receding tissue on wall hammer

[liversnap12]

started my first reef tank 3.5 months ago, got this hammer 5 days ago not realizing it was wall and not branching. i understand that these are much harder to keep and while it’s opening up and looking happy during the day, i’m noticing a little tissue recession and some exposed skeleton. i’ve got kent’s lugol iodine and was going to do a dip but thought i should post here first, any tips or advice is welcome

just got my salifert kits in today so not 100% sure if these numbers are spot on but this is what i came up with

salinity 1.026
temp 77.6
no3 30ppm
kh 8.6/8.3
mg 1470
po4 .25
ca 440
105g display redsea 90 lights at around 60% 8.5 hrs a day moderate flow on sand bed

 

[Lavey29]

Wall hammers are difficult especially in new tanks. Your numbers aren't bad but phosphate is elevated. They seem to go through a slow decline process from one side to the other. Possibly bacteria infection. Iodine dips may help or ciprofloaxin dip. They are just tricky corals to keep versus branching.

 

[924er]

that actually looks good to me. Night time they all looks receded but its normal