Lost Two Hammer Corals Recently Looking for Help

[mullerjd]

Hi Everyone,

Was hoping to get some opinions on why I recently lost two hammer coral frags added to my tank recently. Tank has been setup for about 18 months and has a couple of frags including 2 Duncans (one polyp each), Torch, zoo's, palys and toadstool mushrooms.

About two weeks ago I purchased a Hammer frag with 2 heads and after dipping put it into the tank. I moved it a couple of times to get it out of any real high flow but after 3 days it was gone.

Parameters:
Temp - 80
SG - 1.025
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0
Calcium - 440
MG - 1380
Alk - 7.3
Phosphate - .11

I know the Phosphate is high so I am running Rowaphos in a reactor to get that down.

Initially thought that maybe the Alk being low was a problem so started dosing to raise it. Over the next week slowly raised Alk to 8.6.

Over the weekend saw a Hammer Frag (1 head) at LFS and thought since Alk was up I would add it in. Well two days later and it is gone.

All other frags look good and are growing. Torch coral is the size of a baseball and is far away from everything else. Lighting is four bulb T5 fixture.

Other inhabitants include Maroon Clown, Melanurus Wrasse, Banggai Carnivals and Yellow Long Nose Butterfly.

I have read that the butterfly is reef safe with caution but a lot of people don't have any issues. Would I be lucky enough to get one that likes each Hammer corals?

 

[Webmanny]

This may be a dumb question, but did you acclimate it to your temp, parameters and light? I know you said you dipped it, but these corals need to be acclimated to your tank levels and light intensity for a good amount of time.

Other than that, everything in your tank looks correct.

 

[mullerjd]

No good questions. I acclimated for temp by floating the bag. Did not drip acclimate. As for lighting they were both on the sand and I turned off the lights initially on the first day for a few hours initially. When lights came on they were opened.

Also as I watched the tank today before the lights came on the butterfly was picking at the skeleton of the newest one. Not sure if it was just getting what was left or finishing what it may have started?

 

[Webmanny]

If I had to guess, I would say your issue was not proper acclimation. These corals don't like sudden changes and not doing a deep drip acclimation out at least the 1/4 cup method, will cause them shock and potentially kill them.

Just my two cents.

 

[mullerjd]

OK thanks for the response. I may try again in a month and see what happens. Don't want to drop more money now to see it die in 2 days.

 

[jrkonzelman]

I rarely drip acclimate corals, your alk is a bit low and phosphates are high, but not that it would kill something.

When was your coral fragged at the store? It's possible if it was cut and dipped around the same time you bought it and then you dipped it you may have unknowingly stressed it out.

 

[mullerjd]

So I have been reading that some people in addition to acclimating for temperature and dipping also drip acclimate corals while others do not.

Are there certain corals that are say more fragile where it should be drip acclimated, versus say GSP or Xenias which from what everyone says never die?

 

[jayball]

If I had to guess, I would say your issue was not proper acclimation. These corals don't like sudden changes and not doing a deep drip acclimation out at least the 1/4 cup method, will cause them shock and potentially kill them.

Just my two cents.

I have received Euphilla (all branching, 3 different morphs of frog, 2 different morphs of hammer and a Torch) from four different systems (2 local tanks, LiveAquaria, and PetCo (never thought I would see that pretty blue hammer there)) and have never done any water acclimation. Float for temp, short iodine dip then in the tank it goes. I have not lost a single piece. I do not think that a lack of acclimation is his issue. Light is a different issue and done in tank, it should also start in very gentle flow

Did the flesh cover the entire tip or were some of the ridges showing?

 

[Webmanny]

I have received Euphilla (all branching, 3 different morphs of frog, 2 different morphs of hammer and a Torch) from four different systems (2 local tanks, LiveAquaria, and PetCo (never thought I would see that pretty blue hammer there)) and have never done any water acclimation. Float for temp, short iodine dip then in the tank it goes. I have not lost a single piece. I do not think that a lack of acclimation is his issue. Light is a different issue and done in tank, it should also start in very gentle flow

Did the flesh cover the entire tip or were some of the ridges showing?

