BJD? Or something else?

[areefer]

Hi,

My gold hammer has not been opening up as fully as it was a few weeks ago. The flesh is brownish instead of white. Could this be brown jelly disease? Or something else?

Anything I can do so I don't lose it?

My green frogspawn (right beside it) is doing well.

Tank parameters have been relatively stable:
Alk: 7.9
Nitrate: 6.6
Phosphate: 0.03
pH: 8.6
Salinity: 1.025

 

[zedxplorer]

Don't think it's bjd. BJD is basically rotten flesh, should be slimy. Your hammer actually has quite healthy flesh band. The browning is probably from a dense zooxanthellae build up. How much light/flow is it getting?

 

[areefer]

Thanks for the information on BJD. The flow is on the lower side - the polys move slightly. PAR should be around 125, but that measurement was taken a while ago, and conditions have changed. I need to re-measure the PAR (I'm on the waiting list).

Here's a pic of the gold hammer and green frogspawn side by side.

 

[Duds]

Any chance it’s movable? I’d try giving them some more space see if it improves maybe they are fighting one another.

 

[zedxplorer]

I think both are hammer actually. How old is the tank? They tend to like water on the more nutritious side. They shrink when they are stressed. A video/pic of where they are in ur tank may help.

I put mine at the lower portion of the tank with pulsing flow like this, may give you a reference point? (I have high Po/No tho, Po 0.4 No 30)

New video · Monday, Jul 28, 2025

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[areefer]

Here's a pic of the tank from a month ago. The tank is just under 2 years old.

I can try to increase the nitrates and phosphates.

Any chance it’s movable? I’d try giving them some more space see if it improves maybe they are fighting one another.

I should be able to separate them a bit.

 

[zedxplorer]

Here's a pic of the tank from a month ago. The tank is just under 2 years old.
View attachment 222937

I can try to increase the nitrates and phosphates.

I should be able to separate them a bit.

Go slow. What light is that? Is it possible that they are shaded by the rock? Moving them to a different spot may help like Duds suggested. They may just don't like flow/light where they are.

Wait a few days after you move them and see if there's improvement, they'll be stressed for some time every time you move. Keep an eye on the flesh band.

 

[areefer]

The lights are AI blades. I have 3 across the top. I don't think they are being shaded - at least when I last measured the PAR was 125 in that location.

I'll try to move it and see how it reacts. I'll also increase the nitrates and phosphates slowly.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[Cpage101]

Hi,

My gold hammer has not been opening up as fully as it was a few weeks ago. The flesh is brownish instead of white. Could this be brown jelly disease? Or something else?

Anything I can do so I don't lose it?

My green frogspawn (right beside it) is doing well.

Tank parameters have been relatively stable:
Alk: 7.9
Nitrate: 6.6
Phosphate: 0.03
pH: 8.6
Salinity: 1.025

View attachment 222934

looks like a lot of mushrooms net to the hammers could have warfare from mushroom toxins agitating your hammers

 

[areefer]

looks like a lot of mushrooms net to the hammers could have warfare from mushroom toxins agitating your hammers

Good point. When I move it, I'll put it on its own rock.

 

[Cpage101]

yeah, chemical warfare can happen between softies l, mushrooms, LPS they’re all looking for dominance of space