Is high calcium killing my Hammer Coral?

[Coley88]

I had a beautiful hammer coral and all the sudden over the past week is as complete closed up. I can’t even tell if it has hammers any more. I tested my calcium today with the API test kit and I have 560 ppm or maybe even more ( the test never turned purple) I just did a big water change yesterday so I haven’t tested everything else yet. Should I wait it out and test again an another few days? I do not dose anything and do regular 10-15 % water changes a week.

 

[KQuillan]

That is a high reading, but I would definitely get a better test than API. What are all your other parameters, etc?

@ReefSquad

 

[Jasonak]

560 is not crazy high, what are the rest of your parameters ?

 

[VintageReefer]

That hammer looks to have a bacterial infection

Calcium is not the cause. how long have you had it and when was it open normally last ?

 

[Coley88]

That hammer looks to have a bacterial infection

Calcium is not the cause. how long have you had it and when was it open normally last ?

I’ve had it for 8 months now. It was last open about a week ago.

 

[VintageReefer]

I’ve had it for 8 months now. It was last open about a week ago.

Any fish or shrimp that could be picking on it?

 

[Dburr1014]

Could be a lot of things but the calcium.

Can you post all parameters and lighting?

I know they don't like to be stuck in the sand. Hopefully you glued it to a rock.

 

[BryanM]

Having it normal for a long time and then this… parameters or someone is picking on it.

I currently have one hammer that’s only 1/4 extended, and my nitrates and phosphates are extremely low. I’m addressing that, and I suspect that’s the cause.