Gold Hammer Corals

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive (can sting nearby corals)
Placement: Sandbed or lower to mid rockwork

💡 Lighting

Low to moderate lighting preferred.
Too much light can cause retraction or bleaching.

🌊 Flow

Low to moderate, indirect flow.
You want a gentle sway, not strong whipping.

🧪 Water Parameters

• Temperature: 76–80°F
• Salinity: 1.025–1.026
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• Alkalinity: 8–9 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
• Nitrate: 5–15 ppm
• Phosphate: 0.03–0.1 ppm

Stable alkalinity is key for healthy growth and polyp extension.

🍤 Feeding

Photosynthetic but benefits from feeding.
Feed 1–2x per week with small meaty foods or reef blends.

🏠 Behavior & Growth

• Branching or wall-type structure
• Polyps extend into hammer-shaped tips
• Moderate growth rate
• Can be fragged once established (branching types easier)

⚠️ Important Tips

• Leave space from other corals (can sting)
• Avoid high flow or direct blasts
• Dip before adding to reduce pests (brown jelly risk)
• Monitor for tissue recession if parameters swing

👍 Why Choose Gold Hammers?

• Bright gold coloration under blue lighting
• Strong movement adds life to the tank
• Hardy compared to many LPS
• Great centerpiece or colony builder

Beginner Note: Good entry into LPS corals if your tank is stable.