Brain Dead???

[at lantaman]

I recently purchased an open brain coral from a LFS. I put it in the bottom of a 120 gal high. I have new PC bulbs and my h2o parm are good. No nitrites amonia and nitrates are around 15ppm. my Cal is around 350.

The coral appears to shrunk and hasn't started opening up. The color dosen't look that great. I would appreciate any help or suggestions.

Thanks

[Avi]

I have a 120-gallon reef and when I had PCs, I was unable to sustain the health of any open brains on the substrate because although I did have a lot of wattage, the PCs weren't able to penetrate the tank all the way down to the bottom. When the open brains that I had bought started to lose their vigor, I moved them up onto the rockwork closer to the bulbs and they regained their health. Just make sure that they are on placed in a way where they would be stable and not fall off the rock. Give that a try.

[sir_dudeguy]

i see a couple possible problems. Your calcium should be 400-450, so you're a little low on that, but i dont think that what yours is at will be the problem.

But the main thing i see is that you say its a 120g HIGH.....and you've only got pc lights. A 120 high i'm assuming is more than 24 inches? (or at least right around it?). PC bulbs for the most part are only good up to about 15 or so inches, but definately not good for a 120 high. Oh, and having the brain at the bottom just makes it even further away from the light. If it were up higher, it "might" be ok, except i do believe that brains are sposed to be in the sand.

The most you'd be able to grow w/pc lights is prolly xenia, shrooms, most softies...but not lps imo.

Also, whats your temp and sg?

[at lantaman]

thanks for the help. My temp is a constant 78. I have a chiller. My SG is somewhere around 1.025

[at lantaman]

i have a 4 yr old open brain that has done fantastic for the last few years. It is located on the bottom of the tank. I did take your suggestion and move the open brain up higher in the tank.

[Avi]

If you can, post any results that you get. I hope it helps.

[kzoo]

Light are a very big factor for open brains and I dont think the pc will do the job.

[monaca]

Try target feeding... move him up on your rock scape...turn pumps off...feed your fish...then take flake food place in a bowl and smash it up...use "Selcon" to moisten flake powder...use "Selcon" dropper to suck out moistened flake... and slowly deposit on top of the mouth area of your brain with the dropper...continue slowly feeding for the next 15 min...keep fish and hermits away...worked for me.

[jpitts101]

you feed your's flake?? mine will take a silverside out in about 2 minutes!! he's a hog! 1 silverside twice a week. my clownfish also host it so they bring extra food to him too.

[monaca]

My brain is a little guy...less than 2"..."Selcon" has been key...greened up my BTA and now reviving my brain.

If I only would have had a brain in the beginning.

[DSMpunk]

The fact that your calcium is low makes me wonder if some of your parameters are off a little. Do you test for ALK and PH?

IME brains tend to like lower light so I think it would be fine lower in the tank. Just make sure you feed it every once in a while.

[jpitts101]

the calcium isnt that low. 400-500 is ideal, 350 isnt to bad. i think he is just stressed and will come out in a few days to a week. make sure it dont have a tear in it. alot of brains cant come back even from the smallest tear. just my 2 cents.

[Radiography14]

Pc bulbs will hold my favia and open brain corals pretty good. I have a 20 gallon long with 130 watts hitting it. Your depth might be a problem. If it is a tall tank. Make sure you kepe your SG up and check your hardness.