Wall Hammer Help

Hammer corals are very hardy, I'm sure it will recover. I've found that Hammer, Frogspawn and the like don't like to be in the sand. Especially if they tip over and have their polyps in the sand

You where saying you could not keep your PH stable above 8.0 what is it stable at? I ran my tank for the longest time at around 7.8. I personally believe stability is more important than getting it over 8.0

 

It is stable at 7.8-8.0. I have never seen it dip below 7.8 and have raised it to 8.2 or 8.4 in the past with buffers but within 24 hours it would fall to 8.0 again. Tried everything from multiple types of buffers, increasing surface agitation, open windows in the house, etc and it just does not seem to like to go about 8.0. I agree that stability seems to be the best and far outweighs having the perfect number with constant swings.

I have 2 branching frogspawn and a branching hammer in the rockwork and they are very happy/ I have a wall frogspawn on the sand as well but it is wedges in between branch rock where the polyps lay on the rock when opened and only a small tip ever touches sand so maybe that is why it does so much better. The skeleton of the hammer is huge so finding a spot on the rockwork will be difficult but Im sure I can find a spot somewhere.

 

I 100% agree. Stability is king in this hobby. If you're stable at 7.8, then leave it there. Don't fight your tank, listen to it sort of thinking.

To that end, taking it out and dipping it is not stable but stressful. Dips are good if you have infections or hitchhikers, but not for just general unhappiness of the coral IME.

I always try to leave things alone as much as possible and wait till I am absolutely sure it will not recover before moving. I leave things alone as much as possible and let things accumulate (to a point) and I do not put my hands in the water for every little thing. I would though attempt to lessen the flow on it still...

 

I have to do another WC this Sunday so if things dont look to be improving I will move it somewhere else in the tank. Kind of hard to lesson the flow because its very close to the front wall where the flow hits the walls and rides the leagth blowing along the front of the coral pretty consistantly. Pretty sure that may be the problem even though my frogspawn does not have an issue with it.

 

FWIW, I think the color and polyps look healthy. I agree with others in that perhaps reduced flow may help.

 

So does tissue recession not always mean an unhealthy and dying coral? I agree and that is why I have not done much in the way of moving, dips, etc because the color is still bright and the polyps look healthy and plump. I just am confused because one side opens and the other doesnt, the side that opens best is actually where the flow hits the coral the most I believe

 

I wish I could be more definitive in the advice Pgh. I am not an experienced coral keeper so I'll defer to others for more specific advice about the lack of extension.....

 

just a nonrelevant comment, - pered, your avatar freaks me out a little bit

 

Well I moved the hammer yesterday morning, put one small piece in a lower light lwoer flow area and the larger frag in a lower flow same light area for the time being. Did not come out very much yesterday but might just be because of handling and moving hopefully it comes back