Hammer, no growth for 6 months?

[AdamNC]

So I've had this Hammer with only 2 heads for the past 6 months and haven't seen any growth from it. Looks good, full polyp extension, low to med back and forth flow. Just 4-5 inches away I have a Duncan that I got at the same time and has gone from 1 head to 6. Any ideas? The rest of my corals seem to be growing great.

Last readings that have been consistent:

SG 1.026 - IO Hydrometer
Temps 77-79 - Digital Zoo Med
pH 7.8 - API test
Ammonia 0 ppm - API test
Nitrite 0 ppm - API test
Nitrate 0 ppm - API test
Phosphate .015 - Red Sea test
Mag 1480 ppm - Red Sea test
Alk 8.4 dKH - Red Sea test
Ca 490 ppm - Red Sea test

I also broadcast feed on alternate days Reef Chili, AquaVitro fuel and Red Sea Reef Energy. Both pumps in feed mode(10 mins off).

 

[Mark9]

Have you verified your hydrometer?
Those things can be way off.
Your mg & ca seem a bit high, which can signify high sg.
Mine was off .007, meaning my tank was at 1.033 instead of 1.026.
Corals suffered at the higher sg.
Get a refractometer and some pinpoint solution.

 

[Webmanny]

In my opinion your parameters look good, if they are accurate, like Mark said. Having said that, my hammers grows great with a bit more light and also I target feed them Coral Frenzy. This has made all the difference in the world. You also have to keep an eye out for other things like green hair algae and other types of algae, as you are increasing your nutrient load.

Good luck.

 

[AdamNC]

Well I'm fairly certain all my levels are correct as my SPS are looking great and growing nicely. The hammer is the only coral not growing, but like I said looks great just no growth.

 

[Phildirt]

I had improved growth/polyp extension with target feeding. Spot feeding once a week with frozen cyclops.

 

[ECreefer]

Sometimes euphyllia can just do nothing and then out of nowhere just explode. If the color is good, it is puffed up and looking normal, then I wouldn't worry at all. I really never feed my LPS, maybe once every 6 months if they're lucky. I would just give it time in my opinion, but definitely read into what Mark9 said. I would definitely invest in a refractometer, both the Mag and CA are a tiny bit high but nothing to be concerned about imo. Just let them deplete into the normal ranges on their own, and then adjust from there. Mag 1200-1400 and CA 400-440 is ideal. GL!

 

[Abyrd92]

I was told with IO hydrometer keep your sg in the middle of the red cuz it can be higher or lower so middle will still keep you in the safe zone.. And you pH seems low mine is always at 8.2...

Some coral are just moody.. I have 2 frags of red people eaters 1 frag is still after 8 months stuck at 6 polyps my new frag I bought with 1 polyp grew to 4 polyps in 2 weeks.. Some coral just have to be really happy to grow

 

[aquascapelove]

+1 what ECreefer said.

 

[Crush Coral]

Feed it and it will grow.

 

[MARINE MAD]

One of my hammers has only two heads it's on my sandbed I don't feed it,but one head is starting to loose colour(going white)and the base seems to be very loose and flappy on it's skeleton it's like the corals zooxanthellae bacteria growth is coming to a stand still sorry to hijack the thread

 

[organism]

I had one that sat there with two heads for about a year, then one day it just blew up out of nowhere. Corals are weird sometimes, but they'll eventually settle in and take off.

 

[toothybugs]

I had one that sat there with two heads for about a year, then one day it just blew up out of nowhere. Corals are weird sometimes, but they'll eventually settle in and take off.

Second this. My frogspawn has been 4 heads since mid-August but looks full and healthy, and bounces nicely in the side-flow of my RW8. Everything else in the tank is growing - I have a funny feeling I am going to wake up one day and find a green and purple soccer ball in my system, but until then I wait patiently for it to get over itself.

 

[laga77]

Feed it with cut up black worms.