open brain placement?

corbett_n · 01/05/2010, 12:05 PM

I just got put in charge of a 150g 30" deep reef tank at work. It came with 3 open brains. Can they go on the substrate at 30" deep and lit with 2-175w 14000k metal halides?

TampaReefer79 · 01/05/2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corbett_n

I just got put in charge of a 150g 30" deep reef tank at work. It came with 3 open brains. Can they go on the substrate at 30" deep and lit with 2-175w 14000k metal halides?

At 30" I'd like at least 250w halides on the tank.

What else is in it and at what depths?

ChadTheSpike · 01/05/2010, 12:41 PM

I agree with the 250W statement above, but...

Oben brains (Im assuming trachyphyllia) should ONLY be placed in the substrate. They have very delicate tissue and normal daily contraction and extension cycles can cause damage and eventual death if they are placed in the LR structure.

corbett_n · 01/05/2010, 01:22 PM

I am going to take some pics so I can confirm the open brain is an open brain. The guy who donated the tank to work had 4 open brains and he had one of them on the sand and the rest were in the live rock.

corbett_n · 01/05/2010, 01:40 PM

Here are they pics of what I believe to be open brains, can anyone verify that for me by the pics? The first pic is the one I am worried about, it is pretty high up in the tank but just doesn't look that good. I need to know if I can place them on the sediment if that is where they need to go, considering it is a 30" depth with 2X175w 14000k metal halides. The guy who donated the tank only had one brain on the substrate the rest where int he rock work like they are now.

FTS:

ChadTheSpike · 01/05/2010, 01:53 PM

I cant see the pics right now, I will look from a different comp in a little while.

Although, if it were me, I would place all of them on the substrate and target feed a small amount daily if you are not already.

TampaReefer79 · 01/05/2010, 02:29 PM

I'm no expert but I believe that they all NEED to be on the substrate. If placed on the liverock, they can and probably will fall over and get damaged. Very similar to plate corals that I've had.

And given that they are 30" from the surface...I'd upgrade the bulb. It also helps to know what reflector is being used. I learned the hard way that they are NOT all created equal! A reflecor, ballast, bulb combo is very important...and depends on what you wish to keep and what you want to accomplish.

noahm · 01/05/2010, 02:53 PM

It looks like 2 are Scolymia and 2 are Trach or Wellsos. Having them on the substrate is not a must, but if they are on the rockwork, they need to be away from any rough edges and high flow. The Trachs expand a lot especially. If you have a rock that is like an upside-down bowl, that would be an acceptable place to mount one, but the sandbed is where they are generally safest from damage. In the wild, the trachs and wellsos are unattached on the sandbed once they mature, while the scolys grow attached to the rockwork. IMO the light may be a bit low for 30", but if you have a good open area, you can try them for a bit and see if you get full expansion etc.

corbett_n · 01/05/2010, 03:29 PM

which two are scolymia?

Gdevine · 01/05/2010, 04:06 PM

Open Brains and similar animals are found actually on both the substrate and rock on ocean reefs. In aquaria I would vote for substrate for many reasons noted here. The key to health of these animals is target feeding a few times a week with small meaty chunks when they are in the feeding mode along with decent light and good water quality. These are hardy animals but these 3 things are an absolute must for their health.

dahenley · 01/05/2010, 05:29 PM

this is off topic, but are the pictures so you or some one else knows what is in the tank? that is a cool idea, because i like the way things look, and have no clue what half the things in my tank are called........

corbett_n · 01/05/2010, 07:03 PM

The pics are from a tank that I just got put in charge of keeping up at work, it was a donation. I have a 75g reef at home though, I just have never had a open brain before.

corbett_n · 01/06/2010, 10:21 AM

which two are scolymia?

jdwreefer · 01/06/2010, 10:58 AM

The ones in the 2nd and 4th photo look like Scolymia to me.

corbett_n · 01/06/2010, 12:07 PM

How can you tell, what makes them different?

corbett_n · 01/07/2010, 12:23 PM

anybody?

AwkwardParrot · 01/07/2010, 01:39 PM

Just look around, there are coral identifcation forms. And the first looks like a Lobo (branching brain) and the other three look like Scolymia.

01/05/2010, 12:05 PM	#1
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	open brain placement? I just got put in charge of a 150g 30" deep reef tank at work. It came with 3 open brains. Can they go on the substrate at 30" deep and lit with 2-175w 14000k metal halides?

