Brain Coral Requirments

[Ranchhand02]

I am looking into getting some brain coral and I was wanting to know what the requirments for keeping them are? I have a 75 gallon tank with a 25 gallon sump, 6x54 T5 light, and two koralia #3's for water movement. How hard are these corals to keep?

 

[bandr1002]

depends on the brain. water param's are a must and so are good water changes. i have a good friend who has a nice one in a 55 living under pc lighting and it is thriving. i personally have one in a 75 under t5's and it is at the bottom of my tank, it is also doing fine. just make sure your param's are good and that you have a nice clean setup. you should be fine.

 

[Ranchhand02]

I do 20% water change every two weeks. Do you have to add any supplements to the water?

 

[Ranchhand02]

I am looking into an open green and a Favia Green. Do I need to add any supplements to the water? Do I need to spot feed them or do they feed off the light?

 

[bandr1002]

spot feed for best health, if you get a baby suringe from walgreens (free from the pharmecy) i do add iodine and reef supplements once a week. you just have to make sure that your ph is around 8.2- 8.4 and your calcium is good. myne is at 420-460. other than that, you should be fine. pics when you get it are a plus..

 

[bandr1002]

forgot to say this but, i don't believe brains are photosynthetic. someone correct me if i am wrong

 

[Theomi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14318577#post14318577 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bandr1002
forgot to say this but, i don't believe brains are photosynthetic. someone correct me if i am wrong

They are but not enough to live on it alone, so target feeding is a must...
Or so i read..

 

[Deftones2015]

I have kept a green trachy for over a year and only feed once a month if it's lucky and it has doubled in size. I agree good water params are a must though and they do love spot feeding. I have mine hidden under a ledge in my 75 gallon tank and it swells up to 3x its normal size to get what light it can.

 

[Ranchhand02]

What do you spot feed them?

 

[Mariner]

I have a green open brain (Lobophyllia) and 2 favia brains. I have had the favias for 4 or 5 years, the lobo for almost a year, and have only occasionally spot fed them (by "occasionally" I mean like once a year).
These corals are photosynthetic, but they also readily accept meaty foods. They extend feeder tentacles when the lights go out and thats when they'll accept a feeding.
Most brains do not require a lot of light -- all of mine are at the bottom of my tanks. They are stoney corals so they do require that calcium and alk levels be maintained.
HTH,
Mariner

 

[bandr1002]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14320870#post14320870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ranchhand02
What do you spot feed them?

i use mysis or krill (frozen) occasionally i soak in selcon.