Open Brain not doing well! Pls Help. Poisoning, starving, reading    12/31/09 Hello Crew, <Justin> I got a open brain that has not expanded or shown it's feeding tentacles in over a week. <Mmmm> This all started when I added my normal C-balance 2 part solution to my 90g Tank. <How added? I hope trust as dissolved via new water added as during a water change> As soon as I added the KH part, it immediately closed up and been that way since. <Please see WWM re supplement use... start here: http://wetwebmedia.com/calcalkmar.htm>  It's mouth has receded a little bit and has yet to allow itself to feed. It's not getting bad, nor is it getting better. I normally feed once a week, <... and Trachyphyllia re Feeding: http://wetwebmedia.com/trachyfdgfaqs.htm  need to be fed more often than this...> either freeze dried krill or a piece of frozen shrimp. <...> My water conditions are: 0-ammonia, 0-Nitrate, <An essential nutrient...> 0-Nitrite, PH 8.3, Calcium 420ppm, KH 176-196.9ppm range, Temp 80-81*F, Salinity .025. The tank is a 90g with 2x 250MH 14000k, and 2 VHO actinics. I had him placed in the sand bed, but recently moved him under my frag rack. Assuming the reduced light may help him out. On Saturday Night I gave him a Reef Dip and a strange Black worm and Bristle worm came off of him. Also, I saw one of my Peppermint Shrimps picking at his mouth the other night, so looks like I will have to cover him at night. <Maybe...> What else can I do to get him back to his normal state? <Better water quality, feeding likely> I've tried multiple forums with no resolution! Any advice or help in this matter to cure my brain is greatly appreciate. He's my favorite piece!!!!!! Pls look at attached pics! Thanks in advance !!! -Justin <Please read the above citation areas and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Re: Open Brain not doing well! Pls Help/Thanks!!   12/31/08 Hello Crew, > <Justin> Hey Bob, Thanks for responding back so quickly!!!! <<Welcome>> > I got a open brain that has not expanded or shown it's feeding tentacles in over a week. ><Mmmm>I know! Too Strange, but he seems to be getting better IMO! <<Ah, good>> > This all started when I added my normal C-balance 2 part solution to my 90g Tank. > <How added? I hope trust as dissolved via new water added as during a water change>No! I added to water stream from my return pump. Did not know I could add during water change. I use Reef Crystals, so did not want to overdue the Calcium and KH. <<Best to pre-mix the water, store for days, a week... and add supplements then... or blend slowly, well in a sump...>> > As soon as I added the KH part, it immediately closed up and been that way since. > <Please see WWM re supplement use... start here: > http://wetwebmedia.com/calcalkmar.htm> Thanks for the info! <<Welcome>> > It's mouth has receded a little bit and has yet to allow itself to feed. > It's not getting bad, nor is it getting better. I normally feed once a week, > <... and Trachyphyllia re Feeding: > http://wetwebmedia.com/trachyfdgfaqs.htm > need to be fed more often than this...>Ok! Is freeze dried shrimp good or  bad? <<Read on!>> either freeze dried krill or a piece of frozen shrimp. > <...> > My water conditions are: 0-ammonia, 0-Nitrate, > <An essential nutrient...> Good! I try to keep the water clean! <<Still, some nitrate presence is necessary>> > 0-Nitrite, PH 8.3, Calcium 420ppm, KH 176-196.9ppm range, Temp 80-81*F, Salinity .025. The tank is a 90g with 2x 250MH 14000k, and 2 VHO actinics. > I had him placed in the sand bed, but recently moved him under my frag rack. Assuming the reduced light may help him out. On Saturday Night I  gave him a Reef Dip and a strange Black worm and Bristle worm came off of him. > Also, I saw one of my Peppermint Shrimps picking at his mouth the other night, so looks like I will have to cover him at night. > <Maybe...> The cover has worked out so far. Got multiple holes in it to allow flow. <<Good>> > What else can I do to get him back to his normal state? > <Better water quality, feeding likely>Based upon the water parameters I noted, is there anything that is off? Will feed more often! <<Need some NO3... I would remove part or give up on whatever chemical filtrant use you have going...