Favia Brain Coral

[DLANDINO]

Hi All, I put a favia brain coral in my aquarium about a week ago. I have not seen it put out feeding tentacles or sweepers yet. Is this normal? If so, how often should I see it extend to feed? I am worried because it is my first lps and I am very new to the marine reef hobby. Thanks !

 

[OzarksReef]

Have you taken a look after lights out? Generally, they get much more "active" after dark. I've noticed mine hyper-extends under the moonlights...

 

[DLANDINO]

FAVIA HELP PLEASE

FAVIA HELP PLEASE

Hi, Yes, I have looked under the moonlights, no dice. Also, this morning I noticed that there seem to be black spots forming on the egdes of some of the individual heads. I think I am in trouble. Is this guy dying? Is there any way to reverse the process. All of my levels are in check. He gets light 8 hrs per day under power compacts. He is placed high on the reef closer to the lights. I am feeding coral frenzie every few days but if he isn't extending his feeders I am sure that he is not getting any.

 

[Gdevine]

Try cutting a liter bottle of soda a little less than half way down from the bottle top. Then take off all the soda bottle wrappers and clean with RO water. Put the liter bottle top over your brain just before lights out very gently. Then get a target feeder like a syringe or turkey baster and put food into the top of the soda bottle. This will trap the food over the brain. Do this 3 to 4 time per night.

As for food, finely chopped mysis and cyclops will work.

Keep this in mind, you need to feed brain corals 4 to5 times per week. Once it gets a good feeding response using this method, you can turn your pumps off and target feed the same time every night and you'll be a good reaction.

My brain opened up the first night I brought it home. Why? I was target feeding my sun cups and the water column was full of fine particulate foods...and I got a strong feeding response.

Do as noted above and you'll be fine.

 

[DLANDINO]

Wow, that is a great tip, thanks. I will try it. I have been dtarget feeding but not in the fashion, I have just been turning off the circulation and using a turkey baster to feed Coral Freenzie.

I also want to throw this into the mix. I have noticed that some of the edges of the individual polyps have begun to turn brownish black, this seems to be spreading. I have also noticed a few patches of green algae growing from the areas that are starting to turn this brownish black color. It is driving me nuts. Is this coral dying? Can I bring it back to its healthy state? I don't have any close up pics of the coral to show these spots but will take some tonight and post tomorrow. This is my first piece of LPS and am taking it personally that he is not doing well. I have a zoanthid colony and a kenya tree coral doing just fine, in fact they are growing like wildfire. I can't quite figure this one out. I have the brain under power compacts about half way up the tank. It is at the highest spot available. Is it possible that it is not getting enough light? I know it came from a shop that had it on the bottom but under metal halides. Any help that you all can provide is very much appreciated. Thanks again.

Dave

 

[Gdevine]

This brain likes medium to intense lighting so I think you're fine. They also like moderate flow so make sure you're OK there as well.

My guess, outside of an infection, is that this brain has not been fed properly since it was collected and its health is compromised. Feed as suggested and see what happens. I fed my open brain this way again last night and every feeder tentacle was open!

Also, check go to www.wetwebmedia.com and do a site search on brain corals and you'll find great information.

 

[k.tran]

under pcs? they should be doing fine, are they bleaching? if so move them twords the bottom of the tank, my prizm favias dont like high lighting i keep them on the bottom of the tank and they are growing like WEEDS!

 

[Gdevine]

Oh, and the answer to your riddle:


The "bicycles" are Bicycle playing cards in a field; the man was cheating at cards, and when the extra card was found, he was killed by the other players.

 

[DLANDINO]

Impressive answer to the riddle, correct and thanks for all of the help.
Also, they are not bleaching at all, just look terrible. I posted another thread on the discussion forums with all of the ailments listed out. I figure more eyes on this the better. If this thing dies the wife will have more ammo to keep me from buying more.

 

[DLANDINO]

Update: Last night I moved the brain out of the direct water flow and to a more flat ledge. This morning when I woke up there were some feeder tentacles out. This was encouraging. So, I target fed at that time with the water flow, skimmer and filter off. I left them off for about 1/2 hr. I am hoping for more results again tonight. Thanks again for all of your help. If you care to see the aquarium you can go to the following in IE. It is better after 2pm EST when the lights turn on.

http://70.235.66.130/
user name " davesreef "
password " 123456 "

Dave