. Nitrates and phosphate are solid. Your light looks very white also. The hammer might not be responding well to the spectrum and or the intensity.
 
OP
OP
homelessdonut

homelessdonut

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 11, 2025
Messages
9
Reaction score
2
Location
US
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Your alkalinity is low at 7.2. shoot for between 8 and 9. Magnesium also low, should be around 1350. Your salinity is also on the low side. With alkalinity low and magnesium low my next thought is your calcium might be low as well. Nitrates and phosphate are solid. Your light looks very white also. The hammer might not be responding well to the spectrum and or the intensity.
I turned it white just for the picture, and sorry I forgot to add calcium it is 565
 
OP
OP
homelessdonut

homelessdonut

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 11, 2025
Messages
9
Reaction score
2
Location
US
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
What's your calcium and tank temperature? I like to keep my Mag at 1350, Alk at 9 and Cal at 450. I would bring up the salinity to 1.026 as well. Also, I place it in the middle of the tank instead of sitting at the bottom. It could be many reasons and the only way to figure it out is checking each parameter one by one.
Added calcium
 

CeylonCorals

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 13, 2025
Messages
33
Reaction score
35
Location
Murrieta
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Calcium is high as well, try not to add anything new and let it deplete, it will take sometime so you need test every other day at least. Once you get the hang of it then try to test it twice a week. Always try to keep the parameters to the recommended level, stability is most important thing.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

HOW DO YOU ADJUST YOUR CUC AS ALGAE DISAPPEARS?

  • Capture and re-home CUC

    Votes: 10 8.3%
  • Increase white light/hours in tank to spur algae growth to feed CUC

    Votes: 8 6.7%
  • Feed nori to support CUC

    Votes: 39 32.5%
  • Feed herbivore pellets to support CUC

    Votes: 42 35.0%
  • Allow attrition to balance CUC and algae

    Votes: 52 43.3%
  • Provide macro algae to feed CUC

    Votes: 8 6.7%
  • Introduce CUC predators

    Votes: 1 0.8%
  • Other (please explain)

    Votes: 12 10.0%
Back
Top