My Open Brain Hurts....

[lost_at_sea]

So I've had this Brain Coral for several months now and it's done quite well in my tank, regularly expanding and contracting and always with its tentacles up at night for feeding, that is up until recently.

I've noticed it's been receding and i'm starting to see it's skeleton poke out, it hasn't expanded at all in the last few weeks and I don't even see it's tentacles open at night anymore.

I've fed it diced shrimp a few times and was hoping to again but it won't open up? it does expand slightly during the nighttime but it's stiff as a board during the day.

I did just install an MP40 and I thought the flow might be too much for it and I moved it to the back corner of the tank but still haven't seen an improvement (been 2-3 days now)

ph 8.1
Cal / DKH (fluctuating now as i'm starting to fine tune the BRF 2 part) but now it's 440 / 11 ish
SP 1.024
Nits 0
amm 0
I run dual GFO and Carbon so no phosphates really.

any thoughts would be greatly appreciated... i've lost a brain already a few months back cause I let it deteriorate so i'd like to be proactive on this one...thanks!!!!



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[Darth]

not sure if this makes a difference but I was always told reef should be 1.026 how is the flow around it, I had a brain that did great, and a donut that died in a week same tank so I don't good luck

[gemmate]

Have you checked you temperature? I recently had the same problem with  open brain and realise that during those hot days my temperature went up to 87, which is bad for corals. Since then I run couple of 12V fans above my DT and sump and they cool few degree down.

[az]

yup I was just typing the same thing, check your temp.

[lost_at_sea]

All connected to a great RFK lite and a fan above the tank...stays constant between 78-81.

I've actually noticed a yellow tang picking at it tonight... very wierd.... i'm going to put a soda bottle with holes above it for a few days to give it some space and give the tang some more food to graze at.. i wonder if it was just being constantly pestered by a hungry tang.

[Bob P]

I've had a red brain for 4 years now.
Last year, mine did exactly what you see, I figured it
was a gonner, so I left it for the c u c to take care of.
I'd say 2 months later, It was back, bigger and brighter
than before. Have no idea why, parameters never
wavered, maybe just a molt cycle or something.
Best I can do to help, sorry

[laker]

My flame angel was doing well for months, and suddenly started picking at my brain coral. I ended up sending the brain coral away.

After picked by the angel, the skeleton exposed in the water and algae grow on the skeleton. I also saw my yellow tang picking at the algae. It might make the brain coral more stressful.