hammer positioning

[m1nh0h]

is it better to keep hammer coral in the sand or on the rocks closer to the lights?

 

[Allmost]

what lighting ? and how deep is the tank ?

 

[m1nh0h]

i'm running a 2 bulb t5ho kit with one 10k bulb and one actinic bulb and its around 18 inches deep

 

[Allmost]

then on the rocks towards the top

 

[m1nh0h]

is that not enough lighting?

 

[Allmost]

its basically the minimum lighting for a reef.

but you can try it on the sand, and if needed move it up

 

[m1nh0h]

i see i see, thanks for the advice! do you know any simple add on lights i can use for my system??

 

[organism]

I'd start it near the bottom, and if it doesn't do well then move it up slowly. If you put it near the top right off the bat it's going to bleach and might die on you. Those t5's still punch through the water pretty strong at the top of the tanks, just because there's only two of them doesn't mean they won't burn your corals.

 

[m1nh0h]

okay, my rose anemone is in the middle of the tank (height wise) and he seems to be doing pretty well

 

[organism]

If your rose is keeping its color there then I'd keep the hammer at that level or under, probably a good plan to just start it on the sandbed and go from there

 

[m1nh0h]

how can you tell if a coral is bleaching or not? or if the light is having a bad effect on it?

 

[djfrankn]

Ou

Ou

Pretty simple. Usually you see the coral either closing its polyps and/or producing a clear slime layer around it (like a fine spider web). You have to be careful though. Once they start bleaching it is 50/50 they may recover from it.

To prevent it just follow simple steps like:

- Don't cause sudden salinity levels changes.
- Don't stop monitoring your water paremeters (depends on the size of tank and the bioload) as frequently as you will need to.
- Don't over feed!.

- Do water changes (don't skipped them)
- Spend a little time everyday observing your aquarium to check on any changes.

I hope this helps.

 

[Patriot54]

I'd start it near the bottom, and if it doesn't do well then move it up slowly. If you put it near the top right off the bat it's going to bleach and might die on you. Those t5's still punch through the water pretty strong at the top of the tanks, just because there's only two of them doesn't mean they won't burn your corals.

This is great advice, follow it!

 

[m1nh0h]

thanks!

 

[getzvillereefer]

Mine is about halfway up my 14 gallon biocube that is retrofitted with a 2 bulb t5 set up with pretty low flow. Also has an LED stunner strip. It has doubled in from 3 polyps to 6 in just a couple months. Also has a baby polyp coming in and some splitting. Hope this helps.