hammer coral changed tips shape?

[djfrankn]

Hey guys. I've had this hammer coral for a year now. Suddely, for the past 3 months i've noticed that the tips of its tentacles changed from the "t" shaped tip to more like a BTA. my tank is a 75 gal (recently upgraded, like a month and a half ago), 260 watt pc, protein skimmer rated for 200 gal. Parameters are:

- ph = 8.2
- alk = 10
- calc = 490
- nitrates = 10
- phosphates = 0.2
- salt (refractometer checked) = 26 ppm

I use ro/di water to make water changes and coralife salt mix to make my water for water changes. I change about 20 gal every 2 weeks. Thanks for any response.

 

[sjwitt]

salinity is low. 26 ppm gives you 1.020; corals prefer 1.024 - 1.026, closer to 30 - 35 ppm
... I'd raise the SG some.

BUT, check the calibration of your refractometer first.

 

[djfrankn]

hi sjwitt. Well I apologize but I posted my salinity the wrong way. It is actually 1.026 +/- constant. I had it at 1.030 but dropped it slowly like a month ago because a couple of snails died in my tank (thought it may have been caused by the high salinity). And yes, I do calibrate (no matter what) my refractometer with ro/di from my ro/di system any time I use it. But still I can't figure out the cause of such change.

 

[Jaweeha]

My hammer did the exact same thing, I have no idea why, but now it looks almost like a torch.

 

[jscarlata]

it could just be genetics...i bet not every hammer has perfect T shaped tentacles no matter how good the tank params are...i have one and the tips are not perfect T shapes either, though it has always been this way//

 

[Jarred1]

I think it has to do with flow, when mine are in high flow they lose the little tentacles that are on the bigger tentacles.


Sent using Tapatalk

 

[Matthew91]

I agree with jarred

 

[djfrankn]

Well my tank turnover is +/- 21 times/hr and this guy is not directly in the flow path of any power head nor the sump return pump... Still wondering

 

[Runfrumu]

The colony in my 125 under halides has round tips, but the one in my 34 gallon under LED's has hammer shaped tips. Flow is about the same on each one.

The one in my 34 is a frag from the one in my 125 so I know its not a different type.

Maybe under brighter lights the tips get a round shape, and under lower light they get the hammer shape for more surface area to absorb light.