Hammer Coral Questions

CTP · 11-30-2006, 11:21 PM

I've recently purchased a hammer coral (about a month ago) and it just does not seem to want to "bloom" I've tried a number of placements and the water quality, ph levels and lighting is all good. I've read many different opinions on placement and currently have settled on the substrate itself within a rock in a low water flow. Anyone have thoughts on what I'm missing or how I can get this sucker to shows its true colors

bobt2 · 12-01-2006, 08:38 AM

i have it pretty high in my 75 with6x54 t-5 lighting and good flow. it has added many new branches in the yr i,ve had it

CTP · 12-01-2006, 09:52 AM

I'm willing to try anything...the fact that you've gotten it to reproduce is exactly what I'd love to see from mine

110galreef · 12-01-2006, 10:49 AM

What type of lighting? How are your water params.

They like a good amount of low and just enough flow to gently sway in the current.....not be blasted to one side!

CTP · 12-01-2006, 10:53 AM

2 10K 65W and 2 actinics...the water paramteres is something I'm not too sure of other than the consistent 124-125 salinity, very low nitrite and nitrate levels. I'm using tap water (I know I know) and adding reef builder per the requirements. Am I missing something in the water??

110galreef · 12-01-2006, 11:09 AM

What size tank? The nitrites arne't helping him?

**kevinpo** · 12-01-2006, 11:17 AM

For your type of lighting the coral should be 6-12" from the bulbs and in low to moderate current. Recommended water parameters are as follows:
SPG 1.024 - 1.026
Calcium 400ppm
Alkalinity 2.9 meq/L (8.3dKH)
Magnesium 1200ppm
Water Temperature 76F-82F
Nitrate less than 10ppm
Nitrite 0ppm

If you have a branching type Hammer (E. ancora) you should feed each head once a week with finely chopped meaty foods. These could be raw shrimp, scallops, etc. The small frozen copepods are another good food such as Cyclopeeze. If you place the coral under the area where you feed your fish and it is able to capture some of the uneaten food you may not need to supplement its food.

Regards,
Kevin

CTP · 12-01-2006, 11:37 AM

I'll definitly work on it. The tank is 75gallons btw

I suppose I should post a a few pics in the coming days. Reeftanks are a new adventure everyday and I'm slowly learning what does well and what does not do well in the tank. I appreciate the insights guys

110galreef · 12-01-2006, 11:39 AM

Definitly keep him in the top half of your tank, and target feed him anything meaty once a week!

I never really feed my LPS, but I have 250w MH's

bobt2 · 12-01-2006, 12:20 PM

i have a post called dr ron, id please. in the pictures is my hammer coral in the middle of the night retracted

110galreef · 12-01-2006, 12:23 PM

Here's mine expanded!!...Color kind of funny

110galreef · 12-01-2006, 12:27 PM

Opps forgot this was a hammer thread:slap: ...not frogspawn...oh well close enough

bobt2 · 12-01-2006, 09:03 PM

heres a shot of my coral during the day. it started as one small branch that broke off a friends piece

**Minh Nguyen** · 12-01-2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 110galreef

Opps forgot this was a hammer thread:slap: ...not frogspawn...oh well close enough

They have the same requirement

bobt2 · 12-02-2006, 08:03 AM

lost the pic. here it is again

110galreef · 12-02-2006, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minh Nguyen

They have the same requirement

Yeah basically the exact same thing w/ a different shaped tip!

mandarin_watcher · 12-02-2006, 09:28 PM

I also had my hammer for a few years, The green branching hammer I got as just a little head, I didn't think it would make it. And after a couple years it has grown to almost a foot round twice over. I fragged it down, Well truth be told, my daughter drop a piece of live rock on it and busted it into pieces, They all lived, and went to new homes. I kept one piece, and it had also grown to about a foot round. Last summer, two piece got broken off again, and they are now doing very well.
The other hammer I have is a pink wall hammer. I've had this one for a little over two years. It has grown from 2inches, to about 14inches long, and about 6 inches wide when fully opened. I do have to admit, I have never target feed either, I can't figure out where the mouth is to feed it. But I guess they found a way.

Tried to post pictures but photobucket wont work here. why?

**Minh Nguyen** · 12-03-2006, 02:01 AM

Euphyllia sp. corals are easy to keep. They are all have about the same requirement. Feeding them help them grow much faster. Just squirt some food at them whenever you feed the tank. I have a tiny one polyp that grow into 12 inches plus and again and again.

CSeaSee · 12-05-2006, 09:19 PM

I've also got a hammer coral which has reproduced w/ something like 15 mini-heads scattered around. I agree with everything that was said in earlier posts, and have a couple comments to add. Do you know where your hammer coral came from?- Aquacultred vs. reef? The aquacultured seem to do better (anecdotally). I also wonder about your lighting- if it was aquacultured and kept under MH and now it's under PC, it could be stressed and adjusting to the different lighting schemes- in this case it would have to get used to less light. I'd also like to see some hard NO2/NO3 values...

