Open Brain Questions

[Tennyson]

I just got one for $60 which is pretty high. But I was wondering how I should acclimate it to my lighting, if it needs to be acclimated at all. The lighting at the store was a 70 Watt, my lighting is a 96 Watt. A 26 watt difference. Will they bleach if not adjusted to the lighting properly?

It also seems to have two mouths. Is this normal, could it split or something?
Heres a picture of it, the smaller mouth is on the right:
http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1200839nz7.jpg

Heres a picture of it, closer with only the blue lights on:
http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1200845ok5.jpg

And do these grow bigger? How big do they get? Mines about 2 1/2 long across. How can I make it grow faster too? Close to the lights, and the right amounts of calcium should help it, right?

Thanks for everything

 

[desara3]

They are fine in medium light. I have found they do better in the middle in a med light tank.If you have a shelf rock try in middle without too much flow. Please let me know how it goes after a week ,HJ

 

[DetectiveTofu]

I am assuming you're referring to power compact lighting? If so, I don't think it should be a large issue with the light acclimation. it be a different story if you were talking about going from power compacts to super powerful halides or even HO T-5's. it couldn't hurt to acclimate it to the new light though. Start the coral off on the bottom of the tank, or any other area of lower intensity light. Over the next couple weeks slowly move it up the tiers of your rock work/tank, and you should be fine.
Open brain corals like indirect moderate flow. Too much flow may damage their tissue, or cause them to not open.
2 1/2" is still pretty small, as I have seen some at least double that length when fully expanded. I'm sure there are even larger than even that.
To speed growing you can try target feeding it small meaty foods once a week after it is acclimated to your tank. Higher light will help as well. Patience is key.
Keep your calcium at around 420-460ppm (give or take) and should be fine [this goes for all LPS]

 

[Tennyson]

Do they prefer to be placed on the sand, or on the rocks? It would be alot easier if I could place it on the sand if that is ok.

 

[Tennyson]

And last question, you said that they will grow, but how? Like spread out really big, or grow like the one in this picture:
http://z.about.com/d/saltaquarium/1/0/7/K/ecolemanlg.jpg

And if it does grow like that picture, how long does it take for them to grow like that, given that the calcium levels are correct and they get plenty of light? One year? Two years?

 

[Texa$]

I have mine on my sand bed and it seems quite happy down there under my 250 watts of T-5 and CFL power.