Should I be concerned?? Hammer

[Dhcurry1]

I just noticed my green branching hammer stem is discolored. Should I be concerned? What actions should I take? (Photo taken at night)

 

[Dburr1014]

I just noticed my green branching hammer stem is discolored. Should I be concerned? What actions should I take? (Photo taken at night)

The flesh is really receded. The left heads look like they are ready to bail.
Can you post any testing you have done?
Can you tell us more about your general tank setup? Light, flow, fish, ect.
This is a close up of my hammer. See the flesh come down the head an inch+. This is a healthy head of euphilia.

 

[Dhcurry1]

NO3 = 25ppm

NO2= 0.5ppm

Ph = 7

KH = 180 carbonate hardness

Phosphate = 0.7ppm
The nitrates were high but I’ve been doing more frequent H2O changes and they’ve come down.
29gallon Biocube with original stock lights (haven’t upgraded the hood yet)
It’s a moderate flow w/ 2 clowns
1 giamond goby and 1 dottyback
I have 2 green branching hammers, 1 torch,
1 candy cane, 1frogspawn, I clove polyp, 1 Duncan, 1 Ricardian mushroom and some palys

 

[Jekyl]

Seems like you already know your issue. Nitrate around 5 and phos .03 > is ideal.

 

[Dhcurry1]

NO3 = 25ppm

NO2= 0.5ppm

Ph = 7

KH = 180 carbonate hardness

Phosphate = 0.7ppm
The nitrates were high but I’ve been doing more frequent H2O changes and they’ve come down.
29gallon Biocube with original stock lights (haven’t upgraded the hood yet)
It’s a moderate flow w/ 2 clowns
1 giamond goby and 1 dottyback
I have 2 green branching hammers, 1 torch,
1 candy cane, 1frogspawn, I clove polyp, 1 Duncan, 1 Ricardian mushroom and some palys

 

[Dhcurry1]

In action

 

[Dburr1014]

Nitrate and phosphate are high.
Has Phosphate been coming down also?

 

[Jekyl]

Chemipure elite and dosing phyto helped me get mine under control. Tank had a noticeable difference after being consistent with live phyto dosing.

 

[Dhcurry1]

Nitrate and phosphate are high.
Has Phosphate been coming down also?

Yes, it has come down considerably. I have also been reducing the coral feeding

 

[Dhcurry1]

Chemipure elite and dosing phyto helped me get mine under control. Tank had a noticeable difference after being consistent with live phyto dosing.

I use Chemipure Blue in my media basket and have been dosing after every water change

 

[Dhcurry1]

Yes, it has come down considerably. I have also been reducing the coral feeding

I’m really hopeful that the hammer heads will recover but the discoloration is in the stem nothing is on the outside

 

[vetteguy53081]

Before making any changes and altering chemistry, what test kits are you using ?
Your stem also suggests your calcium levels may be low. Hammers do not do well under:
Calcium below 380
Light too bright
Too much water flow

Parameter recommendation:
Temp 77-79
ph 8.1-8.3
salinity 1.025
nitrate < .10
phos < .04
Ammonia < .03
mG 1300
Alk 8-11
CA 400- 440