- Calcium. Provide hammer coral with 400 to 460 ppm calcium levels. Calcium is the major factor affecting the growth rate of any large polyp stony (LPS).
- Alkalinity. Hammer corals like alkalinity around 450 to 550 ppm, with 500ppm being the golden number. Alkalinity is crucial for marine species, so keep it as average as you can.
- pH (power of hydrogen) You’ve probably heard me stress about keeping balance in a reef tank. Well, pH is the very essence of balance.
- Temperature and Flow. Hammer coral requires medium to turbid water flow and a temperature of about 76 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
What do hammer corals eat?
The hammer coral is no different there–but unlike some of the other LPS species, Euphyllia ancora is not an active, ravenous eater. Hammer corals are more subdued eaters who would benefit from the occasional feeding of a meaty marine food like mysis shrimp.
How often should I Feed my Wall hammer corals?
Remember that corals also get some nutrients from lighting and nutrients in the water, hence the need for a moderate level of water flow. The feeding is really only to supplement other dietary needs. You can get away with feeding your corals 2-3 times a week but make sure to space it out. Don’t feed your wall hammer Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
How do I care for a hammer coral?
If you go any higher, you could see bleaching of the coral as they expel the zooxanthellae and die. As with the lighting, you want to set your hammer coral within a moderate water flow. As these LPS corals extend their polyps, they need enough of a current to support the tentacles.
What supplements do hammer corals need to grow?
Hammer corals require consistent levels of calcium, alkalinity, and to a lesser degree magnesium in order to grow their calcium carbonate skeletons. The amount of supplementation needed to maintain calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium depends a lot on the size and growth rate of the stony corals in your tank.
How often should you feed Hammer corals?
Feeding Hammer Coral Unlike other LPS corals, hammer corals aren't as eager for supplemental feeding. You only need to consider offering a meaty morsel 2-3 times a week.
How can I make my hammer coral grow faster?
2:244:51How Fast Do Hammer Corals Grow Episode 3 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's around 8.1 at night and we're hitting around eight. And 8.4 8.5. During the day. So it is quiteMoreIt's around 8.1 at night and we're hitting around eight. And 8.4 8.5. During the day. So it is quite high ph does play a role in how the coral is able to calcify.
Where should I put my hammer coral?
There should be some flow (low to medium), but not a direct one. Placing the coral at medium tank level will work, as it tends to expand more there, unlike on substrate. Be sure that it's placed at least 7 to 8 inches away from other corals as its tentacles (sweepers) will extend up to 6, during the night.
Do Hammer corals need dosing?
Hammer isn't too hard to care for. Medium light and medium flow. As long as the polyps aren't blowing like crazy, should be fine. You will need to test and dose alkalinity a few times a week.
How do I know if my hammer coral is healthy?
1:074:11Coral Advice - The Hammer Coral - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat is brown jelly and you don't want to get that. You don't want to pick up coral where theMoreThat is brown jelly and you don't want to get that. You don't want to pick up coral where the skeleton is showing or the polyps look like they are receding.
What do hammer coral like?
Hammer corals require consistent levels of calcium, alkalinity, and to a lesser degree magnesium in order to grow their calcium carbonate skeletons. The amount of supplementation needed to maintain calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium depends a lot on the size and growth rate of the stony corals in your tank.
How do you take care of hammer coral?
Hammer corals do best with a low-to-moderate amount of water flow. Enough to carry fresh, oxygenated water to the polyps without blowing them into their skeleton. Try to replicate a gentle breeze with the current.
Can you dip a hammer coral?
5:2626:31Top Coral Dipping Mistakes! Don't Try These At Home With Your Reef ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut even for dipping when you get that frag plug that's got some algae on it or you get that lpsMoreBut even for dipping when you get that frag plug that's got some algae on it or you get that lps hanging a wall hammer.
How many hours of light does hammer coral need?
I recommend 8 hrs a day.
Does hammer coral grow fast?
The hammer grows to be big every six months where I need to frag it due to space. It is a 1 1/2 years old. It is also at least four inches away from other corals on all sides.
Will a clownfish host a hammer coral?
