In over my head… open brain?

[noj3333]

I'm in the very initial stages of setting up my tank, I have live rock and live sand in it as it's cycling. After I purchased some LR I notices I got a nice little hitch hiker, a little LPS coral I believe. He looks the same as when I got him, has some skeleton showing, but I don't think it's got any worse.

Can you guys confirm he is an LPS coral?

Does that mean I need to feed him, if so what would he eat"¦ please keep it somewhat simple, I'm new to this.

Is there any chance he'll survive my cycle, I'd like him to, but I don't know what I can do to help.

Thanks!

 

[birdman1979]

Hard to tell but it looks like it could be. I think as long as you can keep ammonia levels low it may survive. Good luck!

 

[noj3333]

So would i need to feed it?

 

[greech]

Feeding it wouldn't hurt and your chances are best when the lights are out if it has its feeders extended. If not shut off your pumps and slowly squirt Hykari mysis or similar meaty food on the coral. You can use a turkey baster to target feed it but with such a small coral a medicine dropper (not used ) might work better. Since your tank is new, do your best to make sure most of the food you add is taken by the coral and not left in the tank to spoil. Might be best to have your LFS hold this rock until the cycle is over though.

 

[sjwitt]

Believe it or not, I feed my open brain corals regular pellets. Soak the pellets in tank water and get them soft. Crush them in the water and then suck the juice into one of those syringes from the drug store (the kind for dosing medicine). Suspend the flow in the tank and deposit the food onto the top. Just let it sit on top and you should see a feeding response. Give it 15 or 20 minutes. Turn the flow back on when it's done.