01/05/2010, 12:41 PM	#3
ChadTheSpike Reef Engineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,526 Blog Entries: 1	I agree with the 250W statement above, but... Oben brains (Im assuming trachyphyllia) should ONLY be placed in the substrate. They have very delicate tissue and normal daily contraction and extension cycles can cause damage and eventual death if they are placed in the LR structure. __________________ ~Chad "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Current Tank Info: 195 gallons of fun

01/05/2010, 01:53 PM	#6
ChadTheSpike Reef Engineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,526 Blog Entries: 1	I cant see the pics right now, I will look from a different comp in a little while. Although, if it were me, I would place all of them on the substrate and target feed a small amount daily if you are not already. __________________ ~Chad "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Current Tank Info: 195 gallons of fun

01/05/2010, 04:06 PM	#10
Gdevine Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 1,232	Open Brains and similar animals are found actually on both the substrate and rock on ocean reefs. In aquaria I would vote for substrate for many reasons noted here. The key to health of these animals is target feeding a few times a week with small meaty chunks when they are in the feeding mode along with decent light and good water quality. These are hardy animals but these 3 things are an absolute must for their health. __________________ What's good having a monkey if you can't play with it? Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef - 35g Fuge - EcoSystem Method

01/05/2010, 05:29 PM	#11
dahenley Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lubbock, Tx Posts: 3,165	this is off topic, but are the pictures so you or some one else knows what is in the tank? that is a cool idea, because i like the way things look, and have no clue what half the things in my tank are called........ __________________ Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-) 240display, reef in progress Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....

01/05/2010, 01:22 PM	#4
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	I am going to take some pics so I can confirm the open brain is an open brain. The guy who donated the tank to work had 4 open brains and he had one of them on the sand and the rest were in the live rock.

01/05/2010, 01:40 PM	#5
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	Here are they pics of what I believe to be open brains, can anyone verify that for me by the pics? The first pic is the one I am worried about, it is pretty high up in the tank but just doesn't look that good. I need to know if I can place them on the sediment if that is where they need to go, considering it is a 30" depth with 2X175w 14000k metal halides. The guy who donated the tank only had one brain on the substrate the rest where int he rock work like they are now. FTS:

01/05/2010, 02:29 PM	#7
TampaReefer79 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 3,448	I'm no expert but I believe that they all NEED to be on the substrate. If placed on the liverock, they can and probably will fall over and get damaged. Very similar to plate corals that I've had. And given that they are 30" from the surface...I'd upgrade the bulb. It also helps to know what reflector is being used. I learned the hard way that they are NOT all created equal! A reflecor, ballast, bulb combo is very important...and depends on what you wish to keep and what you want to accomplish.

01/05/2010, 02:53 PM	#8
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	It looks like 2 are Scolymia and 2 are Trach or Wellsos. Having them on the substrate is not a must, but if they are on the rockwork, they need to be away from any rough edges and high flow. The Trachs expand a lot especially. If you have a rock that is like an upside-down bowl, that would be an acceptable place to mount one, but the sandbed is where they are generally safest from damage. In the wild, the trachs and wellsos are unattached on the sandbed once they mature, while the scolys grow attached to the rockwork. IMO the light may be a bit low for 30", but if you have a good open area, you can try them for a bit and see if you get full expansion etc.

01/05/2010, 03:29 PM	#9
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	which two are scolymia?

01/05/2010, 07:03 PM	#12
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	The pics are from a tank that I just got put in charge of keeping up at work, it was a donation. I have a 75g reef at home though, I just have never had a open brain before.

01/06/2010, 10:21 AM	#13
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	which two are scolymia?

01/06/2010, 10:58 AM	#14
jdwreefer Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 135	The ones in the 2nd and 4th photo look like Scolymia to me. __________________ --- John 110g w/ 40BR sump. DIY LEDs. Octopus 160 skimmer. BRS reactor w/ carbon. DIY CaRx. Picasso + misbar perc in RBTA, Tomini Tang, Orange Spot goby + Pistol Shrimp, Red Mandarin.

01/06/2010, 12:07 PM	#15
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	How can you tell, what makes them different?

01/07/2010, 12:23 PM	#16
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	anybody?

01/07/2010, 01:39 PM	#17
AwkwardParrot Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vernon Posts: 1,368	Just look around, there are coral identifcation forms. And the first looks like a Lobo (branching brain) and the other three look like Scolymia. __________________ ```__\|__' ' ' ---o0o---