Saltwater aquariums provide predator-free environments for clownfish, but clownfish will host hammer coral in a saltwater aquarium. The instinct to host a protective anemone or coral is hereditary. Even aquarium-bred clownfish that have never known the ocean environment seek a protective host.
What temperature do hammer corals like?
Tank Conditions The perfect water temperature for the Hammer Coral is from 72°- 78° Fahrenheit. Any colder than this, and it will deviate too far from the conditions of its native origins. The Hammer Coral will not do well in water that is too acidic. The perfect pH level of the water should be between 8.1 and 8.4.
Appearance
Whether you know them as hammer or anchor corals, the name comes from the same source: the shape of their polyps.
Caring for Hammer Coral
Hammer corals work as adaptable species. If you’re starting with a reef tank and looking for an LPS coral to work with, they’re an ideal choice.
Hammer Coral Tank Mates
Hammer corals make a dynamic addition to reef tanks. Those bright, extended polyps look perfect as a backdrop in an aquarium.
Feeding Hammer Coral
Hammer corals rely on their symbiotic zooxanthellae to provide the majority of their nutrition.
Types of Food
Hammer corals may only accept supplemental feeding once a week. This is okay.
Hammer Coral Reproduction
Hammer coral colonies contain the organs to produce both male and female gametes.
Hammer Coral Health
Hammer corals have a reputation for survival. Their aggressive nature pits them against most other corals.
How to keep hammer corals away from other corals?
Using a high-quality salt mix. Adding supplemental calcium as kalkwasser or 2-part. Give hammer corals some space to grow-out and to keep them away from other corals. You can read more about why in the compatibility section. Note the coral skeleton of this hammer is wall-shaped.
How to feed coral fish?
Feeding is fairly straightforward. Use Julian’s thing or a Sea Squirt feeder and push the soft, meaty food into the polyps. The coral may eat some of whatever your fish don’t steal away.
What is the best tank for hammer coral?
Proper tank conditions for hammer corals. It takes a moderate level of skill to care for Hammer corals in a saltwater tank. Like most other coral species, Euphyllia ancora requires stable reef tank water conditions, is intolerant to major swings in water quality, and is sensitive to almost any level of copper in the water.
What is the best coral to grow in a tank?
Are you looking for a great coral that can jazz up your tank without being too difficult to care for? You might be in the market for a hammer coral, Euphyllia ancora. This popular l arge polyp stony coral species has all the right raw materials to make a great next coral for your tank–they build their own stony coral skeleton, have bold, beautiful, flowing polyps, are photosynthetic, can be fragged relatively easily, and will grow even faster if fed.
How much light do hammer corals need?
Lighting: How much light does a hammer coral need? Hammer corals only require a moderate amount of light for photosynthesis and can grow well in the intermediate regions of your tank. Just about any reef LED lighting should be sufficient for most tanks.
What is a hammer coral?
The hammer coral is considered to be an aggressive coral species that will attack its neighbors with sweeper tentacles. These are stinging nematocysts (similar to the sting of an anemone) on the end of a specialized polyp that can extend several inches away from the body of the coral.
What is the best calcium level for coral?
This coral will start to die off if the calcium levels are too low. A calcium level of about 400 ppm is just right. Most hobbyists maintain sufficient calcium levels by:
What do you feed hammer corals?
To feed the hammer coral, use meaty food, such as fish products, copepods, krill, brine shrimps, etc. You can feed directly using a turkey baster as well as a transfer pipette or thin the food out in a separate container. It will reduce the consumption time for the coral (food is digested faster = less contamination).
How to protect hammer coral?
Hammer corals are inherently aggressive. Make sure to provide at least 5 inches of space to protect more peaceful corals (or other aggressive species). In some cases, a hungry coral can extend its tentacles up to 10 inches in search of food. That is why adequate lighting is an absolute must. Keep your PAR around 120 to 170. If you can not provide more light (because other corals are sensitive, for example), consider targeted feeding. Feeding hammer coral may reduce aggression toward other species.
How much alkalinity does a hammer coral need?
Hammer corals like alkalinity around 450 to 550 ppm, with 500ppm being the golden number. Alkalinity is crucial for marine species, so keep it as average as you can. This way, it’s easier to satisfy the needs of other tank inhabitants (without infringing on the rights of hammer coral)
What temperature does hammer coral need?
