decomposing branches on green hammer

[rivithead]

OK guys, have had this green branching hammer for about 9 months, maybe a year. I noticed a few months back that the branches seemed to be decomposing from the bottom up. I figure that was what the norm and as the coral grows and branches more, it will always stay ahead of the deteriorating lower branches. The heads have always looked as nice as the day I bought it and have even split from the original 4 to 8 heads. But now the decomposing seems to have gotten almost to the heads and some of the older branch joints are ready to fall apart as soon as I touch it next. Guaranteed! It looks as if it was slowly just dissolving away here and there. you can see the inner tubes and passages. It looks just like what I would expect the bottom 1/2 inch to look like over time. But it is very advanced now to me. My branching Tonga live rock seemed to hide it from me for too long.

 

Now, I know that corals need extra trace elements in larger systems, but I like to keep things simple and have a 12g nano that I change 2g/RO/Instant ocean twice a week. I figured that would keep the calcium and strontium? levels up. So I have never bothered to monitor them. Do you think maybe this has somthing to do with it? All other parameters are normal. Standard Nano cube DX. Two healthy occ. clowns, plenty of crabs and snails, poyps, zoas, 4"crocea clam, zenia, oh yeah, and a green goby scootin' round.

 

What could be up? I hope its not the calcium levels because I really dont want to add anything else into my routine. I like it simple. Mix water. change water. Monday and Thursday night. Maybe I should just stick to the zoas and polyps. Of course if I wanna save this guy. I'd better do something. So befor I go to the LFS tomorrow and buy a calcium test kit does anyone definitively know what I'm dealing with.

[LPS-Crazy]

OK guys, have had this green branching hammer for about 9 months, maybe a year. I noticed a few months back that the branches seemed to be decomposing from the bottom up. I figure that was what the norm and as the coral grows and branches more, it will always stay ahead of the deteriorating lower branches. The heads have always looked as nice as the day I bought it and have even split from the original 4 to 8 heads. But now the decomposing seems to have gotten almost to the heads and some of the older branch joints are ready to fall apart as soon as I touch it next. Guaranteed! It looks as if it was slowly just dissolving away here and there. you can see the inner tubes and passages. It looks just like what I would expect the bottom 1/2 inch to look like over time. But it is very advanced now to me. My branching Tonga live rock seemed to hide it from me for too long.

 

Now, I know that corals need extra trace elements in larger systems, but I like to keep things simple and have a 12g nano that I change 2g/RO/Instant ocean twice a week. I figured that would keep the calcium and strontium? levels up. So I have never bothered to monitor them. Do you think maybe this has somthing to do with it? All other parameters are normal. Standard Nano cube DX. Two healthy occ. clowns, plenty of crabs and snails, poyps, zoas, 4"crocea clam, zenia, oh yeah, and a green goby scootin' round.

 

What could be up? I hope its not the calcium levels because I really dont want to add anything else into my routine. I like it simple. Mix water. change water. Monday and Thursday night. Maybe I should just stick to the zoas and polyps. Of course if I wanna save this guy. I'd better do something. So befor I go to the LFS tomorrow and buy a calcium test kit does anyone definitively know what I'm dealing with.

 

Not sure, could be calcium, wont know till you test, but with changing water 2x a week you should be well in check with calcium. You have any clams in the tank ?