New brain coral help

[skyshrimp]

Hey everyone I just got this brain coral about 2 days ago and it still has'nt expanded. I did a ton of research on it before I bought it and still can't figure out why it won't expand. When I got it from the pet store it was nice and fluff and puffed up. I think it may still be getting used to my lighting. I've read that this is supposed to be a more hardy coral to deal with and is not a difficult one. I've also read that they are more ready to adapt to different changing conditions.

The lighting in the pet store was more blue and actinic lighting. My lighting is more 14k looking. They had a current fixture, but I have a ati. As of right now the coral is still sunken in and is still holding it's beautiful coloring. Hopefully you all can help me to make this guy happy and be my show piece. Here are some pics.

 

[skyshrimp]

Just remembered that when I first got it I dipped it in revive for about 5 min, hope this makes a difference information wise.

 

[skyshrimp]

I just put some coral frenzy in the water but after a few minutes he still isnt expanded. Oooooh boy, what to do.

 

[Oldcabin]

Be patient? Not sure what else you can do, seems you've done your research.
Best not to over-react I suppose.

 

[skyshrimp]

Yea I suppose so. I've just finished building a eggcrate cage around it just incase my foxface was nipping at it when I wasnt looking. I'll just have to wait for it to get used to my system and be patient. It not bleaching because it still is holding its color well and not turning pale.

 

[Finsky]

Trachyphyllia radiata or Trachyphyllia geoffroyi

 

[discus513]

I have come to find out that tracto's and welso's dont care much for revive, I had one that got burnt a little by some polyps and dippied it. Two weeks later it was dead. I had another one that during the acclimation i dipped and it made it a few weeks before perishing, the good news is that it didnt just sink in like yours is, the flesh started pulling away from the skeleton. I'm not trying to scare you but I wouldn't dip it again, and I hope you had a weak solution when you dipped. It sucks too because everything else seems to go through the dip process fine. ?????

 

[johnnytmc]

What's your water parameter? Also, did you acclimate the coral when you introduced it into your tank?

 

[skyshrimp]

@duscus513-I did the revive dip in about 4 cups of water with 1 tsp of revive in the mix. The odd thing is that when it was in the solution it was nice and hugely puffy.

@johnnytmc- yea I acclimated it for about a hour and a half in a slow drip. Then did the dip for 5min, them temp acclimated it for 15 min in the sump. After all that I put they guy in the tank and he just sunk in after 10min.

Salinity-1.025
Ph-8.2
Alk-9
Cal-520ppm
Nitrate- 0ppm
Mg- 1400
Temp-80

 

[ati70cutlass]

remember corals acclimate 2 times while in the tank. once when you put them in and then again while getting use to your tank. give it some time. ive had some that look bad then they go crazy. here is a pic just to show you.

day 1

[/IMG]

2 weeks later

[/IMG]

 

[ati70cutlass]

if you notice that the bottom skeleton is showing this guy got brown jelly rot and died about 6 months later. several dips and cleaning didnt help it. kept this guy under 4x39 ts with reflectors 2 460nm and 2 10k

 

[skyshrimp]

Woooow!!! Very nice. Mine is starting to puff up in the center now so I guess it will be alright and is still getting used to my tank. I think part of it may have been my lights too, the parts of it that were dark purple are light purple now. The green parts are still super green and glowing still. Hopefully when its comfortable it will turn dark purple again.

 

[sqwat]

try to shade it a little and dont touch it .brains take a couple of days to get used to lighting current and tanks.shading it will really help.i would also bet that foxface took a taste h.braisn bleach very fast when being harrased so you might want to get rid of one or the other i no this sucks but when the brain is open and all fleshy the foxfaces find it delectable and irrasistable.it is a fine looking brain to.good luck.put a small piece of food on his mouth to see if he eats this usually helps out but feed sparingly at first a big mistake is reefers feeding starving corals to much to fast and this overwelms them and makes them puke up the food wich is bad for starving corals.so a littl at a time will bring that baby back and watch that foxface

 

[skyshrimp]

Thanks I will do so and hope for the best. He looks better and better everyday too, hopefully the dark purple will come back after some good care and feedings.