Hammer coral requires medium to turbid water flow and a temperature of about 76 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember Goldilocks and the three bears? Medium water and flow are not too much or too little but just about perfect. If you overdo the flow, it can prevent the growth or even rip the polyps off. The same with temperature balance, too hot water causes bleaching and bacterial emergence.
Why is my hammer coral not bright?
If you’ve noticed that your hammer coral is not as bright as it once was, make a partial water change, then clean the water.
Why do you need a protein skimmer for coral reefs?
Don’t forget to install a protein skimmer and filtration system to eliminate the effects of contamination from feeding the corals with food containing protein and amino acids.
What is the normal PAR for hammer coral?
That is why you don’t want to use metal halides. The normal value to start with would be 120-170 PAR. Going out of that range is a personal risk that you are not willing to take.
What is a hammer coral?
Hammer corals are an iconic large polyp stony coral (LPS) that has been a staple in the hobby for generations. They are found all throughout the Pacific reefs and come in a variety of colors and growth forms. Hammer corals sometimes grow in a wall formation while other hammers grow in a branching formation. Either variety makes an excellent show piece coral for a reef aquarium however the branching varieties tend to grow more quickly. Please see below for additional care tips for hammer corals as well as checking out our Top 5 Tips for setting up a reef.
How do corals bail out?
During polyp bailout, polyps are killing off their own connective tissue through apoptosis. For those that are unfamiliar with the term, apoptosis is programmed cell death as opposed to necrosis which is traumatic cell death. Apoptosis is a highly regulated and controlled process so the coral polyps bailing out due to stress are doing so in a direct calculated response to an exogenous threat. If you want to learn more, take a look at the video below:
What is the nitrate level of a LPS coral?
LPS corals are sensitive to declining water quality and elevated levels of nitrate and phosphate are an indicator of declining water quality. Low nitrate levels around 5-10ppm are actually welcome for large polyp stony corals, but around 30-40ppm of nitrate you might start running into some issues such as tissue recession.
Why do corals have sweeper tentacles?
Euphyllia are one of the corals that extends long sweeper tentacles. Sweeper tentacles are often used as a means of defense against other encroaching coral colonies. Their white tips contain a concentration of nematcysts that can damage more delicate tank mates. Most of the time, this is not a major problem but to be safe, we recommend placing it in a location far from other corals initially.
Do hammer corals grow in a wall?
Hammer corals sometimes grow in a wall formation while other hammers grow in a branching formation. Either variety makes an excellent show piece coral for a reef aquarium however the branching varieties tend to grow more quickly. Please see below for additional care tips for hammer corals as well as checking out our Top 5 Tips for setting up a reef.
Do hammer corals need fluorescent light?
Hammers, Torches, and Frogspawn (Euphyllia sp.) do not require as much light as some other corals. It can be kept under normal output fluorescents without much difficulty. In some cases, Hammers may extend more readily under subdued lighting, however it may display more attractive colors when placed under stronger lighting.
Do hammer corals need magnesium?
Hammer corals require consistent levels of calcium, alkalinity, and to a lesser degree magnesium in order to grow their calcium carbonate skeletons. The amount of supplementation needed to maintain calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium depends a lot on the size and growth rate of the stony corals in your tank.
What do hammer corals need to grow?
That’s the time when the real fun begins. LPS corals, in particular, Hammer corals need stable levels of calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity in order to grow. There are two ways to achieve stability in your reef tank.
Why is hammer coral not easy to care for?
The hammer coral is not the easiest coral to take care of, mainly because of its aggressiveness and the specific conditions it needs to thrive. However, every beginner can keep these corals in their reef tanks with proper care and sufficient knowledge.
What is the most popular LPS coral?
The Hammer Coral ( Euphyllia Ancora ), also known as the Anchor Coral is one of the most popular LPS corals among reef enthusiasts.
How does the Hammerhead coral get its energy?
The Hammerhead coral is no exception. It gets 90 percent of its energy from photosynthesis, through a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae is a marine algae that lives within the coral tissue. Although it mainly depends on the lighting, the Hammer coral will benefit from additional feeding.