I'm happy to hear that your experience has been so awesome with them, but all reputable online sellers of corals, as well as many experienced reefers in the community always recommend acclimating corals to your tank parameters.

Note sure what other explanation you may have for this situation. All his parameters are in check, he dipped the coral, floated the coral for temp acclimation, etc.

Please note that I clearly stated that this was just a guess, as there is no way to confirm one way or the other, but I would not recommend other hobbyists to just stop acclimating their corals based on your personal experience.

 

[organism]

So I have been reading that some people in addition to acclimating for temperature and dipping also drip acclimate corals while others do not.

Are there certain corals that are say more fragile where it should be drip acclimated, versus say GSP or Xenias which from what everyone says never die?

Do not drip acclimate corals, it's a good way to stress them out especially if they've been shipped.

I'm happy to hear that your experience has been so awesome with them, but all reputable online sellers of corals, as well as many experienced reefers in the community always recommend acclimating corals to your tank parameters.

I'm surprised to read that seeing as the reality is the exact opposite. Every hobby expert and most retailers agree: temperature acclimate then toss them into the tank. It's how it was done at the collection station, transhipper, wholesaler, and retailer before it got to your tank, no need to start then.

Water acclimating corals is a good way to activate the ammonia in the shipping bag and kill them.

 

[organism]

As far as the hammers your alkalinity is low which will stress them, and out of curiosity what are you using for a dip? Are you putting them in areas with a lot or very little flow?

 

[jayball]

Do not drip acclimate corals, it's a good way to stress them out especially if they've been shipped.



I'm surprised to read that seeing as the reality is the exact opposite. Every hobby expert and most retailers agree: temperature acclimate then toss them into the tank. It's how it was done at the collection station, transhipper, wholesaler, and retailer before it got to your tank, no need to start then.

Water acclimating corals is a good way to activate the ammonia in the shipping bag and kill them.

This matches with the vast majority of opinion I have read here.

I'm happy to hear that your experience has been so awesome with them, but all reputable online sellers of corals, as well as many experienced reefers in the community always recommend acclimating corals to your tank parameters.

Note sure what other explanation you may have for this situation. All his parameters are in check, he dipped the coral, floated the coral for temp acclimation, etc.

Please note that I clearly stated that this was just a guess, as there is no way to confirm one way or the other, but I would not recommend other hobbyists to just stop acclimating their corals based on your personal experience.

That is why I also asked if the polyp was fleshy or if it had some ressesion, if these were already stressed than a tank change could be enough to push it over the edge. This is not something that can always be seen in the store if it is extended fully (and no LFS is going to shake it to make it retract the polyp)

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I temp acclimate and put them through Revive and put them in the tank. I currently only get corals from one source and I often help him do the Bayer dip when his corals come in. If I were to get one from other source I would also Coral RX them in addition to the Revive. Revive is a wonderful product!

Oh and I've never lost one to acclimation either.

 

[mullerjd]

So I dipped them in Coral RX before putting in the tank.

Both were put into the back corner of the tank where there is very little flow. They were about 3 or 4 inches from a Duncan frag that I have and about 8 inches from my Torch.

As far as when I got them each one was from a different lfs and in both cases when I bought them they were open and not showing any part of the skeleton.

 

[organism]

So I dipped them in Coral RX before putting in the tank.

Both were put into the back corner of the tank where there is very little flow.

That'll do it. There's not much that will kill a newly arrived Euphyllia faster than dipping it in something that makes it slime up then putting it in low flow. Without moderate water movement the slime causes low oxygen and infections can set in fast, you can lose pieces in a matter of hours. Always give newly arrived corals good flow, probably one of the most common causes of coral deaths in the hobby...

 

[mullerjd]

Thanks for the response.

So how long would you leave it in moderate flow before moving to a spot that you want to keep it longer term that may be lower flow?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I wouldn't move them any less than a week after being in one spot. Also make sure they are happy in a place that you want them before you do any permanent attaching. Just make sure with any Euphyllia's that you place them in lower gentle flow and lower lighting. They will have full polyp extension this way. If it's too bright or too much flow they will not have great polyp extension.