FreddyRick
New member
First of all, I'm a noob. Let's get that out of the way first. I read a lot and have tried to establish my tank by the first three rules of SW: 1. Patience, 2. Patience, 3. Patience. Tank is a 28gal NanoCube with LED lighting. I got my first corals for the tank one month ago.
One of the corals is a green and purple branching hammer. There are two primary branches which are each split into two heads (four heads total). It has appeared to be healthy for the past month, until a couple days ago when I noticed that one of the heads was completely retracted. Not just somewhat retracted, but completely (like it was after driving it home from the LFS). The other head on the main branch is slightly retracted, as if it's "unhappy". The two heads on the other main branch are doing great.
For the past two days, I've noticed that in the morning, before the daylights come on, the sick head is very slightly extended. Enough to see the individual purple tips and even some green color. Certainly enough to give me hope. However, about an hour or two after the daylights come on, it is completely retracted once again. During that time is also when I have dosed for Alk and Calcium (B-Ionic 2-part). The three other heads respond as expected to the daylights: they extend more when the lights are on and retract a little when the lights are off.
I have done lots of forum searches this week and can't find anything resembling this issue. I haven't noticed any slime, clear or brown. The pink tissue that extends down the stalk from the heads does appear to be thinned out below the troubled head.
The coral sits on the bottom of the tank, so it's getting as little light as possible. The purple and green colors are fairly bright, so I've been taking that as an indicator that it's not getting overly lit. Water flow is moderate. I've watched several youtube vids of hammer and other euphylla to come to the conclusion that my flow isn't overly agressive.
Water parameters:
Temp: 78.1
Ph: 8.1
SG: 1.026
Alk: 8 dKh
Cal: 450 ppm
Mag: 1600 ppm
PO4 - 0
Nitrates - 0
Water changes are 5 gallons per week and I'll be doing another one tonight. I haven't ever fed this coral. I can try feeding some brine shrimp, but I think the "troubled" head is too closed up to eat.
Any thoughts on diagnosing what is going on are appreciated. I'm pretty confused at this point, especially given it's reaction to the daylights is opposite of the other heads.
One of the corals is a green and purple branching hammer. There are two primary branches which are each split into two heads (four heads total). It has appeared to be healthy for the past month, until a couple days ago when I noticed that one of the heads was completely retracted. Not just somewhat retracted, but completely (like it was after driving it home from the LFS). The other head on the main branch is slightly retracted, as if it's "unhappy". The two heads on the other main branch are doing great.
For the past two days, I've noticed that in the morning, before the daylights come on, the sick head is very slightly extended. Enough to see the individual purple tips and even some green color. Certainly enough to give me hope. However, about an hour or two after the daylights come on, it is completely retracted once again. During that time is also when I have dosed for Alk and Calcium (B-Ionic 2-part). The three other heads respond as expected to the daylights: they extend more when the lights are on and retract a little when the lights are off.
I have done lots of forum searches this week and can't find anything resembling this issue. I haven't noticed any slime, clear or brown. The pink tissue that extends down the stalk from the heads does appear to be thinned out below the troubled head.
The coral sits on the bottom of the tank, so it's getting as little light as possible. The purple and green colors are fairly bright, so I've been taking that as an indicator that it's not getting overly lit. Water flow is moderate. I've watched several youtube vids of hammer and other euphylla to come to the conclusion that my flow isn't overly agressive.
Water parameters:
Temp: 78.1
Ph: 8.1
SG: 1.026
Alk: 8 dKh
Cal: 450 ppm
Mag: 1600 ppm
PO4 - 0
Nitrates - 0
Water changes are 5 gallons per week and I'll be doing another one tonight. I haven't ever fed this coral. I can try feeding some brine shrimp, but I think the "troubled" head is too closed up to eat.
Any thoughts on diagnosing what is going on are appreciated. I'm pretty confused at this point, especially given it's reaction to the daylights is opposite of the other heads.
