HELP! What's going on with my open brain coral?

[PuffersKick]

I've my open brain for approximately 2 months. I bought it from a fellow reefer who said he had it for at least 2 years so I know it was healthy when I bought it.

And the first 2 weeks I had it it opened HUGE like this.

But now for the past 4-6 weeks it stays closed & shriveled for the most part. I thought it was irritated b/c a few times I saw my Foxface go close and possibly nip at it. So I removed the Foxface.

Then today I noticed it expelling this this brown waste, and that my tangs were going nuts for it and eating whatever it was expelling too.

Is this normal behavior? Or is it stressed or dying or hungry or what? I have not been able to feed it meaty food b/c it has not been open the past month.

I tested my water and everything is within range, and the lighting is 250 W 14K MH which is the same exact lighting the guy I bought it from had it under.

Another thing odd that I noticed was that it seems to slightly open under the actintic lighting, but then when the halides kick on it closes up, which I find weird b/c I thought it like the light. I have it place on the substrate about 28" below the light.

What's going on with my brain? I want it to open nice and big once again!!!

 

[NewWorldWater]

My open brain bleached under MH and thats what it looks like yours is doing. Put it under lower light and lower flow (IMO).

 

[FishyMel]

I keep mine under pc light and it thrives, I have it in a 75 gallon with 260 watts of pc, which is on the lower range for keeping lps, but mine are very happy.

 

[JUICE!]

looks like it was taking a poop....no big deal


and just FYI....I'm keeping open brains under 400W halides with no troubles. They actually open the most at night...and do shrivel a bit during the day.....but not that much