Too much light for hammer?

[callsign4223]

I have had this hammer for about a year now. I got it as a frag from a friend of mine. In his tank the polyps fully extend to normal “hammer” shape. In my tank they have always been slightly retracted and rounder. The hammer is growing, getting new heads, and seems healthy in every other aspect. I’m wondering if maybe it’s gettinf too much light. It is about 12 inches deep directly under kessil a380 at 80%.

The only problem I have had in my tank was a huge nitrate issue. It was over 100 at one point. I have reduced this to 25-30 with water changes and am now trying to finish it off with a chaeto fuge. Before I started correcting the nitrate issue I had no new growth on the coral. Since getting the nitrates somewhat under control the number of heads has about doubled.

Any ideas?

 

[callsign4223]

No ideas?

I have tried moving it in the tank to a lower spot with less flow. See if this makes any difference.

 

[smatter]

My A360WE maxes out at 40% intensity, 40% color for two hours. In my experience 80% is too much for my Euphyllia. I'd say it's more likely your water quality but don't underestimate the Kessil.

 

[callsign4223]

Ok, I only have 2 lights on a 6ft tank so if moving it down doesn't help I'll try moving it to the edges of the sandbed and see if that helps. I don't know why, but I was under the impression this thing needed a lot of light.

 

[Randyz]

What kind of flow is it in? From my experience they like low flow

 

[callsign4223]

It was in a medium flow area. It was on the opposite side of the 6ft tank from a Gyre xf-150, but it was kind of catching the downflow from the gyre.