Struggling to keep open brain

R

rgauvin

New member
So I have a 50 gallon flat hex and I have been struggling to keep open brains alive. Water depth is about 20 inchs with an ecotech radion mounted about 8 inches AWL

Nitrates are zero
Temp is 78.5
alk 135 PPM (7.56 dKH)
calcium is low at 330 (dosing kents turbo calcium to slowly raise this to more acceptable levels)

So, the open brain was glorious when I bought it, lots of nice dark reds with a neon green centre. Over time (I'll say 6 months) the red faded to more of a neon pink, and it started to show some neon green on the outside of the brain.

I moved the brain to a shadier spot in the tank about 3 weeks but it just hasn't colored up. It still inflates nicely, but no, I do not spot feed it.

My GSP has quadrupled in size in the last year...
My frogspawn went from 3 heads to 12
My coraline algae is growing all over.
I see some good growth on my clam
my 2 SPS frags are growing nicely (stylophora coral and some other little stick frag that has about 6 little arms growing so I believe they are happy)

I was under the impression open brains were fairly easy to keep as long as you got the lighting and the flow correct. Am I missing something about it's care? should it take this long to color up? Is there a unique supplement that it would need that my other corals don't?

Any and all tips/ suggestions on how to get the brain to color up would be appreciated. I can get pictures of it if it'll make a difference.
 
Unfortunately I had the same issue with an open brain in the past. Still not sure what the problem was, but I have a new "nuclear tide lined brain" that I just got from the divers den and seems to be loving life after only 2 weeks I already see new growth. Could be some type of pest, but you would think other LPS would be effected too...I attributed mine dieing to hermit crabs yanking food from the mouths though I cant confirm that.
 
had this issue once - noticed my hippo tang taking nips - could somthing be bugging it?

check at night and feed :-) they do bounce back
 
As long as you don't have tissue recession I'd bet its OK. Why not feed it? That seems the obvious choice to me. And from a T5 person I will suggest that maybe the Radion is putting out more light energy than you're perceiving for this particular coral. Perhaps a slow move toward the shade & some feeding? Best of luck!
 
The reason for the lack of feeding is that I'd like the tank to be low maintenance. It was a deal I made with the wife. That way when I go away on trips it is easy for her or house keepers to maintain.

I suppose the coral wouldn't HAVE to be fed when i am away, but I am kind of lazy that way. I figured if I could get the coral to color up properly, the zooanthela would and should be able to feed the coral appropriately.
 
I spot feed mine and it opens up nicely each night. With a good baster, it's really easy. I just thaw some mysis in a shot glass and when I'm feeding everyone else (the fish), I squirt a little mysis on the brain and he eats it up.
 
I've never spot fed my corals, but I do treat the tank to crushed dried jumbo krill (Tetra) every few days. The fish enjoy it and the lps sops it up. No big deal. I just ran the krill through a Cuisinart and keep the powdered result in a kitty-treats cannister. It'd be easy for somebody to feed while you're gone, and it's high-energy. Just tell them a quarter teaspoon every couple of days when they think of it.
 
Sk8r said:
I've never spot fed my corals, but I do treat the tank to crushed dried jumbo krill (Tetra) every few days. The fish enjoy it and the lps sops it up. No big deal. I just ran the krill through a Cuisinart and keep the powdered result in a kitty-treats cannister. It'd be easy for somebody to feed while you're gone, and it's high-energy. Just tell them a quarter teaspoon every couple of days when they think of it.
Click to expand...

I've tried reef roids, but I can't honestly say I saw much of a difference in my tank *shrug*
 
i swear by reef chili for all of my corals.....i'm still workin of figuring out how to feed my open brain and my trumpets. I got a seafood medly (shrimp, lil tiny octopus, calmari strips and musscles) will take a lil bit of that my reef chili and a lil bit of seaweed....mix it all up in a ninja and feed that. so far have had some really good results.
 
I feed my open brain squid and silver sides - had this guy for 4 years.
stared out about 2 inches - now 6 inches and weighs almost 2lb.

firefishbrainsmall.jpg

opbrainsmall.jpg
 
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