Hammer skeleton has a black coating over it

[Nate_Krohn]

I just noticed that my hammer has a black fuzzy looking coating over it. I have no idea what is happening. It’s open and happier than ever during the day. Please let me know what I can do

 

[Reverend Turtle]

No idea. When I read it I figured boring sponges, but that looks almost like paint.

 

[JGT]

I just noticed that my hammer has a black fuzzy looking coating over it. I have no idea what is happening. It’s open and happier than ever during the day. Please let me know what I can do

Sponge or algae. Did you try to brush it off ?

 

[malacoda]

That part of the skeleton in no longer alive, it's just bare calcium skeleton... kind of like the underside of some SPS where they don't get any light. So, algae or something else is growing on it ... just as though it were rock.

You could try gently cleaning it off with a tooth brush or something ... but it, or something else like another algae or coraline will likely just grow back. (BTW - the lowest portion of the trunk in my gold hammer is 'bare' as well.)

If you do decide to brush it, be careful not to damage the thin coat of coral flesh that it still covering the upper areas where there isn't any of the stuff growing.

If it were me though, as long as the hammer still looks and acts healthy and the stuff doesn't look to be causing it any harm, I'd just leave it be.

 

[Nate_Krohn]

That part of the skeleton in no longer alive, it's just bare calcium skeleton... kind of like the underside of some SPS where they don't get any light. So, algae or something else is growing on it ... just as though it were rock.

You could try gently cleaning it off with a tooth brush or something ... but it, or something else like another algae or coraline will likely just grow back. (BTW - the lowest portion of the trunk in my gold hammer is 'bare' as well.)

If you do decide to brush it, be careful not to damage the thin coat of coral flesh that it still covering the upper areas where there isn't any of the stuff growing.

If it were me though, as long as the hammer still looks and acts healthy and the stuff doesn't look to be causing it any harm, I'd just leave it be.

Great thank you!