Why is coral reef important?
The Coral Reef provides habitat for nearly one-third of the saltwater fish species. And it’s important to preserve it. With today’s methods of Coral aquaculture, the future of the coral reefs is promising. If you are interested in purchasing a Hammer coral, you won’t have trouble finding in your local fish store.
How to get new heads out of hammer coral?
Wait until they are fully grown, and then cut them out. You can glue the new heads on a different rock.
What happens if you put a coral in the wrong position?
That means that finding the perfect position can sometimes be tricky. A wrong position can go both ways. Damage of the coral itself, or damage for the near neighbor corals.
How to keep hammer corals healthy?
First, you have to ensure that the water contains a reasonable amount of calcium and magnesium. Both these are great when it comes to the growth of the Hammer corals as well as other species in your reef aquarium. But you have to check whether all the fish species in the tank can survive a high amount of calcium. If that does not seem to be a problem, you can go ahead with the fish tank.
How to Care for Your Hammer Corals?
Suppose you have decided to get Hammer corals for your saltwater aquarium after reading so far. We hope you are ready to spend a reasonable amount of time taking care of the corals. In that case, you have to take care of the following aspects to ensure the maximum growth of the Hammer corals. We have split this guide into multiple sections, such as Sunlight, Nutrients, fish species, compatibility, etc. The perfect living space for Hammer coral will be the best combination of all these aspects. Shall we get started?
What Is Hammer Coral?
Euphyllia ancora, better known as Hammer coral and anchor coral, is one of the large polyp stony corals you can use in aquariums and other spaces. In some scenarios, the same species are known as sausage coral, ridge coral, and bubble honeycomb coral. It belongs to the botanical family of Euphyllidae and is known for its impressive variety of colors. There are a couple of reasons why Hammer coral is a popular choice for fish tanks and aquarium specimens worldwide. First, taking care of the Hammer coral animal does not consume a lot of time or effort. Second, the Hammer coral animal adds charm to the aquarium environment due to its puffy tubular tentacles and semi-fluorescent nature. Therefore, when combined with the right set of lighting, Hammer coral can change the way your aquarium looks.
What does it mean when a hammer coral is aggressive?
As we mentioned earlier, Hammer corals can be quite aggressive at times. It means the coral requires constant access to nutrients. The water in your aquarium may not be able to fulfill these needs at all times. Therefore, you have to follow a well-designed feeding strategy. You can continue the strategy until the corals reach the desired size and dimensions.
What determines the placement of hammer coral?
2. Waterflow is also another factor that can determine the placement of Hammer coral. The water flow must be at a medium strength if you want to ensure the best growth rate for the plant. If the flow is too high, the Hammer coral could be at stake. On the other hand, if the flow is too low, the coral may have trouble absorbing the right amount of nutrients.
Do hammer corals need effort?
These points must explain that Hammer corals require some effort from your side. However, provided that you want to keep your reef aquarium good-looking and healthy, spending a few minutes every day to monitor what is happening will not be a problem, we believe.
Do hammer corals grow aggressively?
Compared to other plants, Hammer coral animals have an aggressive temperament. So, you will have to adjust the settings of the aquarium based on the feedback from the plant. For instance, if the coral does not grow as per your plan, you may have to check the lighting.
When should I feed euphyllia?
I only tend to feed euphyllia when they’re new to my reef or stressed. It really seems to get them up and healthy. Typically I’ll feed them frozen mysis. Once they’re established, they’ll get what they need from daily broadcast feeding, and light of course.
Do corals need to be fed?
For the most part, corals dont need to be fed, as they feed off of fish waste and from photosynthesis, but most benefit from spot feeding, reef-roids works well, as do many other similar products.
Basic Information
Natural Habitat and Appearance
Placement in A Reef Tank
Water Quality
Lighting
Compatibility with Other Species
Feeding Hammer Coral
- You don’t have to feed hammer corals.They obtain energy from symbiont alga which lives inside the coral. Provide coral with enough light instead of feeding. Although hammer coral can consume fleshy, meaty food, I don’t recommend feeding. For small aquariums, excessive food causes contamination. Even if you clean up the aquarium often enough (to pre...
How to Frag Hammer Coral