Positioning of open brain

[2poor2reef]

I recently received a red Trachphyllia geoffroyi and it has remained fully retracted for several days now. I was wondering if there were any positioning tips anyone could provide relative to water flow or lighting.

The rob is currently positioned on the sand bed with the cone burried and the oblong coral parallel to the primary current. It is under 65w of powercompact lighting approx 12 inches below bulb.

It is in a jawfish species tank so I do not believe it is being pestered. The water parameters are as follows: Ammonia and nitrite undetectable. Nitrate 10ppm. Alk 3.2 meq/l. Ca 450ppm. Sg 35ppm. Temp 79/80.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, any experience about how long it took for your open brain to open after mail order delivery would be helpful. I acclimated for an hour until sg/temp/ph were equal.

 

[Len]

Check out this article to get a better idea of where Trachyphyllias are collected from (gives good insight how to best replicate natural habitat):
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... eature.htm

FWIW, I've kept a few for about 10 years now. All of them are located out of direct light exposure, and in areas of low but consistent flow. If I remember correctly, my green one took a few weeks to expand fully. Here it is, 10 years later:

 

[BROKER]

Leonard- What is that directly to the left of the brain? bubble coral?


2poor2reef - From what I have read red open brain prefer lower light than the green because they are found at lower depths. My GOB seems to like moderate flow. It took a week for mine to expand also. It did accept a piece of shrimp during that time. I also keep mine out of direct light.

 

[Len]

Yup, a brain coral. It's beginning to get too large and too close to the brain. I plan on relocating it within a month.

 

[2poor2reef]

Thank you all very much. That was very helpful. And that's a beautiful specimen Leonard. It's good to see people do well long term with these beauties.

 

[npaden]

Ditto on the comments above. I've always heard that Red Trachyphyllias are collected at deeper locations than the green ones and as a result should be placed in less light. I have mine on the sand about 22" down under a 400W MH that is 7" off the water surface and it seems to be doing fine so it's not like they are adverse to light IMO, they just need to be properly acclimatized to light. Feeding them seems to make them happy as well. Mine loves to be fed. I does fine without feedings but really goes nuts and the tissue looks fat and happy if I feed it every couple weeks or so. I've had mine for about 3 years.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[BCReefer]

Leon,

That is a beautiful brain that you have. The open brain coral is the next one I get.

One question. From everything that I have read the bubble coral needs to be kept several inches away from other corals as it will attack any coral to close to it, but in your picture they seem to be close neighbors.

Can you tell me you experience with the bubble coral?

Thanks
Patrick

 

[Len]

Patrick,

You're right in that Bubble corals should be kept at a good, safe distance from other corals. My bubble is growing way too close for comfort and will be relocated within a month. It is starting to send out sweepers.

My experience with Bubbles (and understandings of them from literature):
Plerogyra sinuosa does not like strong, direct light. It prefers to subdued lighting, perhaps partially shaded. Mine also will not expand with high water flow around it. I've always located it where water flow was slow, but steady. In the wild, they're usually found attached to sides of ledges in turbid water.

Because of its potent sting, it's also one of the few corals I recommend feeding if possible. Others usually fare fine for years to decades without direct feedings, but bubbles seem to do a little better if fed once in a while (every week or two).

Here's a pic of my red brain: