Hammer polyps lost color/shape

[asome_one]

Hoping for some assistance in figuring out why my hammer is not doing too well. It was added about 4 months ago. Originally was a toxic green hammer with 2 heads. It was well colored with full standard hammer polyp shape. Shortly after addition I had an alk crash. I lost a torch and had some overall tank upset. It was rectified and alk has been stable since 1/10/26. Most other coral have generally returned to their appearance pre crash. This specific hammer has just continued to slowly decline.
It initially began losing its color, so I moved it up to get some more light. Then the polyps began losing their shape so I adjusted it further to take it further out of any strong flow. I had an emerald crab harrasing some of my other euphyillia so I banished them a few months ago. Harrased coral is showing signs of healing and regrowth.
Coral was originally dipped in coral rx and an iodine dip without any pests noted. I thought maybe flatworms about 2 months ago so I took the coral out and dipped it with flatworm ext, did not note any flatworms.
Today I noticed what I believe is new polyp growth on the fleshband, but shouldn't the overall coral reflect a better condition?

Torch tentacles do not touch the coral.

Inhabs are a bicolor blenny / 2 clowns / royal Gramma / neon goby / fire shrimp / blue leg hermits / conch / astrea snails / bumblebee snails.

I do have asterina starfish which I occasionally notice on the skeleton. I don't think they typically eat coral tho. I have plenty of zoas for them to eat should they choose.

I feed TDO chroma boost pellets daily. Random reefroids and frozen. Maybe once or twice a week.

Biggest unknown is my lighting. I have 2 kessil a380wes and an ai prime that run near max intestity. I base the lighting off my zoa stretch response.

I have my first ICP test pending.

 

[sixty_reefer]

It’s to close from the torch imo, they do send sweepers at night.

 

[asome_one]

It’s to close from the torch imo, they do send sweepers at night.

I can move it, however this situation was occuring before it was moved to its current spot.

 

[asome_one]

Bump.

 

[X-37B]

The lost coloration on the green hammer has a name I forgot.
My 30+ head hammer which grew from 3. It has many hammers with no coloration.

 

[BryanM]

Hermits have been known to bother things as well.... I know they are generally considered reef safe, but I would say with caution.

I also generally move things that need healing in to lower light and flow.

 

[asome_one]

Hermits have been known to bother things as well.... I know they are generally considered reef safe, but I would say with caution.

I also generally move things that need healing in to lower light and flow.

Fair point. What would be a good alternative? I could swap them for nassurus snails for meaty cleanup and then....urchin?

 

[asome_one]

The lost coloration on the green hammer has a name I forgot.
My 30+ head hammer which grew from 3. It has many hammers with no coloration.

Interesting, so maybe the new heads will have color. The coloration wouldn't bother me as much if the hammer shapes weren't messed up as well. You see how they've lost their hammer shape and are mostly just tubes?

 

[BryanM]

Fair point. What would be a good alternative? I could swap them for nassurus snails for meaty cleanup and then....urchin?

Urchins are dangerous in so much as they generally pick things up and move them around, but they are hillarious.

Do not get a long spined one, mine grew to the open-size of a basketball and I had to give him away.

 

[X-37B]

Interesting, so maybe the new heads will have color. The coloration wouldn't bother me as much if the hammer shapes weren't messed up as well. You see how they've lost their hammer shape and are mostly just tubes?

I have seen other hammers with that shape but have no idea why the shape would change.
This is a pic I just took. The color is gone and has been that way for 2 years.
Just remembered its called a splatter hammer.

 

[asome_one]

Interesting, so maybe the new heads will have color. The coloration wouldn't bother me as much if the hammer shapes weren't messed up as well. You see how they've lost their hammer shape and are mostly just tubes?

I have seen other hammers with that shape but have no idea why the shape would change.
This is a pic I just took. The color is gone and has been that way for 2 years.
Just remembered its called a splatter hammer.

See all my hammers lose their ball shape like yours have. Everyone else's look like large bushes. Mine is like small bunches instead of that nice overall ball shape. Odd

 

[X-37B]

Yours looks very similar to these.

 

[asome_one]

https://modernreef.eu/visitor-user-lab-report/?data-id=54854&access-token=Jn8o7fqxK2
Well the results are in, looks like my all for reef is not doing much trace upkeep. Some large water changes are on the horizon.