Hammer is looking pretty sick

[71Percent]

I've had a hammer in my tank for over a month and it is not looking too hot. My parameters are fine and the Torch that I got at around the same time has been thriving. I'm worried that when I first placed it, I put it in a spot that had too much flow and it's polyps stayed small for too long. Could its photosynthetic bacteria have died and now it is just struggling? I started really low and moved it up hoping more light would turn things around, but no luck.

 

[71Percent]

here you can see the torch to the lower left that is doing very well, which makes me think my parameters, etc. are fine.

 

[Crooked Reef]

Do you run carbon? Could be that the leather is putting out it's toxin and the flow is directing it straight at the hammer. I would move it lower.

 

[71Percent]

Do you run carbon? Could be that the leather is putting out it's toxin and the flow is directing it straight at the hammer. I would move it lower.

How toxic are they? I had it lower before and it looked the same, but maybe the whole tank is toxic? I have been consistent with water changes, but don't usually run carbon.

 

[mbingha]

which makes me think my parameters, etc. are fine.

Rather than think your parameters are fine, why not actually check them and see...

 

[71Percent]

Rather than think your parameters are fine, why not actually check them and see...

I check alk, no3, ca weekly. I don't do the trace elements, but do periodic water changes.

 

[Art13]

did you dip him before you put him in the tank?

 

[71Percent]

did you dip him before you put him in the tank?

I did, but he was closed up, so not sure how effective I was. The one thing I may have done bad is not acclimate him that much. I used to do it longer, but my LFS said you don't need to really do it with coral.

 

[saltyair]

lower to the sand and less flow - might just need less light and less or more flow IMO

 

[71Percent]

Thanks all. We'll give it a try

 

[kevin32]

Yeah try placing It on the sand for now.. See if that help. If it does then it's light acclimating issue. Move it up slow after each week to be safe.