Open Brain Coral on Substrate?

[swilcoxen]

Wondering if anyone could offer some thoughts on this. I recently picked up a nice open brain coral. I had it sitting on a small rock ledge a few inches off. Long story short, now that the coral is acclimated fully to my system, it is expanding quite nicely. So nicely in fact that it pushed itself off of the ledge I had it on.

Until I find a more suitable permanent home, I have it sitting on the substrate at the moment. Might this cause me problems with the coral?

Anybody keeping these right on the sand?

 

[Echidna09]

If there is flesh on the bottom of the coral the sand could damage it.

 

[swilcoxen]

Thanks. So, just out of curiosity, would flesh touching the rock work be potentially dangerous as well? How are others positioning these so that the flesh remains "suspended"?

 

[seapug]

It is generally recommended that open brains be kept on the sand, but I've kept one on a rock shelf for almost a year now and it seems to love it-- gets so big it droops over the sides during the day. I think the most important thing is that it's sitting on a relatively flat, open spot where it can fully expand without getting stung, punctured or pinched by other corals or rocks. Strong light and gentle currents are a good thing, too.

 

[danch]

What kind of open brain? Some live in sand normally, others live on rock.

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Trachyphyllia is usually on soft substrate (sand, mud) or loosely attached to rock near the rock/sand interface (though they can wind up other places too).

 

[swilcoxen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10559430#post10559430 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danch
What kind of open brain? Some live in sand normally, others live on rock.

Trachyphyllia. I really want this coral back on the rock ledge, but its going to be pushing up against the rock when it fully expands. Not to mention, as it grows the situation will get worse. I had no idea how much this would expand when I bought it. I guess it's going to have to stay on the substrate.

The coral looks great this evening, so the "fall" last night didn't seem to damage it.

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Yeah, I'd suggest keeping it low, or on the sand. Tumbles can be bad news for these guys, though it sounds like it is doing fine.