What is this hammer doing?

[towels]

Added a week ago - all other corals are doing great

No visible signs of pests or anything on it from what I can tell

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Hi, if you can post some pics in white light it will really help, along with your parameters, type of lighting, flow, tank age, etc...

 

[towels]

Will have parameters posted shortly.

Since my post the entire head has nuked itself and is currently laying on rock/substrate

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

That's polyp bail out, which is the hammers last effort to save itself. Please post more info, like all parameters, as well as the flow and light that the coral was receiving.

Also, are there any other corals withing 3-4 inches from it?

 

[towels]

That's polyp bail out, which is the hammers last effort to save itself. Please post more info, like all parameters, as well as the flow and light that the coral was receiving.

Also, are there any other corals withing 3-4 inches from it?

Tank is young (3 months including cycle)
I have only done one water change on the 26th at about 15%. I plan to start doing weekly 10% changes starting tomorrow.

Temp - 77.7
Salinity - 1.025
pH - 8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 11.3
Phosphate - 0
Alkalinity - 5.2 dkh
Calcium - 450

please see attached photos. (Adding extras of other coral)

Running two xr15s at 80% from 9-9 with the phase afterward

Two dmp 30s but I have only been running the one on the right for the last 2 weeks. The other Powerhead was kicking up tons of sand.

Currently in a Fallow period due to noticing ich on a fin. All Fish in qts doing well

 

[VintageReefer]

My first bet is alk. It’s way low. And for me, anytime my alk dropped below 7 I get coral issue

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Tank is young (3 months)
Temp - 77.7
Salinity - 1.025
pH - 8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 11.3
Phosphate - 0
Alkalinity - 5.2 dkh
Calcium - 450

please see attached photos. (Adding extras of other coral)

Running two xr15s at 80% from 9-9 with the phase afterward

Two dmp 30s but I have only been running the one on the right for the last 2 weeks. The other Powerhead was kicking up tons of sand.

Tank is 2-3 months old and currently in a Fallow period due to noticing ich on a fin. All Fish in qts doing well

I agree, your alk is incredibly low. Another this is your po4, which could potentially be causing these issues too.

 

[towels]

@WalkerLovesTheOcean
@VintageReefer

Thank you for the replies. I have yet to number chase but definitely don’t want to lose anymore coral. I will look into the best methods for increasing alk

Do you have any methods that you would recommend?

 

[Shirak]

@WalkerLovesTheOcean
@VintageReefer

Thank you for the replies. I have yet to number chase but definitely don’t want to lose anymore coral. I will look into the best methods for increasing alk

Do you have any methods that you would recommend?

baking soda

but I would double check.. that's really low and could be an error. However your calcium reads ok so maybe it really is just that low... What are you using to test with? Also worth noting that any time parameters are way off it's worth checking salinity as well. What are you using for salinity and how are you calibrating?

 

[VintageReefer]

@WalkerLovesTheOcean
@VintageReefer

Thank you for the replies. I have yet to number chase but definitely don’t want to lose anymore coral. I will look into the best methods for increasing alk

Do you have any methods that you would recommend?

Easiest way and cheapest is baking soda mixed with rodi

Double check alk test is correct

Use the Calculator tool on this page

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Aim to increase 1 dkh per day

So put in tank total gallons
Current alk 5.2
Desired alk 6.2

Drop down for product baking soda

Calculate

Then after a few hours verify the all again

Repeat daily increasing approx 1dkh per day and stop when you land in 8-8.5. That’s your happy zone

 

[towels]

baking soda

but I would double check.. that's really low and could be an error. However your calcium reads ok so maybe it really is just that low... What are you using to test with? Also worth noting that any time parameters are way off it's worth checking salinity as well. What are you using for salinity and how are you calibrating?

Milwaukee refractometer for salinity with distilled.

Everything on Hanna except for calcium and phosphate. Using reef master test kit for those atm. I’ll test alk, calc and phos again.

Running Ato on a triple optical sensor. Rodi 6 stage with aquaforest reef salt

 

[Shirak]

Milwaukee refractometer for salinity with distilled.

Everything on Hanna except for calcium and phosphate. Using reef master test kit for those atm. I’ll test alk, calc and phos again.

Running Ato on a triple optical sensor. Rodi 6 stage with aquaforest reef salt

Sounds like you have a good setup for testing. I wouldn't go crazy testing. Alk just to confirm the number then dose baking soda to bump it up as VintageReefer suggested

 

[towels]

Sounds like you have a good setup for testing. I wouldn't go crazy testing. Alk just to confirm the number then dose baking soda to bump it up as VintageReefer suggested

Alk tested 5.2. Going to slowly dose mixed baking soda.

Thank you again for your help

 

[towels]

Meant to ask in my original post - once the polyps ditch the skeleton, what should I do with the empty head? Is it possible for regrowth?

There’s 2 stems - only one head now.

(Photos above)

Alk is now at 6.3 and ph still 8