Hammer bleached

[dandelion76]

Hi it's me again (having lots of problem with my tank lately )

To cut the story short, I added a pack of carbon into my tank 4 days ago, 2 days later my hammers are bleached.

I am suspecting that the carbon cleaned the water up so much to the extend that the intensity of the light changed so much as to bleach the corals.

The other LPS corals (bubble, brain) seems not affected too much though.

So what should I do now to rescue it? Reduce photoperiod or turn off the MH completly (keep the actinic on)? Am leaving for a 5 day trip on Thur, will only be able to feed cycloplez during that period of time (fren helping, non-reefer so can't ask him to target feed them). Will they die when I return home

[Gouldian]

Hi,

What kind of carbon you used for the tank?

Most GAC (Granulated Activated Carbon), will initially leeched some PO4 due to the manufacturing process.

Thus, you will see most reefers either soaked their GAC overnight on another tub of water before adding into their tank. Or put Rowa after the the GAC to absorb the leech PO4. This could be the reason of the bleached Hammer.

Other reasons includes fluctuation of water params such as Salinity, Temperature, Trace elements and polutants.

If however, you suspect it could be due to parasites, you may soaked the hammer with 1l of water from tank with 5 drops of lugol iodine. It does wonders.

But I suggest you find the root cause first and then fully understand the treatment before doing it for fear of adding another unnecessary stress to your hammer.

[dandelion76]

thanks bro. I am using PUR-II by AquaPharm.

Didn't soak the carbon overnight, just ran it under tap water for about 5-10 sec (as told by the LFS). Then the carbon went straight into my tank. May be that's where the problem is? Leeched PO4? (I don't have PO4 testkit so can't confirm )

I will do more water change to dilute the PO4 concentration (or whatever polutant) in the water for the time being.

However, how could I sustain the life of the poor hammer? target feed them everyday?

Should I turn off the MH if the bleach is caused by suddent changed in light intensity?

[Ancelot]

Possible... too much light for a lps is no good especially if the high intensity of light comes as a shock to them..

[Marineman]

Possible... too much light for a lps is no good especially if the high intensity of light comes as a shock to them..

I agree, how long have you got the hammer? Place it lower down in your tank, loss of colour is mainly as a result of lighting (shock) where the coral expel it's zooanthelle to adapt to the lighting. Are the tentacles extended? If not then there may be other reasons. I believe your hammer is new to the tank as other coral colours are OK, if this is the case then it has to be lighting and you need to place it lower.

You don't have to target feed your hammers too often.

[dandelion76]

I agree, how long have you got the hammer? Place it lower down in your tank, loss of colour is mainly as a result of lighting (shock) where the coral expel it's zooanthelle to adapt to the lighting. Are the tentacles extended? If not then there may be other reasons. I believe your hammer is new to the tank as other coral colours are OK, if this is the case then it has to be lighting and you need to place it lower.

You don't have to target feed your hammers too often.

Thanks bro for your valuable info. I agree with both of you that the bleach is likely caused by the suddent increased in light intensity.

The hammers has been in my tank for almost 3 weeks, no problem when I put it directly under MH as I got it from a reefer who also used MH. When carbon was used 4 days ago, it could possibly cleaned my tank water (my tank water must be very dirty ) and caused a suddent increased in the light intensity. The poor hammer had no choice but to expel its zoo**** (how to spell?)

So far I have placed a few layer of plastic bags on top of the hammers to reduce the intensity of the MH, looks fine to me, will remove them slower layer by layer over a few weeks time. Also target fed them with cyclop just now, before leaving for a 5 day trip tomorrow. Hope they will still be alive when I am home

Thanks for all your valuable opinion

[Eric]

Thanks bro for your valuable info. I agree with both of you that the bleach is likely caused by the suddent increased in light intensity.

The hammers has been in my tank for almost 3 weeks, no problem when I put it directly under MH as I got it from a reefer who also used MH. When carbon was used 4 days ago, it could possibly cleaned my tank water (my tank water must be very dirty ) and caused a suddent increased in the light intensity. The poor hammer had no choice but to expel its zoo**** (how to spell?)

So far I have placed a few layer of plastic bags on top of the hammers to reduce the intensity of the MH, looks fine to me, will remove them slower layer by layer over a few weeks time. Also target fed them with cyclop just now, before leaving for a 5 day trip tomorrow. Hope they will still be alive when I am home

Thanks for all your valuable opinion

Give them indirect light to acclimatize or put them under those 20K or blue tubes (less PAR) will help to bring back the colours.

Eric

[Nautical]

i believe it has to do with the carbon addition. recently i added seach*m carbon, and within days, i lost a three branch hammer. also lost a cauliflower.

all others still doing okay.

[dandelion76]

Thank Eric and Nautical. The hammer is still alright after me been away for 5 days. Think the shade from the plastic sheet layers helped a lot. There's some improvement on both of them, althoiugh still bleach but at least now they are not totally transparant and open quick big as before. Think it will take some time to bring back the hammer completely.