tank issues (coral)... need an answer or 3

blitz99

blitz99

Member
i got a hammer a few weeks ago and i had a mushroom on a ledge just under the hammer... and some xenia next to the shroom... well, the shroom dissolved and one of the xenia stalks is bent over and looks like the top half is swollen and the bottom is skinny... it doesnt look good... is this just from the hammer possibly stinging? i havent tested my water as i rarely do... i usually just do my water changes and check s.g. and temp.
how aggressive are hammers? and what exactly can they damage? xenia? shrooms? frogspawn? other hammers? sinulara?
also, my frogspawn has a head that is basically dead... it was fine 3 days ago and now it looks like ----, any thoughts? i want to add some stuff (another hammer and more shrooms) but dont want to put them into a bad environment.
 
speg

speg

Active Member
It sounds like your environment may be bad.. but it is odd even that a shroom would die.. so maybe you have a REAL problem.. how long has the tank been up? Go test all your levels and post them@once. Name all the other livestock you have in the tank... go.. i'll wait.... im serious go now... NOW!
 
blitz99

blitz99

Member
not testing today :) or tomorrow... in fact, i may never test my water again.
regardless of that, my main question is: Do hammer's sting other coral like this? the shroom that dissolved (and i honestly mean dissolved) was touching a xenia, it's where the shroom was making contact that the xenia wilted and turned white (just at that spot) the other shrooms throughout the tank are fine, as are all the fish and coral.
 
blitz99

blitz99

Member
oh, the reason i dont test real often is because i do weekly waterchanges and testing will only tell me if my levels are off, the only thing that will change that is waterchanges, and i'm already doing those so the tests really dont matter to me.... lets not debate this though, it's my personal choice and many of you will disagree but will not change my mind, nor will i change yours.. so.... move on.
 
fishmamma

fishmamma

Active Member
HI Blitz! Well I think we can all agree with you to an extent, under normal conditions a weekly water change is enough to keep things stable and you are testing what is important. But what about the possibility of something being totally off with your tank besides a stinging coral?
I am not sure what else you have in there, but do you ever test/dose/adjust calcium? Could anything have contaminated your tank on accident such as cleaners, soap, air sprays etc that would show as ammonia? You didn't mention checking pH with your weekly water changes............do you not test that either?
Your tank, your business but you have to expect some feedback when you come to this board. I hope you find your answer soon, but if not maybe consider dusting off that test kit. :)
 
blitz99

blitz99

Member
too lazy to test but not too lazy to do weekly water changes when most do them bi weekly or even monthly???
i have test results for you all: PH 8.2
ammonia - bright yellow :) which means 0
NH3/4 under .3mg/l (lowest range on test chart)
NO2 0
hardness is 10 drops to change colors on my test kit, which is the norm... i believe this is the alk test???
calcium 450-475 range
mmmm, thats all i got... nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia all check out in the lowest range of my test kit... kit is being read under sunlight...
now that i wasted 30 minutes testing....
what could possibly make a mushroom dissolve?
 
speg

speg

Active Member
I have only had one mushroom die on me.. it was one I added during my cycle.. and it actually turned black and died.. since I have chopped up a mushroom in 4 pieces and each piece is sticking to a rock and growing into a new mushroom.. I also have had a anemone sting a mushroom and had nothing happen to it... maybe you're right in believing the hammer stung them.. but mushrooms are tough mothers...
What kinda lighting do you have?
 
blitz99

blitz99

Member
pc's... so no chance of too much light... tank has been up 8 or 9 months...
the mushroom MELTED... i am not exaggerating... it completely dissolved... the strangest thing i've ever seen... and in a matter of hours. the mushroom right next to it is fine!
 
speg

speg

Active Member
You probably solved your own mystery then!
I didnt assume you had not enough light.. I assumed you maybe had too much light! Though like you said the other next to it is fine so.... cant be that. Most likely placed too close to MC. Hammer - You cant touch this (said the hammer!) or you will melt... I believe those are the lyrics? *cough*
 
joemc

joemc

Member
I just got a hammer and I'm curious- Can they sting your hand if touched? How to they sting other corals- by touching them or do they have tentacles?
 
blitz99

blitz99

Member
i believe they have sweepers like frogspawn.... i touched mine, no "sting"... they'll reach around the tank and get whatever is near them... and apparently destroy mushrooms.
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member
I know you didn't want to hear this, but I feel obligated to tell you. Your corals are probably doomed if you don't test the water frequently and consistantly. Only very experienced individuals such as coral propagators can notice changes in water quality without actually testing, and even the majority of them test.
I feel obligated to tell you this because for every coral that dies in someone's tank, more must be gathered from the ocean.
ps- different people react differently to coral nematocysts. Just because one person can handle a coral does not mean it is safe for everyone. I can handle galaxea with no problem, and it is supposedly one of the most agressive corals known to man.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top