Hammers on the Sandbed

[Euphylliaphyle]

I've read in a few threads here posts urging the moving of Hammers off the sandbed. In searching, I couldn't find the reason to do so. What is the concern with keeping them there? Right now my hammer seems happy there, so I don’t want to move it until I understand the risk of not doing so.

tia

 

[JonoH]

Sand particles will irritate them.
Best off mounting them on a frag rock, or on a flat piece of rock on the sand bed.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Sand particles will irritate them.
Best off mounting them on a frag rock, or on a flat piece of rock on the sand bed.

Thank you! I would never have guessed that! I mean, a creature living on the bottom, in the sea shouldn't be bothered by a bit of sand, right?

 

[Uncle99]

I've read in a few threads here posts urging the moving of Hammers off the sandbed. In searching, I couldn't find the reason to do so. What is the concern with keeping them there? Right now my hammer seems happy there, so I don’t want to move it until I understand the risk of not doing so.

tia

All mine are on the sand bed 5 years and counting.
They love it.

 

[JonoH]

Thank you! I would never have guessed that! I mean, a creature living on the bottom, in the sea shouldn't be bothered by a bit of sand, right?

Its probably not such a problem in the ocean, our aquariums are more of a closed ecosystem.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Its probably not such a problem in the ocean, our aquariums are more of a closed ecosystem.

So how does one tell a hammer is irritated? Does it close up? Mine does that each night as the lights go down, but it looks great by day, every day.

 

[JonoH]

So how does one tell a hammer is irritated? Does it close up? Mine does that each night as the lights go down, but it looks great by day, every day.

Closing up at night is normal.
If it didnt open during the day, and looked ready to bail out...that would be irritated

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Closing up at night is normal.
If it didnt open during the day, and looked ready to bail out...that would be irritated

Mine is newly branching, not bailing! So is the sandbed irritation problem really a flow-near-the-sandbed-is-too-high problem?

 

[JonoH]

Mine is newly branching, not bailing! So is the sandbed irritation problem really a flow-near-the-sandbed-is-too-high problem?

It would only ever be a problem if you had something moving the sand bed, like a gobie, or your powerheads.

You need to consider also if your ever going to vac the sandbed around them also.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

It would only ever be a problem if you had something moving the sand bed, like a gobie, or your powerheads.

You need to consider also if your ever going to vac the sandbed around them also.

Okay! Thank you for explaining all this.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've read in a few threads here posts urging the moving of Hammers off the sandbed. In searching, I couldn't find the reason to do so. What is the concern with keeping them there? Right now my hammer seems happy there, so I don’t want to move it until I understand the risk of not doing so.

tia

I keep mine at lower third of tank but away from sand and have constant growth. They are not picky on lighting but you dont want it too bright and flow should be moderate where the polyps are flowing like leaves in the wind, not bent over where they can tear off the skeleton

 

[anablue]

I prefer to keep hammers in the sand so I can move them around. The smaller ones worked good on a special type of frag plug that was cone shaped 1.5” high, then bury in sand. But then larger hammers I just glued on large flat tile. Been doing great for years.

 

[Reeferbadness]

I don't have any issues with my hammers in the sand bed + i have a diamond goby. Had this set up for more than 4 years and all are ok.