What can you tell me about Brain corals?

hulley · 07/08/2007, 09:51 AM

I'm wanting to get a brain coral that my LFS has, its not the maze type. I dont have a pic, I believe I have the right lights and I'm good with keeping my water params in check. I dont have a calcium reactor but with water changes I've managed to keep my calcium over 400. My tank is a FOWLR and I want make to move to some soft corals, zoas, brains, pagodas, frog spawns etc.
What would a brain coral considered, softie? lps? feeding requirements? flow? any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Hulley

flyyyguy · 07/08/2007, 09:57 AM

Brains are lps and most like med/high light, medium flow..some med/low flow.

Some prefer to be in the sand or it can stress them if they dont have the ability to position themselves how they like.

With the proper surroundings direct feeding isnt necessary, although can be entertaining as well as help them get through a rough time.

What kind of fish are in your FO tank?? Some will pick at them. I had a "ree" safe sailfin once that loved to pick brains apart

hulley · 07/08/2007, 10:16 AM

I have 3 tangs, yellow, purple and a hippo, cleaner wrass, lawn mower blenny, 1 green chromis (had 12!) 2 fire shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 peppermint shrimp.

hulley · 07/08/2007, 03:36 PM

Are these things hard to keep? I see them in ALOT of tanks! Anybody care to comment? My LFS has a nice one for $35 I would like to get him but I want to do a little research first.

mander · 07/08/2007, 03:53 PM

I assume you're looking at an open brain - something like this? http://z.about.com/d/saltaquarium/1/...nbrain_400.JPG

I've had two - the first I bought unaware that it was damaged - another coral had fallen on it and broken its skin in the LFS - something the LFS didn't tell me and I couldn't see until after it got home and expanded a few days later - that's just about impossible for them to recover from. It died after a month or two.

The second I bought in perfect condition over a year and a half ago and it's still beautiful, it even got through a time when my tank was really neglected. I feed it mysis from time to time - it loves to eat, even though the cleaner shrimp steals most of its food. It sits on the sand bed with enough room to really expand during mid-day when it gets huge. I didn't have strong lighting in my old tank - just VHOs - enough to keep softies and LPSs, and it was fine. It's also doing well in my new tank with the halides.

It's one of my favorite corals, I say go for it. It's not terrible difficult to keep.

hulley · 07/08/2007, 04:20 PM

mander, yes its an open brain! Very beautiful. Thanks for the reply. I'm gonna get it a shot. I've got new T5HOs so that should be more than enough.

sabbath · 07/08/2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mander
I assume you're looking at an open brain - something like this? http://z.about.com/d/saltaquarium/1/...nbrain_400.JPG

I've had two - the first I bought unaware that it was damaged - another coral had fallen on it and broken its skin in the LFS - something the LFS didn't tell me and I couldn't see until after it got home and expanded a few days later - that's just about impossible for them to recover from. It died after a month or two.

The second I bought in perfect condition over a year and a half ago and it's still beautiful, it even got through a time when my tank was really neglected. I feed it mysis from time to time - it loves to eat, even though the cleaner shrimp steals most of its food. It sits on the sand bed with enough room to really expand during mid-day when it gets huge. I didn't have strong lighting in my old tank - just VHOs - enough to keep softies and LPSs, and it was fine. It's also doing well in my new tank with the halides.

It's one of my favorite corals, I say go for it. It's not terrible difficult to keep.

Funny, My Cleaner did the same thing. Now I hand feed him a really small piece first. Then it will leave the brains food alone.

07/08/2007, 09:51 AM	#1
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	What can you tell me about Brain corals? I'm wanting to get a brain coral that my LFS has, its not the maze type. I dont have a pic, I believe I have the right lights and I'm good with keeping my water params in check. I dont have a calcium reactor but with water changes I've managed to keep my calcium over 400. My tank is a FOWLR and I want make to move to some soft corals, zoas, brains, pagodas, frog spawns etc. What would a brain coral considered, softie? lps? feeding requirements? flow? any help would be appreciated. Thanks Hulley

07/08/2007, 09:57 AM	#2
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	Brains are lps and most like med/high light, medium flow..some med/low flow. Some prefer to be in the sand or it can stress them if they dont have the ability to position themselves how they like. With the proper surroundings direct feeding isnt necessary, although can be entertaining as well as help them get through a rough time. What kind of fish are in your FO tank?? Some will pick at them. I had a "ree" safe sailfin once that loved to pick brains apart __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach

07/08/2007, 10:16 AM	#3
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	I have 3 tangs, yellow, purple and a hippo, cleaner wrass, lawn mower blenny, 1 green chromis (had 12!) 2 fire shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 peppermint shrimp.

07/08/2007, 03:36 PM	#4
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	Are these things hard to keep? I see them in ALOT of tanks! Anybody care to comment? My LFS has a nice one for $35 I would like to get him but I want to do a little research first.

07/08/2007, 03:53 PM	#5
mander Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In The Triangle, NC Posts: 150	I assume you're looking at an open brain - something like this? http://z.about.com/d/saltaquarium/1/...nbrain_400.JPG I've had two - the first I bought unaware that it was damaged - another coral had fallen on it and broken its skin in the LFS - something the LFS didn't tell me and I couldn't see until after it got home and expanded a few days later - that's just about impossible for them to recover from. It died after a month or two. The second I bought in perfect condition over a year and a half ago and it's still beautiful, it even got through a time when my tank was really neglected. I feed it mysis from time to time - it loves to eat, even though the cleaner shrimp steals most of its food. It sits on the sand bed with enough room to really expand during mid-day when it gets huge. I didn't have strong lighting in my old tank - just VHOs - enough to keep softies and LPSs, and it was fine. It's also doing well in my new tank with the halides. It's one of my favorite corals, I say go for it. It's not terrible difficult to keep.

07/08/2007, 04:20 PM	#6
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	mander, yes its an open brain! Very beautiful. Thanks for the reply. I'm gonna get it a shot. I've got new T5HOs so that should be more than enough.