What's up (or down, as the case may be) with my hammer?

[20 20]

Had it for a week, and it's been fine. Just did a 5 gallon water change, and since then it's been 'withdrawn', with a thread of something slimey coming from it:



One red arrow is pointing out the thread waving in the water, the other red arrow points to where it comes out of the hammer. Anyone have any ideas?

All the standard water parameters remained the same after the water change:

29 gallon tank
15 gallon sump/fuge (approximately 10 gallons of water in it)
Mag 5 return pump
1 maxijet 1200, high flow in the top of the tank
1 200 [acronym:767bacd720="Gallons per hour"]gph[/acronym:767bacd720] powerhead aimed along the back of the tank at the bottom
130 watts [acronym:767bacd720="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:767bacd720] lighting, one 10000k, and one 420/460 actinec (sp?)
temp: 80
[acronym:767bacd720="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:767bacd720]: 8.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20
[acronym:767bacd720="Alkalinity"]Alk[/acronym:767bacd720]: 130 [acronym:767bacd720="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:767bacd720] ( I know this is low, I'm trying baking soda)
Calcium: 450 [acronym:767bacd720="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:767bacd720]
Phosphate: 0
[acronym:767bacd720="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:767bacd720]: 1.026

[Fluff]

Could be expelling wastes. Has the thread broken away? Corals, like anemones will look stressed or less than perfect when releasing wastes.

[seaham358]

It looks fine, good extension on the polyps. Could be a sweeper type tentical? people say that the hammers have them, I have never seen them on my hammer. But I have a branching hammer.

[20 20]

Looks much better now:



That 'thread' had broken off, there's still a small length of it, but the hammer as a whole looks much better.

[Fluff]

Since it broke away, I would say it was expelling wastes.
It's a beautiful coral.

[20 20]

OK, this is getting wierd. Look at it now:



Is this normal behavior for a hammer?

[seve1]

My hammer will do that some nights and some not as much. I would say not to cause for concern if that is the case. Mine also puts out feeder tentacles about 5 inches long when fully extended.

[Fluff]

They will do that sometimes. The only thing that looks concerning is the brown spot in the second rib from the left. Kinda likes like brown jelly. Is this just the photo? Try blowing it away gently with a baster. If it is brown jelly you may loose that part of the coral. I've never had a ridge type hammer, only branching ones and they are much easier since you can just cut off the bad branch. If your forced to [acronym:1bee44e2d7="Broken or cut pieces of coral which will eventually grow into a new animal"]frag[/acronym:1bee44e2d7] that part off, be sure you get a clean cut (dremel tool works well), pristine water and moderate water flow to that area to help with healing.
Then again, it may just be nothing and just need to watch how it behaves. If it is brown jelly, that will spread pretty quickly.
You might be able to find something here to help you.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/carypropfaqs.htm

[melosu58]

What type fish do you have. You dont have any angels do you. I had a pretty hammer that was exibiting strange behavior and come to find out my keyhole was nipping at him. Just an idea. I have some hammers in my gallery. branching and regular

[20 20]

Nope, no angels. Just a false perc, and a bicolor 'psuedochromis', or however it's spelled.