>> > I've tried multiple forums with no resolution! Any advice or help in this matter to cure my brain is greatly appreciate. He's my favorite piece!!!!!! > Pls look at attached pics! > Thanks in advance !!! > -Justin > <Please read the above citation areas and the linked files above. Bob Fenner> Thanks for the help Bob. Happy New Year!! Wish my Brain luck!! :) <<Mine too! D'oh!!! BobF>> Re: Open Brain not doing well! Pls Help/Thanks!!  1/4/09 Hey Bob and Crew, <Hello again Justin> The Trachy is making an awesome recovery. <Ah, good!> Even though his mouth is recovering, he can still eat from what I can see. How often shall I feed him to speed up his recovery??? <See WWM... two, three times per week> And Peppermint shrimp are they really safe with these types of "fleshy" corals? <Usually, yes> I ask cause I've seen them steal and eat from the mouth of this Trachy and I suspect them in aiding into his decline the past couple of weeks. Shall I pull them out of the tank??? <Or screen him out for now... like with an all plastic colander or "berry basket" turned over the specimen> Thanks for all the help! Justin L. <Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Bloated Open Brain (Trachyphyllia) 6/25/08 Hi WWM Crew, <Hello Cindy!> I am very much hoping that you can alleviate my worries about our open brain. <I hope so too!> We've had 'him' for about 4 weeks now and until recently it appeared as though everything was going well. Until the past few days his tentacles would come out every evening - dinner time for everyone else as he was curious. Twice a week we feed him a small morsel of clam, muscle, shrimp or octopus; which he accepts gladly. <Great! Glad to see you must have researched husbandry a little. Too many of these starve to death in aquariums.> There are never any leftovers and he hasn't spewed anything back into the tank. The rest of the week he will get left overs that may drift to the bottom once the fish have had their fill. As far as I can tell he's well fed. Recently we have upgraded our lighting and we are trying to acclimate everyone slowly to the better lighting. Since we've changed the lighting though the open brain coral has bloated and his tentacles are extended all the time. Based on all the research I've done I was sure that his tentacles were a sure sign of hunger and the bloating was generally reserved for the day after meals; but for the past three days they are out almost 24/7 and his bloating is incredible; he expands by about 50%. He still expands/retracts but the bloating is so much more than we've seen in the past that I'm worried about the behaviour. Is he incredibly hungry or just loving the new light? Do I step up the feeding/reduce/change it?? <This is a stress response, most likely. Expansion means more surface area, and therefore more passive cooling/waste diffusion. Even if he isn't cooking, full of waste, or wanting more light a coral only has so many responses to stress. If something seems wrong and all you can do is puff up, you're going to puff up- know what I mean?> Tank details: 6 months old, 45 gal -corner tank, 40lbs live rock, 2" live crushed coral covered by 1" fine live sand. 2 percula clowns, 1 cleaner shrimp, one engineer goby, 1 hammer coral, 1 bubble coral, 1 open brain :-), green Zoanthid polyps, 1 doz. assorted snails, 3 red hermits, various blue legged crabs, small refugium with 4 mangroves, Tunze 50 gal protein skimmer, Fluval filter, 78 degrees, 8.2 ph, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 20 nitrate??, 380 calcium. The calcium levels is slowly being increased (over the course of 2 weeks) to 400. The nitrates are frustrating, they are always there, we've tested the change water and the nitrates are 0, but after 1 day they jump to 10, am hoping the new lighting will increase the algae and that will help to take care of the nitrates. <Well, to run the colloquialism through the nitrogen cycle..."nitrate happens". It can be tough to control in smaller tanks...but it sounds like you know how to stay on top of it.> Change water 10% twice weekly. Old lighting: 2 x 18" 15w fluorescent bulbs 1 x 10,000k (ocean sun), 1 x 20,000 (coral sun) - new lighting: 1 250w 14,000k metal halide. <VERY good lighting! Keep an eye on that 14k, I've heard sometimes they don't hold their spectrum as long as the 10k or 20k flavor.> Thank you very much for the hours upon hours of reading material that you have provided for us! <You are very welcome! Thank you for reading them! I think your brain should return to normal as he adjusts to the new lighting. If he begins to bleach or show other signs of serious stress consider slower acclimation to the light- and feel free to write in if problems arise.> Cindy <Benjamin>

