why wont my hammer open??

[RRafael]

My buddy gave me a 4 head green tip hammer and it's been almost 2 months and it still has not really opened, is there anything I can do?

I know its not dead it opens a little but it should be a lot bigger.

 

[PSam]

How is your flow? Mine is picky, too much flow, it won't open but only sends out crazy sweepers. It seems to prefer a "middle ground", not too low, but lower.

 

[RRafael]

flow is good not too much not too little and it is sitting in the middle about 6-8 inches off of the floor. I have tried moving him around and still doesn't want to open for me

 

[PSam]

Have you tried coaxing it with food? They'll eat pretty meaty food; I feed a little nib of squid every now and then. They can also catch artemia with little problem.

 

[whiirly]

how are your phosphates?
mine reacts poorly to high phosphates

 

[RRafael]

I just tested my Phosphates after having a Phosphate sponge n for 2 days and they are at around 1, I chaged the sponge to a fresh one so within the nextfew days they should be around zero

 

[whiirly]

not exactly sure but I think it takes more than a couple of days to get the phosphates out
I am sure someone with more knowledge will chime in soon

 

[RRafael]

thats what I love about this site, there is always someone who will know, if not then Rod will jump in lol

 

[RRafael]

Still not opening............any ideas anyone?

 

[craftytony]

I am having the same issue...my phosphates and nitrates are both too hight and alkalinity too low....i am tackling these issues now and hoping maybe this will resolve the situation

 

[newnano]

mine actually prefers lower water quality. how is your light? mine would open a ton when i had pc. now that i have mH it opens half as much. might want to put it on the bottom or try a slightly shaded area.

 

[hansnfrans]

newnano-

For a short while I had to keep mine under a weak flourescent light and it opened alot more than it does now, under MH lighting. The reason that they open up so much in the presence of weaker lighting is that they are trying to absorb as much light as possible by opening up as big as possible, thereby exposing as many zooxanthellae as possible

 

[RRafael]

Ok so I did move it yesterday to an area that has less light and a little more flow and it has opened a little more but no where near being fully opened, I am going to give it a few days here and then I will try a more flow............

 

[menard]

This true w/ all Euphyllia's, you can not filter the water exessively. All of them like nutrients in the water, less flow, cant blast them w/ too much light. Try to feed the tank more. Good luck

 

[Ereefic]

I've got 3 hammers and all are opened fully and growing well under 250w MH and little flow, just enough to move them slightly randomly. My frogspawns on the other hand, don't open well and are in the same position and flow as the hammers.

 

[newnano]

hans-- i hear you. thats why i suggested shading it a little. that way you will see more of it