Let's see your Hammer Corals

[WendyMc]

The wall hammers simply grow bigger, adding skeleton & tentacles. The branching split the heads on their big branches to become 2 smaller ones which eventually grow to adult size. I think that's called fission.

[acrouse]

As far as flow goes-I have seen hammers that have very little flow and the tentacles stay grouped together, and then I have seen others with more flow where the tentacles sway constantly and are going all different directions.
I assume the pictures in the thread all have flow turned off for the picture, however that is what I mean when I say the tentacles are grouped together. Is this how they should look in the tank? (more or less)-Or should there be enough flow to spread all the tentacles apart?

thanks for the information
jolene

[WendyMc]

IME they seem to like their tentacles gently swaying. Not blasted or blown about roughly, just a nice calm swaying.

[acrouse]

thanks!

[ataylo13]

Branching Hamma

[m1enbo1]

what do they eat? large chunks like mysis/brine or small rotifers/plankton?

[PONCHDOG2000]

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Just sold this last weekend, didn't like the flow in my sps tank.

[55semireef]

E-A-G-L-E-S, he looks good in the picture though.

I think that most people left their flow ON when they took their pictures. Usually when the flow is turned off, the Hammer's tentacles droop instead of being perky like they are in the pictures.

[MarineGirl411]

Hi,
I have a question. I have a 40 breeder that I was hoping I'd be able to place a Hammer in. Now this is going to be a mixed reef. I'll have some Montipora Capricornis, Micro's, Zoas, Clams, maybe some Acropora later on and various other corals. Right now I currently have various Zoanthids and some Star Polyps. I'd like to add a wall Blue Hammer if possible. I've heard though, that their sweepers are very long and it may be too hard to do it in my tank. I'd rather skip it to keep my other corals safe, but I was really hoping for one. =( They are so beautiful. My tank is a 40 breeder. Also, if it is possible, do you know of a good place to purchase the blue Hammer? They don't have them here locally and I haven't been able to find the blue one's anywhere. Please let me know. Thank you so much.

[55semireef]

Yes Blue Hammers can become quite large. If you plan on getting one for your 40 gallon breeder, than make sure you clear some space around it so it doesn't end up stinging your other inhabitants around it.

[MarineGirl411]

How much room? Also, do you know where I can get one? I prefer the wall hammers. I love their look.

[MarineGirl411]

I also like the bright green hammers. If I had to choose though, I'd pick the blue. I haven't been able to find them anywhere. If it isn't advisable to keep one, then I won't. =( I've heard conflicting things on them. Just wanted to see what everyone thought. I've seen some in smaller tanks and they haven't stung any other corals from what I've heard. Just was wondering. Please let me know. I appreciate it. Thank you.

[55semireef]

I would say as much room as you want to sacrafice. How big do you plan on buying one or does it even matter? I really have no idea where to get one. I would just search around online for a little bit.

[MarineGirl411]

Hi,
It doesn't matter how big it is. If it's small that's fine. It would eventually grow. I want to find a reputable place to buy one from. I just don't want to run into a problem of having corals come in dead. My friend WendyMC has had that problem and it's just horrible. So I wanted some good advice on where to get them. Aren't their sweepers up to 12 in? So that would mean I'd have to sacrifice 12 in of space from what I am understanding. If not, please let me know. =) Thank you.

[55semireef]

Sweeper length can vary depending on the size of the hammer itself. If you really want the hammer, buy it first and then place your other corals around it accordingly. Thats what I did.

[55semireef]

Here's a recent picture of my Hammer just for the heck of it.

[smoney]

Heres the Beast Himself, got him about a year and a half ago and half the size for like $15.

[55semireef]

My hammer is such a slow grower for some reason

[bradleyj]

Mine is branching, I bought it with 7 heads and now I don't know.

[55semireef]

smoney, do you feed your hammer? If you do what do you feed it and how?

bradleyj, that is amazing. What kind of lighting are you running?

[smoney]

Originally posted by 55semireef
smoney, do you feed your hammer? If you do what do you feed it and how?

bradleyj, that is amazing. What kind of lighting are you running?

I don't spot feed it really, but its at the top of my tank and I add many addatives right on top of it. I feed my tank and the hammer Kent Marine Calcium, Kent Stronium, Kent Coral accel, Kent Phytoplex, Kent Expert series Zooplex and just started adding Kent Micro Vert. I vary them up from day to day. The Zooplex seems to work really well and putting it in a lower flow area seem to do the best as well.

Bradleyj- yours looks simply amazing!

[MarineGirl411]

okay so where can I pick one up? =) Need a very reputable source. =) thank you, let me know.

[MarineGirl411]

S money, that coral is beautiful. Is that branching or wall? I just didn't care for the branching because I like the compact nature of the wall. I didn't like the way the stalks looked on the branching. On some of these though, it seems like they grow so large and that stalk might be covered up. Let me know. =) TYl

[smoney]

Originally posted by MarineGirl411
S money, that coral is beautiful. Is that branching or wall? I just didn't care for the branching because I like the compact nature of the wall. I didn't like the way the stalks looked on the branching. On some of these though, it seems like they grow so large and that stalk might be covered up. Let me know. =) TYl

Actually that one that I have is actually a branching coral. I guesss when they get that big they get really full. I don't really like the wall type because if some if some it dies off, you have to deal with that eye sore of seeing the skeleton of the hammer. With the branching you can just break off the dead branch.

I got this hammer from a fellow reefer on this site. In fact, I believe thats the secret to getting some good stuff, buying it from fellow reefers.