Hammer extension question

[lewisrhoades]

Hey guys I have a 34g solana that has been up and running since April. I bought a hammer coral as my first coral addition back in July and it has done exceptionally well. It has gone from 2 to 5 heads since July but it will not fully extend like I've seen at my LFS. It grows into more of an umbrella shape and grows more out than up. Am I wrong in assuming that they all grow in a ball shape? Any ideas why it could be growing flat like it is?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

A lot of that depends on which species of hammer and how much flow and light. Post a picture of it as well as a full tank picture.

 

[lewisrhoades]

These aren't the best since everything is beginning to close up for the night. The hammer is in the center of the tank.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Yes this proves my point. If you take it and put it on the sandbed or even lower in the tank so it gets less intensity lighting as well as to a lower flow area it will expand out and look totally different. You'll be surprised at the polyp extension you'll get also.

 

[lewisrhoades]

I'll rearrange everything today then and see how it looks after a few days. I thought hammers like a moderate amount of flow and lighting?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

No, low flow and low to mod light so sand bed is best placement unless you have dim lights on the sides of your tank like I do. My LED covers 24"x24" and I've got a 36" length 40b so I've got places on the sides of my tank for corals that like lower lighting. Duncans are another coral that likes low flow and low to med light.

Pretty much all of Euphyllia prefer to be on the sand bed. Sure you can place them higher but they will look like yours do. I've got to run but look at my thread here called New Additions and you'll see how my corals have great polyp extension. I'll put up some new fts after I get home from doctors appointments later today.

 

[lewisrhoades]

The hammer has been moved to the sandbed for the last few days and it most definitely rounded out. The tentacles aren't as long as they were but it actually looks like a hammer now.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

A lot depends on the available light and just how much flow is there. If it's really gently flow like the polyps are just gently waving then they will extend more but again that depends on the light.

I'm glad you moved it to the sandbed. Give it a few more days and if the polyps don't extend further try a different spot on the sand where the lighting and flow are different than where it is now. It does sound like an improvement. Can you post a picture of it now?

 

[fishybudguy]

Dkuhlmann is a great. Keep up the good advice buddy

 

[Dkuhlmann]

LOL Thanks, I try my best all of the time to help others.

 

[ian09]

Have you tried giving your hammer an iodine dip?

 

[lewisrhoades]

Sorry haven't checked this thread in a few days. Finally got a decent picture of the hammer. Its extension isn't the greatest and my tank is a mess right now but it looks much happier. I'm debating moving some rock around and giving it more room and less flow.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

It doesn't look too bad there and has decent polyp extension. I would move that leather that is next to it. If leathers are upset they can put off some nasty chemical warfare and it will make your other corals look sick. Carbon can help combat this possible issue. But for now I would just move it.

 

[lewisrhoades]

Would chemipure remove any of those chemicals like carbon would? I've read about the chemical warfare that can be present in reef tanks, I'm planning on the leather being on the opposite corner but I might remove it altogether.

 

[lewisrhoades]

And would an iodine dip be beneficial?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

No chemipure is for something totally different. You will need carbon for this situation.

Iodine is used to treat bacterial infections and is also good if a coral was just fragged to prevent infection and promotes healing. Here is a link about iodine and corals with bacterial infection. I see no need to iodine dip your hammer.

http://www.athiel.com/lib/bacterial.html

 

[lewisrhoades]

Man you've been a lifesaver. Can you recommend any lps that would like a higher flow area?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

LOL I don't know of any LPS that like higher flow accept for maybe candy canes and similar, or maybe acans but the acans want to be low in the tank with low lighting. I too love LPS and my tank is LPS dominate. Here is the link to my tank. It's down the page here in the LPS forum.

I've got leathers in my tank as well as SPS and quite a few fish . You can keep all three coral types in a mixed reef with success.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2540376

 

[midieval10]

Your hammer looks healthy. Don't mess with something that's already thriving

 

[midieval10]

My duncans like mod-high flow. They get really huge