Is my hammer dying?!

[Fish kid]

Hey everyone I’ve had this new hammer for a week and it has not opened and it looks like it’s dying. I’ve done a water change and tested water but it hasn’t done anything. I have a Xenia and some zoas that are doing great but my hammer and toadstool aren’t. I added them at the same time and both aren’t doing good. I don’t know what to do.

temp 78

salinity 1.025

Ammonia 0

PH 8.2

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 0 

alkalinity 10.3

[EthanPhillyCheesesteak]

It definitely looks like it’s melting. It’s kinda hard to tell, bc of the blue glare. Toadstools are pretty resilient tho, it should be fine. 

[devilsadvocate]

what lighting do you have over the tank? 

[Fish kid]

I have an AquaMaxx Nemo light. I does a pretty good job but maybe not enough for stony corals

[devilsadvocate]

for sure not enough light. I would remove the hammer now to avoid adding more nutrients to the tank. 

[Fish kid]

Okay I did that. It’s obvious it’s going to die, and I’ve learned from my mistake thanks for the help

[Clown79]

I had that light on a 10g, it's an ok light, if anything my marbled hammer bleached under it, my frogspawn and green hammers did fine.

 

You have 0 nitrates, that's an issue. Corals need nitrates and phosphates.

 

How much flow is on the corals?

[Fish kid]

I have a good flow on it, probably about a medium flow. And how could I higher my nitrates.

[EthanPhillyCheesesteak]

28 minutes ago, Fish kid said:

I have a good flow on it, probably about a medium flow. And how could I higher my nitrates.

I’ve actually found that hammers like lower flow. At least my hammer.

[Clown79]

3 hours ago, EthanPhillyCheesesteak said:

I’ve actually found that hammers like lower flow. At least my hammer.

Mine too. 

[Melfy77]

For some reason I cannot keep hammers or Torch corals...such a shame lol. So I turned my tank into a soft coral only tank and it's doing ok. Wayyy less work too hahaha

[Fish kid]

That’s what I’m thinking of doing, less maintenance, and for a beginner reefer, way easier. I have soft corals now and they are thriving 

[Fish kid]

But what about my toadstool, I have one kinda the same spot the hammer was (which  the hammer unfortunately died this morning) is that to much flow? It has a medium flow like the hammer did 

 

[Melfy77]

Mine are in pretty strong flow and seem to like it! Also helps with the "shedding"

[Clown79]

1 hour ago, Fish kid said:

But what about my toadstool, I have one kinda the same spot the hammer was (which  the hammer unfortunately died this morning) is that to much flow? It has a medium flow like the hammer did 

 

Leathers often close up, especially after being touched or move.

 

They naturally close up frequently to shed and grow.

[Fish kid]

It has been like this for a week after I got it, in the store it seemed fine but now it won’t open. Is it just shedding/ growing or is it just not happy.

[Clown79]

7 minutes ago, Fish kid said:

It has been like this for a week after I got it, in the store it seemed fine but now it won’t open. Is it just shedding/ growing or is it just not happy.

Leathers can stay closed for weeks.

 

It may not be happy with location.

[Fish kid]

Ok thank you, it’s not melting or doesn’t seem dying or anything so I’ll give it some time

[Fish kid]

Good news the toadstool opened today:)