Help!! Hammer coral sick? Not well

[Belivie0619]

We have a couple hammer corals who have declined recently. I’m not sure what is the best method to try to save them. We acquired tank since July and everything has flourished, I’m not sure what we are missing but would like some advice tip etc to try to save this coral before it’s too late. We have several pieces in 2 different colors the purple with orange tops seems to be doing better but a couple of pieces don’t look as nicely as they have in the past. The orange with purple tips are in my opinion critical right now. I’m attaching pics to reference. I appreciate advice and tips.
Last chemical check
Calcium 350
pH 8.03
Nitrate 0
Phos 0
Alkalinity 7-8

 

[JGT]

Looks like some of those heads are already goners. 0 nitrate and phosphates is not good.

 

[Belivie0619]

Looks like some of those heads are already goners. 0 nitrate and phosphates is not good.

What should they be?? I’ve been using this for a reference?

 

[Belivie0619]

What should they be?? I’ve been using this for a reference?

What test kit do you recommend? The kit I have makes it hard to differentiate between two levels

 

[JGT]

Nitrates 10-20 , phosphates .03-.06. Hanna, Salifert or Red Sea are reputable test kits. Stay away from API.

 

[Lavey29]

I agree with the above. Your corals are starving to death and your calcium is low also.

 

[Belivie0619]

Nitrates 10-20 , phosphates .03-.06. Hanna, Salifert or Red Sea are reputable test kits. Stay away from API.

What do you recommend to raise levels? I was planning a water change this weekend. Should I hold off and adjust levels or proceed and than adjust

 

[Dburr1014]

Water change is certainly fine at anytime.
How much do you do at one time?
Mix with ro/di then raise temp to make sure it's on target.
There are food grade items you can dose from loudwolf. Calcium nitrate is what I use for nitrate. Sodium phosphate is a good choice for phosphate.
Lots of articles on here for dosing instructions.

 

[Rmckoy]

As mentioned above Zero phosphates and nitrates is not good .
the corals are starving .

but verifying if the levels are accurate with a reputable test is needed .

how often do you feed ?
how often do you do water changes ?
Personally …. Water changes are to replenish levels and to export nutrients . With zero nutrients imo I would hold off on the water change and dose cal while feeding heavier to increase nitrate and phosphate levels .

ideally you want cal 380-450
Nitrate 5-10
Phosphate 0.03-0.1
Alk is good where it is

 

[Rmckoy]

For nitrates I dose calcium nitrate . But be warned dosing this will also increase alkalinity .
Phosphates I would feed a few doses of reef roids in addition to regular readings .

Esv bionic 2 part is great for dosing Alk and cal . Typically dosed in equal amounts to maintain levels

 

[Belivie0619]

Water change is certainly fine at anytime.
How much do you do at one time?
Mix with ro/di then raise temp to make sure it's on target.
There are food grade items you can dose from loudwolf. Calcium nitrate is what I use for nitrate. Sodium phosphate is a good choice for phosphate.
Lots of articles on here for dosing instructions.

What is ri /do?? Sorry new to site abbreviations

 

[Belivie0619]

For nitrates I dose calcium nitrate . But be warned dosing this will also increase alkalinity .
Phosphates I would feed a few doses of reef roids in addition to regular readings .

Esv bionic 2 part is great for dosing Alk and cal . Typically dosed in equal amounts to maintain levels

ESV? I have an order of reef Roids arriving today. What brand do you use for the calcium nitrate?? And how do you compensate alkaline rise if it occurs?

 

[Rmckoy]

What is ri /do?? Sorry new to site abbreviations

Reverse osmosis deionized water .

 

[Rmckoy]

ESV? I have an order of reef Roids arriving today. What brand do you use for the calcium nitrate?? And how do you compensate alkaline rise if it occurs?

Calcium nitrate is also bionic
@Randy Holmes-Farley will be able
To answer best how to minimize the rise .

 

[LeftyReefer]

ESV? I have an order of reef Roids arriving today. What brand do you use for the calcium nitrate?? And how do you compensate alkaline rise if it occurs?

ESV Nitrate is fine. That's what I've been using. It's calcium nitrate.
Go ahead and dose it to bring your nitrates up. I wouldn't worry about it raising your ALK much though.
You'll be dosing such a small amount that it won't affect anything. It may slowly raise your ALK over a long time, but I doubt it.... water changes and dosing any other products like a 2-part would affect it much more.

 

[Dburr1014]

We have a couple hammer corals who have declined recently. I’m not sure what is the best method to try to save them. We acquired tank since July and everything has flourished, I’m not sure what we are missing but would like some advice tip etc to try to save this coral before it’s too late. We have several pieces in 2 different colors the purple with orange tops seems to be doing better but a couple of pieces don’t look as nicely as they have in the past. The orange with purple tips are in my opinion critical right now. I’m attaching pics to reference. I appreciate advice and tips.
Last chemical check
Calcium 350
pH 8.03
Nitrate 0
Phos 0
Alkalinity 7-8

Any change?
@Belivie0619

 

[Belivie0619]

Any change?
@Belivie0619

We have adjusted calcium, used reef roids, they are looking better, we are definitely losing some heads though sadly. Which we knew when we saw the rapid decline. Nitrates are still showing zero but I am questioning my test kit as its API. We have Red Sea for Mg and Ca.

 

[Dburr1014]

We have adjusted calcium, used reef roids, they are looking better, we are definitely losing some heads though sadly. Which we knew when we saw the rapid decline. Nitrates are still showing zero but I am questioning my test kit as its API. We have Red Sea for Mg and Ca.

API should show something tho its not the best kit. Reef roids add phosphates as flake/pellets more than nitrates. Frozen foods typically add more nitrates than phosphate.

 

[Belivie0619]

API should show something tho its not the best kit. Reef roids add phosphates as flake/pellets more than nitrates. Frozen foods typically add more nitrates than phosphate.

Here’s my problem with API’s test. This is darker than zero but not 5???

 

[Dburr1014]

Here’s my problem with API’s test. This is darker than zero but not 5???

I call that a zero but I would get a different brand test kit.