can I save my Hammer?

[fastzorro]

Hi Folks

Have a new tank, 5 weeks old with established rock and sand. The pet store owner sold me a nice size hammer and a mushroom looking thing that opens up in the light. After 3 weeks they are both still alive but looking not to healthy. Most likley because its such a new tank (45 gal). Is there anything I can add to keep them alive untill the tank establishes enough to sustain them?

 

[BL1]

What are your water parameters? And what kind of lights do you have?

 

[fastzorro]

All test are good, 200W of great reef lights I bought...

 

[Bifferwine]

Can you post pictures of them?

 

[BL1]

What are the numbers? Good means different things to different people. Also what kind of lighting because 200w of T5, PC, and MH are all different.

 

[fastzorro]

Lunar Aqualight T5 High Output light fixtures from Coralife

 

[Bifferwine]

Those are good lights for your tank. Did your tank cycle completely? Are there any other animals in it besides the two corals?

 

[fastzorro]

Have 2, 1.5" tangs and 2,

1" clowns

 

[fastzorro]

Oh yes, cycled fine...

 

[Bifferwine]

That's a torch coral, and a toadstool leather.

Do you have the torch in a high-flow area? It doesn't like high flow. It may take the leather more than a few weeks to open up -- they adjust to being moved very slowly...

Also, your tank is too small for any type of tang.

 

[Pwny]

+1 on tank being to small for tangs

 

[fastzorro]

The torch is not in a high flow area, the leather had been opening up 3 times the size it is now but stopped 3 days ago and only opens up to this size. The tangs are ok for right now but I know, I will have to orphan them out in the near future.

 

[BL1]

It's possible the leather is getting ready to shed.

 

[fastzorro]

????? Shed?

P.S. I have twice the filtration needed for this size tank. The store owner said with that I would be able to keep the 2 tangs..??

 

[ErinCahir]

Stores exist to make money. The filtration has nothing to do with the ability to keep tangs. They like lots of open swimming room and they get large.

 

[Bifferwine]

For the tangs, it's not an issue of filtration, it's swimming space. They are very active fish, have a high metabolism, and just need a lot of room.

Leathers will shed their outer skin once in a while. During that time, they shrivel up and look like crap. It usually takes a week or two for them to get back to normal.

 

[fastzorro]

Sooo, if it does show signs of life its ok? Any signs of it being sick? And back to my first question, is there anything I can put in the tank to supplement it until the tank becomes fully established?

 

[Bifferwine]

It looks healthy. Both of them look healthy. No need to supplement anything.

 

[fastzorro]

Thanks to all you guys!!!

 

[Bifferwine]

With the torch, you want to watch for the flesh receding, and it staying closed. You also want to keep an eye out for a brown colored jelly or slime. Those are all signs that the coral is sick.