11-30-2006, 11:21 PM	#1
CTP Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 7	Hammer Coral Questions I've recently purchased a hammer coral (about a month ago) and it just does not seem to want to "bloom" I've tried a number of placements and the water quality, ph levels and lighting is all good. I've read many different opinions on placement and currently have settled on the substrate itself within a rock in a low water flow. Anyone have thoughts on what I'm missing or how I can get this sucker to shows its true colors

12-01-2006, 09:52 AM	#3
CTP Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 7	Upper 1/3 of the Tank? I'm willing to try anything...the fact that you've gotten it to reproduce is exactly what I'd love to see from mine

12-01-2006, 10:53 AM	#5
CTP Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 7	Lighting 2 10K 65W and 2 actinics...the water paramteres is something I'm not too sure of other than the consistent 124-125 salinity, very low nitrite and nitrate levels. I'm using tap water (I know I know) and adding reef builder per the requirements. Am I missing something in the water??

12-01-2006, 11:17 AM	#7
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,424	For your type of lighting the coral should be 6-12" from the bulbs and in low to moderate current. Recommended water parameters are as follows: SPG 1.024 - 1.026 Calcium 400ppm Alkalinity 2.9 meq/L (8.3dKH) Magnesium 1200ppm Water Temperature 76F-82F Nitrate less than 10ppm Nitrite 0ppm If you have a branching type Hammer (E. ancora) you should feed each head once a week with finely chopped meaty foods. These could be raw shrimp, scallops, etc. The small frozen copepods are another good food such as Cyclopeeze. If you place the coral under the area where you feed your fish and it is able to capture some of the uneaten food you may not need to supplement its food. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

12-01-2006, 11:37 AM	#8
CTP Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 7	Thanks for The Insights Guys I'll definitly work on it. The tank is 75gallons btw I suppose I should post a a few pics in the coming days. Reeftanks are a new adventure everyday and I'm slowly learning what does well and what does not do well in the tank. I appreciate the insights guys

12-01-2006, 08:38 AM	#2
bobt2 Just Moved In Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: long island n.y. Posts: 11	i have it pretty high in my 75 with6x54 t-5 lighting and good flow. it has added many new branches in the yr i,ve had it

12-01-2006, 10:49 AM	#4
110galreef Tenant Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toledo OH Posts: 91	What type of lighting? How are your water params. They like a good amount of low and just enough flow to gently sway in the current.....not be blasted to one side!

12-01-2006, 11:09 AM	#6
110galreef Tenant Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toledo OH Posts: 91	What size tank? The nitrites arne't helping him?

12-01-2006, 11:39 AM	#9
110galreef Tenant Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toledo OH Posts: 91	Definitly keep him in the top half of your tank, and target feed him anything meaty once a week! I never really feed my LPS, but I have 250w MH's

12-01-2006, 12:20 PM	#10
bobt2 Just Moved In Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: long island n.y. Posts: 11	i have a post called dr ron, id please. in the pictures is my hammer coral in the middle of the night retracted

12-01-2006, 12:23 PM	#11
110galreef Tenant Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toledo OH Posts: 91	Here's mine expanded!!...Color kind of funny Attached Thumbnails

12-01-2006, 12:27 PM	#12
110galreef Tenant Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toledo OH Posts: 91	Opps forgot this was a hammer thread:slap: ...not frogspawn...oh well close enough

12-01-2006, 09:03 PM	#13
bobt2 Just Moved In Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: long island n.y. Posts: 11	hammer coral question heres a shot of my coral during the day. it started as one small branch that broke off a friends piece Last edited by bobt2; 12-01-2006 at 09:06 PM.

12-02-2006, 08:03 AM	#15
bobt2 Just Moved In Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: long island n.y. Posts: 11	hammer coral questions lost the pic. here it is again Attached Thumbnails

12-02-2006, 09:28 PM	#17
mandarin_watcher Just Moved In Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 26	I also had my hammer for a few years, The green branching hammer I got as just a little head, I didn't think it would make it. And after a couple years it has grown to almost a foot round twice over. I fragged it down, Well truth be told, my daughter drop a piece of live rock on it and busted it into pieces, They all lived, and went to new homes. I kept one piece, and it had also grown to about a foot round. Last summer, two piece got broken off again, and they are now doing very well. The other hammer I have is a pink wall hammer. I've had this one for a little over two years. It has grown from 2inches, to about 14inches long, and about 6 inches wide when fully opened. I do have to admit, I have never target feed either, I can't figure out where the mouth is to feed it. But I guess they found a way. Tried to post pictures but photobucket wont work here. why? __________________ "You spent how much" "It a glass box of water for peaty sake " "

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

12-03-2006, 02:01 AM	#18
Minh Nguyen Contributing Member/Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 675	Euphyllia sp. corals are easy to keep. They are all have about the same requirement. Feeding them help them grow much faster. Just squirt some food at them whenever you feed the tank. I have a tiny one polyp that grow into 12 inches plus and again and again. __________________ Minh Visit my tank at: http://berlinmethod.com/minhn/ http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2/aquarium.htm

12-05-2006, 09:19 PM	#19
CSeaSee Mayor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 663	I've also got a hammer coral which has reproduced w/ something like 15 mini-heads scattered around. I agree with everything that was said in earlier posts, and have a couple comments to add. Do you know where your hammer coral came from?- Aquacultred vs. reef? The aquacultured seem to do better (anecdotally). I also wonder about your lighting- if it was aquacultured and kept under MH and now it's under PC, it could be stressed and adjusting to the different lighting schemes- in this case it would have to get used to less light. I'd also like to see some hard NO2/NO3 values... __________________ Carl Just tell your wife that having a tank teaches you all sorts of new DIY skills...which will save lots of money around the house...so you can buy more stuff for your tank...so you can learn more skills...

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