Open brain bleaching out

[banditpowdercoat]

I thought brains didnt really need feeding???

[Myka]

Most LPS don't need feeding, but they do a lot better if you do. I have started feeding mine more regularly again, and they are looking better than ever. It is definitely tough to keep an SPS/LPS mixed reef. My tank was supposed to be LPS dominant with some deep water Acros up higher, but my LPS don't like my new tank as much as I was hoping they would (lights are too bright and they don't like the Wavebox), so it is quickly getting more and more SPS. Dangit.

To give you an idea for lighting, I have a very similar brain to yours, and mine is happy on the sand (24" deep tank) with my 250w DE halides (they are 20K, so not high PAR) right under the bulb. I have 3x 39w T5s that come on when the halides are off to make a 12 hours photoperiod, but they are not on at the same time as the halides. The brain would bleach out in my 33g tank merely with 2x39w T5s if I didn't have it off to the side of the tank where the light wasn't as bright and on the sand (16" deep tank).

My brain gets fed only rarely, but the colors improve quite a bit if I feed it just a couple mysis every week.

[banditpowdercoat]

Thx Myka

[chris88]

Lps need to be fed for sure. they wouldnt have such a hugh feeding responce if it were not nessasary. Brain corals, duncans, candy canes, acan, are very high up on the feeding list. Torches, frogspawns, hammers, etc do not need to be feed as much.

[BlueAbyss]

From what I've been reading, open brains need feeding a few times a week, or they tend to die from attrition in 6 months to a year... I'll find the links in my history in a minute, but I'll share my experience first.

My open brain I've had for 2 months, has rejected anything other than finely chopped mysis. I tried larger pieces but they were regurgitated at night as was white shrimp and scallop (both finely chopped). My brain is 1.5 x 3 inch so size may make a difference... but consider that they are zooplankton feeders so they probably consume a lot of 'pod sized creatures. I haven't noticed any marked growth, but there has been no tissue recession and the color is as good as the day I bought it.

Now to find that article (if it was an article ).

[lorenz0]

thanks for the useful info myka. i have had horriable luck in this tank with acans previously and the only colony i have left is tucked under a rock basically. well i think i can find somewhere to tuck this guy under and will be looking into setting the 20gal back up. any advice on lighting? think 4x24watt t5's will be to much?