What's happening with my brain?

[phxadrian]

I got this brain about 3-4 months and was doing great until this week (about 6-7" expanded). It has not expanded for the past 4-5 days? Is this normal?

I did a couple tests and everything (I think) is ok. I do 10% water changes every weekend (90 gal).

PH 8.4
Carbonate Hardness 7
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrate 5-10
81-82 degrees F.
1.025 Salinty

ANY SUGGESTIONS TO BRING IT BACK TO LIFE AGAIN ARE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANKS!

PS: The guy I got this brain didn't know anything about it and I don't know much about them either. Anyone know what type it is?

CURRENT

PAST

 

[DetectiveTofu]

How long has your dKH been at 7? It is a bit on the low side, and I would definitely recommend bringing it up to 12-13. That could possibly be the cause for the lack of inflation of your brain. Try target feeding it with some small meaty foods, and see if it accepts it. If it does great, that is always a great sign. If it doesn't eat it, remove the food to prevent it from rotting in your tank. Also, you don't make any mention of what your Calcium levels are at, that may help. Have you changed the flow in your tank recently? Often times when brain corals receive too much flow they don't open up. Also be sure nothing is irritating it.

 

[fnvarner]

brains i have always target fed bloodworms and cyclopes and they have always made a turn around

 

[killagoby]

Feed it. The little holes you can see in the top pictures. That's it's mouths screaming, "FEED ME!!!"

 

[hansonfam]

Definetly do NOT bring your dkh to 12-13.
Reccomended dkh is 9-11. That is brutal. Who told you rhythmicfire that it should be 12-13? I have a tank full of sps and keep it at 9.

Anyways back to the subject at hand... He's just hungry

Feed him some meaty stuff and he should perk up again. Mine just went through the same thing and i feed him yesterday and by last night he was all pouffy again when i got home.

Lisa

 

[Racing1]

also, what lighting do you have it under? They like medium to high light.... definately hungry.... I used to feed mine chunks of shrimp..

 

[DetectiveTofu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12015293#post12015293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hansonfam
Definetly do NOT bring your dkh to 12-13.
Reccomended dkh is 9-11. That is brutal. Who told you rhythmicfire that it should be 12-13? I have a tank full of sps and keep it at 9.

Anyways back to the subject at hand... He's just hungry

Feed him some meaty stuff and he should perk up again. Mine just went through the same thing and i feed him yesterday and by last night he was all pouffy again when i got home.

Lisa

I keep my dKH at 12 with sps and lps, and I have never had a problem; I know many others who keep it at this level as well with success. I was only stating my opinion, and that was I think 7 is a little bit on the low side; best to raise is alittle to create a buffer for error if in any case his dKH does drop. *knock on wood*

 

[phxadrian]

Feeding my Brain

Feeding my Brain

THANKS FOR THE HELP EVERYONE! I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO TRY AND FEED MY BRAIN TONIGHT.

I never feed it directly. I just assumed when I was feeding the fish the food in the tank would also feed my brain. I've seen it eat mysis before when it was expanded.

How do I target feed? Can I use tweezers to place the food near the brain? What foods are recommended.

Also, it seems that by everyone's comments that the dkh should be increased. Can this be remedied with a water change?

I read somewhere last night that elevated calcium levels can lower the hardness (dkh) of the water. I've been using PurpleUp for my rock, as suggested by the LFS. On the packaging it states it will raise my calcium levels. Do you think this is the reason my dkh levels are falling below normal ranges? Maybe this is why my frogspawn and torches are growing heads like crazy?

THANKS AGAIN. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HELP.

 

[DetectiveTofu]

You can try feeding it some mysis. You can go about this by using your hands to place the food over the mouth, or using tweezers to do the same thing. Water changes can help the dKH level back out, however if need be you may need to use a carbonate buffer.
I believe Purple Up contains carbonate in it, so when you dose it your calcium levels and dKH levels should both rise. However, if one is depleted much more quickly, then this can possibly throw things off. Generally when the Ca is way high, the dKH/alk is way low, and vice versa. Hm, I just noticed you don't make any mention of what your calcium levels are at? If you're not testing for it, I strongly recommend you begin or, stop dosing the Purple Up. Whenever you're dosing anything on a regular basis, it is best to keep an eye on the levels, rather than assume they're in check.

 

[killagoby]

Rod's Foods works well. I feed with a pipette and a large tweezers/ forecepts...

 

[phxadrian]

I ran home at lunch and feed this guy. I used a syringe to place food on him and he immediately started to swell, but not real big. I was in a hurry and didn't see him eating. I need to get some tweezers and try again tonight. SO I guess this means he's still alive. Thanks gawd!

Thanks again!

 

[FishyMel]

Yeah, just feed it, mine does that when it is hungry. It also does that after water changes, I found my brain prefers nitrate at 10. Does anyone else see this with their brain?

 

[fnvarner]

i just use a seringe and blow a little across his mouth and then give him a minute he will send out his feeding tentacles and attach there

 

[killagoby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12020650#post12020650 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FishyMel
Yeah, just feed it, mine does that when it is hungry. It also does that after water changes, I found my brain prefers nitrate at 10. Does anyone else see this with their brain?

I've heard that LPS's prefer conditions that are not so "perfect" like an SPS tank would. This is because most of them are found close to lagoons and bays which tend to be on the "dirty"side. This is why a refugium is always a good bet for a LPS reef tank...

 

[phxadrian]

HELLO AGAIN -
When is the best time to feed this guy. I tried twice yesterday to place mysis shrimp on his mouth and didn't see him eating OR is he eating and I can't see it. Do I put shrimp on all it's mouths (six or seven) or will one be fine?

Last time I saw it eating (I thought it was eating) was awhile back and he was expanded like a balloon. The mysis landed on him and that portion of his body collapsed together. BUT he is deflated now and can't collapse like that to eat.