Hammer problem!

[Mrmole]

I bought a hammer a month ago and it is now that it is showing some sign of decaying. For the past 5 days it is not extending at all but just little bit. Today i found some of its flesh on one polyp starting to get washed away by courent.

It is placed mid tank with 150w mh 15000 k for 5 hours. The rest of the day is covered by 3 t5 actinic and one 6000k t5.

Ph 7.9
1022 ppm salinety
Calcium 200
No3 20ish
Temp 26celcius
Water change once a week for 15%
107 gallon tank with sump
Vortech mp40 at random during day and 20% night
I feed phyto once a week
Brine shrimp once a week
Tank date 2 months now

Here are pictures

Polyps are barely extending...
Please help!!!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Your salinity is too low ( should be 1.026), Nitrate is too high (should be 0) and your Ca is too low (should be 380 - 450). Fix all of the above.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Also, hammers like to be on the sand bed.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+321+485&pcatid=485

 

[Mrmole]

Thank you flipper. Now you know my next question... How do i raise calcium as you recommend?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Two part additive, addition of kalkwasser to your top off. (Best through an ATO). or Calcium additive.....
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4749

hope that helps....

 

[Flippers4pups]

You need to post your Alkalinity... What is your alkalinity?

 

[Mrmole]

I have no test for alkalinity yet. Can i raise salinity to 1026 at once? Or slowly?

 

[Mrmole]

I thought i posted already ph 7.9 is this too low?

 

[Flippers4pups]

I have no test for alkalinity yet. Can i raise salinity to 1026 at once? Or slowly?

Slowly is the best way. it's easier on your live stock. Do you use a hydrometer to test your salinity?

 

[Flippers4pups]

I thought i posted already ph 7.9 is this too low?

I think you way want to read this:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[Mrmole]

Yes the one with a pointing arrow inside a small container that i fill with tank water to the top.

 

[Mrmole]

Reading tge article right now! Very informative thank you so much and please continue to carry me throught this!

 

[Mrmole]

I have purchased a bottle of kent liquid calcium. As mentioned on the back instruction i should dose 1cap per 50g a day. My calcium is now 200, how do i dose to get to 420? I understand i need to keep watch at kh but havent got a tester yet.

 

[Johnny Tang]

Also, hammers like to be on the sand bed.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+321+485&pcatid=485

Sorry but this is completely wrong. Hammers are medium light and in the wild found mid reef.

Usually branching coral are found higher on the reef, hence the branches. Corals which are flat are that way for a reason- they live on the bottom.

I would raise your pH and Calcium. Low pH will upset your coral and make it melt. Nitrates being at 20 should not be a problem.

 

[romsoccer12]

hammers are sensitive to light and i recommend lowering it. parts of it lower seem to be doing better.
what is the flow like in the current area it is in?

 

[Mrmole]

The flow is quite strong with a mp40 blowing at 50% randomly and a returning pump outflow blowing on top of it. I found this morning 2 polyps covering in slime, too afraid to touch it but looks like they are melting. I raised salinity from 1022 to 1024 the last 2 days. Turned off completely MH. Only blue t5 bulbs are on. Its position are as follows:

Flowerpots are not doing any better as well.

Ph dropped to 7.8 today for some reason. Will get kh tester later today on my way back from work. I am feeling really down. Need help!

 

[Johnny Tang]

you really need to bump up your ph. Do a small water change or very slowly add a buffered solution to your sump. Go slow on the buffer and stop and let it adjust and do tests as it is coming up.

 

[scapes]

euphyllias dont like being blasted by air flow. i have all my hammers and frogspawns all on rock FWIW.

 

[BlueDevil06]

+1 on getting the H2O parameters in order first. As stated above, go slow. Add then test. I'd avoid moving the corals or messing with the lighting until the water optimal. The numbers folks suggested above are a good farce to shoot for.
Those hammers will look great one they begin to recover.
Good luck!

 

[Zalman]

Getting those water params right is the most important thing. Easiest way is doing small water changes, but making sure the new water is where you want it to be. This will slowly raise your PH and salinity. It will also help lower those nitrates, which arent lethal but still somewhat high. I am curious what your ammonia and nitrite levels are since your setup is still new. Try getting a refractometer too, for the $50 they cost it is well worth it over the swing arm hydrometer.