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Quick Facts :: Open Brain Coral
Care Level:	Moderate
Waterflow:	Medium
Placement:	Bottom
Lighting:	Medium to High
Temperament:	Semi-aggressive
Color Form:	Green, Red, Pink, Brown
Supplements:	Calcium, Strontium, Trace Elements
Water Conditions:	72-78� F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Origin:	Indo-Pacific
Family:	Trachyphylliidae
Species:	LPS Hard Corals
Category:	LPS Hard Corals

Open Brain Coral Aquarium Care, Lighting Requirements and Feeding Information

The Open Brain Coral is a Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral, sometimes referred to as the Pacific Rose Coral, or Wellsophyllia/Trachyphyllia Brain Coral. They are not connected to the substrate and can be easily collected from the reef when mature. They are often found in varying shades of metallic green and are characterized by their irregular round shape, deep impressions and fused walls with numerous folds. Originally these species were identified as Wellsophyllia corals being separate from Trachyphyllia corals. This distinction is less commonly used now, and the Wellsophyllia Brain Coral is often referred to now as a Trachyphyllia radiata coral, thus making the two interchangeable. All of their characteristics including feeding, lighting and water movement requirements are identical.
Wellsophyllia/Trachyphyllia Brain Corals do best in a well established reef aquarium that incorporates moderate to strong lighting and a moderate water current within the aquarium, along with the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water. These corals prefer to be placed on a sandy substrate, with plenty of space between it and other corals, as it is sensitive to stings from its neighbors. It is advisable to locate these corals someplace on the reef that will keep them well separated from all neighbors and even provide some extra space to roam.
Wellsophyllia/Trachyphyllia Brain Corals utilize the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae from which it receives the majority of its nutrition through photosynthesis. They also benefit from occasional feedings of meaty items, like shrimp, clam and squid. They should only be offered food when the tentacles are fully expanded, which is typically during the night time hours.

An In Depth look:

Brain Coral Care

Beginner and experienced reef enthusiasts alike will choose to keep brain coral in their home tanks and aquariums, as brain coral care is generally simple and adaptive to many environments. Overall, the nature of the brain coral is extremely hardy, which makes brain coral care less restrictive and time consuming than other types of coral.

In The Reef Aquarium

The ideal parameters for brain coral care include clean water conditions, moderate lighting and water flow, sufficient space between other specimens in the tank, and including trace elements such as calcium and strontium periodically in the water. The exact color of the brain coral may determine the strength of lighting used in the tank- keep this in mind for overall brain coral care. Setting the temperature in the artificial tank will also help keep the brain coral care in optimal health- the water temperature should fall between 75 and 84 degrees.

Substrate

Since brain coral is a sand dwelling organism, having a tank that is lined with sand, gravel or a mud filled bottom is a crucial element of brain coral care. If brain coral care does not include a substrate lined tank, the brain coral will not be able to use their extended flesh to propel themselves towards optimal lighting and water conditions. Because brain coral does utilize a defense mechanism of stinging rays, adequate brain coral care will depend on having its own established place in the tank so the coral doesnt sting nearby creatures.

Care And Diet

Because brain coral contains photosynthetic algae in its tissue, brain coral care does not depend on supplemental feedings. However, brain coral care can include filter feeding food (that is used for invertebrates) in addition to various micro plankton, fish flesh, shellfish or crustaceans. If your brain coral care does include supplemental feedings, the coral should be fed no more than twice a week- and only when the brain coral is open (usually at night).

Propagating Specimens

Part of brain coral care does include the option of cultivating the coral in a home aquarium or reef tank. Because the brain coral reproduce asexually through fragmentation in the wild, the process can be mimicked during brain coral care in an artificial environment.

Overall Health

You should be vigilant about maintaining your corals- proper brain coral care includes making regular assessments of the corals health. Warning signs to look for when doing brain coral care assessments include bleaching, tissue becoming detached from the corals skeletal system, and the how regularly the polyps extend, in addition to how much they extend. Most likely you will need to adjust the water quality of the tank if these things are found during overall brain coral care. Another possibility is aggression from a neighboring specimen which may threaten develop of the brain coral.