Open Brain Troubles  4/26/07 I recently purchased an open brain coral from the local aquarium store. <Okay.> It was very healthy at first and for the first week was swelling and acting normally.  I was told that every so often I could feed it a piece or two of silverside feeder fish to help it grow. <Mmm...is true that this animal should be fed but I would prefer something other than silversides or at least something in addition. Go for some Mysis, krill or even bivalve meat (scallop, clam, mussel).> After about a week of acclimation to the tank I fed it two small pieces.  It immediately swelled around each piece and ingested them.  The next morning it was not swollen and I assumed it was due to the digestion of the fish. I waited for a few days and it still had not returned to normal.  I asked the store and they told me it may stay shrunk for a week or so and not to worry.  Well things have gotten a lot worse.  It had never returned to normal and now the "skin" has begun to pull away from the skeleton and it looks like it is dying.  Is there any way to save it and what happened to make it start dying?  Was I not supposed to feed it? <A few question from me first; what type of lighting was the animal in at the store and what type of lighting are you providing now? How turbid id the flow the animal is in...and...what are your water parameters?> Thanks <Welcome.> Kevin <Adam J.>

Open Brain Coral. HELP!! - 08/20/05 Hi, <<Hello>> I recently bought an open brain coral that is hot pink and green. <<I love these!>> It has not opened up at all yet to release its tentacles but it has opened and closed its mouth.  I am only feeding it oyster eggs and plankton at the moment. <<Diced meaty foods please...>> My concern is that the coral is starting to lose its color and the skeleton is starting to show around the edges. <<A bad sign.>> I moved it into a cave because I think the light was to strong. <<A common mistake to put these corals in the top third of the tank believing the bright colors indicate high light requirements...usually dooms the coral.  Should be on the bottom in the sand for most (conical-shaped skeleton).>> Since then I have yet to see the mouth close at all. Is this normal? <<No...another bad sign.>> Now, the fleshy middle where the mouth is has been ripped or detached from the outer skeleton.  Will my coral make it to see another day or is this a battle that's already been lost? <<From your description I'm inclined to believe this coral is doomed/lost.  Do ensure your water parameters are up to par, and have a good read through our FAQs re this coral:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/trachyphyllidfaqs.htm Jessica <<Regards, EricR>>

Open brain question Hi WWM crew -- love your website; what a wonderful resource of information!  I have searched the archives, FAQs, etc. but not found enough specific info to answer my question . . . so here we go: I was recently (10 days ago) given an open brain coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi) by a well-meaning (but lacking any aquarium experience) friend.  I have a 125 g reef system, up and running for 18 months. Current creatures include: 4 clowns sharing 2 BTAs, 1 yellow tang, 1 royal Gramma, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 coral banded shrimp, and usual assortment of snails. Corals include 1 hammerhead, 1 Galaxea, a small stalk of xenia, and 2 gorgonians (Diodogorgia nodulifera & Swiftia exserta). The BTAs are on one side of the tank, anchored mid-way up the rockwork and happy campers. The hammerhead and Galaxea are on the other side of the tank, about a foot apart and 8' from the top of the tank. The gorgonians are on the sand, one at each end of the tank.  I placed the open brain in the sand at the front center of the tank, where it gets light and low/moderate current. (current provided by 2 opposing MaxiJet 1200s in the two back corners of the tank and inflow from a Rena XP3 (used for mechanical filtration), a Mag3 and no-name powerhead rated at 500gph also provide circulation (the Mag3 runs an Aqua C Remora protein skimmer) (total circulation = 15x tank volume).  