Brain coral

[Jblank44]

So I wanted to ask a quick question to some people that know lps. I have a brain coral and I have always had it up on my rock like this:

Well, I was wondering if it was going to be better off like this on the sand? Wouldn't it grow into the sand or do they grow their own skeleton for it to grow on?

 

[Ripline]

I have four different brains and have them all on the sand bed.

 

[Jblank44]

I have four different brains and have them all on the sand bed.

That's what I have read...however, mine are frags and dont know how they will grow, don't they need rock to grow onto... I've also heard they pretty much just grow like an encrusting coral and cover the rocks near them. So, if i put it on the sand they will just grow onto the sand

 

[MondoBongo]

brain corals are LPS, so they produce their own hard skeleton to which the tissue adheres.

they should be just fine on the sandbed.

the only thing i can think with the rocks is that, obviously, they're hard. this could provide a way to potentially help shape how the skeleton grows over time, as opposed to sand being softer.

so they don't need rock to grow on to, and even sitting on a rock there is no guarantee that they will follow it, encrust it, or completely ignore it.

i have a monti cap in my tank right now that is known as a plating type of SPS, but is actually encrusting the rock it is sitting on in this really neat, almost waterfall like pattern just due to the lighting and the flow it is receiving there.

 

[Jblank44]

brain corals are LPS, so they produce their own hard skeleton to which the tissue adheres.

they should be just fine on the sandbed.

the only thing i can think with the rocks is that, obviously, they're hard. this could provide a way to potentially help shape how the skeleton grows over time, as opposed to sand being softer.

so they don't need rock to grow on to, and even sitting on a rock there is no guarantee that they will follow it, encrust it, or completely ignore it.

i have a monti cap in my tank right now that is known as a plating type of SPS, but is actually encrusting the rock it is sitting on in this really neat, almost waterfall like pattern just due to the lighting and the flow it is receiving there.

Oh cool! That's awesome! I really hope it grows well! It's grown a ton since I've got it.... I think lol.

When I got it:

Now: