Green hammer coral

[75oceanic86]

I recently purchased a hammer coral to put at the top of my 12 gallon nano which has the old 24 watt lighting. The coral itself seems to be doing great, just as bright and full as it was when i bought it. I was just wondering if anyone with this type of coral ever noticed it secreting a brown muscus from the center of the head. Mine has two heads and both of them do the same thing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Reefaholic1980]

I have one in my nano and it doesnt really secrete any. It did however secrete when i first put it in and it was adjusting. Have you checked your water parameters?

 

[75oceanic86]

params:

ph-8.1
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
salinity-1.025
nitrate-less than 10

everything is doing great in the tank, clown is perfect, snails and hermits are all doing their thing and my zoos, stars, and xenia are very healthy. The hammer looks excellent (i wish i could post a pic) im just not sure why its doing what its doing.

thanks

 

[smoke171]

Sounds like it is expelling some Zooxanthellae. They sometimes do this when they are stressed or to regulate the amount of the algae in their systems. My hammer does this every once and a while. My guess is that it is adjusting to its new surroundings. Keep an eye on it, but it should stop once it has made itself comfortable.

 

[75oceanic86]

thanks for the reply and i will be keeping a close eye on it.

 

[DrBDC]

What are your ca/alk/mag levels?

 

[75oceanic86]

calcium-420ppm
alk-3.5meq/l (about 170 ppm)
mag-1300 ppm

The coral expelled the stuff one time when i first added him to the tank and has not done it since, so im guessing (and hoping) it was jus part of the acclimation process because it makes a great center piece for my nano cube. thanks for all the replys


DrBDC- love that new charger, awesome looking car

 

[DrBDC]

Actually that's the 08 or 09 Challenger. It looks like a tubbed out 1970 Dodge Challenger since todays tires are so much wider.

 

[75oceanic86]

yea i meant to write challenger, i wasnt really thinking.