Water parameters all test fine (0 ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates) with Alk of 3.5 mEq and Ca 300-350ppm range, depending on water changes/bi-weekly dosing. <Okay> Anyway, I didn't know anything about brain corals before receiving this one, so read everything I could find about them on your website. This coral doesn't have good polyp extension, the swelling barely covered the skeleton when I got him, so I figured he was probably hungry, and after several days to acclimate, I attempted feeding him finely diced shrimp & mussels (same mixture I feed the anemones).  I have gotten him to eat twice, but he doesn't have long or large feeding tentacles -- they only raise like tiny bumps. It is a slow process that takes about 1 hour to accomplish, and I have to fend off my cleaner shrimp to keep him from trying to steal the food while the brain is working at engulfing it with the polyps/tentacles. I was guessing that maybe he is just starved and has tissue recession due to capture, lack of feeding, etc.  <This is my guess as well> But after the second feeding two days ago, he seems to have gotten worse. The skin seems to be tearing and ridges of the skeleton are poking through on two of the polyps. He is not even swelling at all during the day. The polyps are deflated and looking thin. Upon careful inspection I noticed that it appears he has had a slow tissue regression for some time. Can it be saved? <Yes> If so, what is the best approach? I have noticed what appear to be grains of sand in the skeletal parts that are exposed. Any suggestions? Thanks, Kevin <I do not see that you add iodine/ate here... I would definitely dose this at near maximum... I would re-direct your circulation to this animals vicinity and if possible increase the lighting directed toward it... other than this, I would not move it, would keep offering foods... Bob Fenner> 

Trachyphyllia geoffroyi in Distress Bob, <Steven Pro this evening.> We've had a Trachyphyllia Geoffroyi for about 5 months now. Up until a couple of weeks ago, it was doing great. Over the past couple of weeks, it's been expanding less and less. At this point, when the lights are on it's very shriveled up. Everything else in the tank is doing fine. We've been putting phytoplankton in the tank, <Of no use. RMF> but haven't been specifically feeding the Trachyphyllia until the past couple of days. It's been expanding its feeders further at night, so we thought it was possibly just hungry. We've been defrosting frozen reef cubes (a mixture of different shell fish) and placing it right on the feeders, but it's only taken the food twice. The rest of the time, it eventually floats off or the shrimp come and get it. We've also tried moving it up off the sand and closer to the lights, but nothing seems to be helping. It's reached the point where are tangs and damsels are starting to pick at it. Is there something else we could be doing for it? <It sounds like a nutrition/feeding problem. This coral does not eat phytoplankton nor will it like big cubes of frozen foods. Try feeding defrosted, frozen Mysis shrimp and/or plankton nightly. Also, you may want to soak this food while defrosting in Selcon and Vita-Chem. Lastly, if this coral appears to die, leave it in your tank for up to two months. I cannot go into details until Anthony & I finish our article. -Steven Pro> Thank so much for any help you can provide. Kathy Fielder
Re: Trachyphyllia geoffroyi in Distress Did Anthony mention this to you? We are keeping it kind of secret. I made a big discovery, anthocauli production in a "dead" Trachyphyllia one month after "death". I have photos and we worked up an article for publication. Every other source we could find says this only occurs in the Fungiids. When we are finished, we will send to you for review, editing, and possibly forwarding to your contacts at FAMA. <Sounds great... and Steve, you (all) don't "need" my assistance in editing, forwarding to editors... am glad to help in anyway I can though. Bob F, who hopes to see your materials also running on our sites... AND you referring people to the articles, accumulated FAQs there more.> Thanks, Steven Pro