Branching hammer looking sickly.... need some help on my first LPS.

[Radioheadx14]

I posted this on the LPS forums but the traffic is a little slow there.

I have had a 6 head branching hammer for 2 weeks and it had full polyp expansion on day one. It came from a tank that was running 400w MHs and it was mid way up the tank... so the guy told me I wouldn't really need to acclimate it since I have a 150w mh. Well it was doing awesome for 2 weeks but when I got home from work today... some of the tenticle things are shriveled up. MOST of them are fully extended but some on a smaller polyp are deflated. Another polyp has the ones that are the outer most deflated.. the ones that would point downward.

I did notice that the ones that are fully inflated are curved today... I changed my bulb from the stock 150hqi current bulb in a sunpod to a phoenix 14k... but the old bulb was only a month or so old. Other than that, its not near any other coral. there is no current thats making it move much.

My parameters as of yesterday:
ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
kH 8
Ca 420
Mg 1100
Sg 1.025
temp 79 F
Other than the hammer, Every other coral is fully extended (toadstool, rics, Zoas)
Any Ideas? I'll work on posting a pic

I just did a lugols dip and added it back to the tank.

[Radioheadx14]

ttt

[Radioheadx14]

no one?

[Radioheadx14]

Now that the MH light is off... the outer most tenticles on several of the polyps are darker than the center ones, which they were not before... is this a sign of too much light?

They are dark but still green with a purple tip. I dont think its brown jelly because they don't have film on them and the dark color is uniform.

[demonsp]

Sounds normal as this is how they expell waste. If it looks worse or doesnt reopen then it could be something else. An LPS for a first coral isnt best but if readings and flow and feeding are in order it should be fine. Look here for help.

http://www.asira.org/caresheets

[ImprezaSTi]

Other than that, its not near any other coral. there is no current thats making it move much.
put it in a spot with more flow perhaps?

[Radioheadx14]

When i turned on the room light this morning, I saw a couple digitate hydroids in the area... so I'm wondering if thats the problem. I moved it to a new area.

[cfarrow2]

I thought hammers were pretty aggressive. Wouldn't it kick the crap out of a hydroid?

[Radioheadx14]

I know digitate hydroids are pretty aggressive too.

[Gwynhidwy]

I'm pretty new to corals, but I would try relocating it. Several times I have had a coral that has been doing very well start doing poorly with no changes in the tank. After I moved them to a new spot, they start doing well. Could be a coincidence, but it might be worth a try.

[Radioheadx14]

I'm thinking the new light bulb may be bugging it or the hydroids... I also have a toadstool leather in the tank... maybe thats a problem... I think I'm going to remove it anyways.

[davew0670]

I think it could be the new bulb first then maybe the leather. YOu have pics of your new bulb up yet?

[C. Friesen]

Hi, My LPS like moderate to low flow. Maybe the flow is too high in the area and it is being bashed around. I know my Torch does not like high flow areas.

Chris

[Radioheadx14]

Its definitely not flow issues....

I moved it down a little and I think I'm going to trade the leather in tomorrow anyways.