How to kindly dispatch... Trachyphylliid hlth.  - 7/2/08
A brain coral that seems to be dying, or are there any emergency treatments that might work? The skeleton is showing...It's a friend's tank, and in a very good setting.
Thanks Bob!
<Ahh, please have them read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/trachydisfaqs.htm
and the linked files above>
ps did Morgan ever make it to see you in Hawaii?
<Not as yet... we are still working on details. He has some projects going on in Terre Haute, IN that require his presence for now. Bob Fenner>

Unhappy (Dead?) Open Brain  - 08/26/06
Bob,
I have a metallic green open brain that has been very happy for several months.  About 3 weeks ago it stopped expanding as much as normal.  This was around the same time that I upgraded my lighting,
so I moved the coral to a more dimly lit area (probably not even as bright as before the lighting upgrade).  Now 3 weeks later it's still not happy.  At this point the flesh is stretched tightly across the skeleton (and receding) and the mouth is wide open and there is no sign of any tentacles.  I read on several sites that open brain corals are self-sustained via photosynthesis so I never intentionally fed this coral.
<This is not so>
  After just recently reading some articles on your site, I realize that these corals are supposed to be fed regularly.  Obviously this could be part of the problem.
<Ah, yes>
Unfortunately, I've tried to feed it in its current state with finely mashed clam meat and the food just sits in the open mouth for several minutes until a shrimp or hermit crab eventually eats it.  
Robert.
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/trachyphlliidae.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia radiata) /Lighting Adjustment - 10/24/05
HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!!
<Feels like winter here in SoCal, unusually cold these past few days, Hello.>
I apologize upfront for the lengthy email.
<No worries.>
I have a question about lighting and problems with my Open Brain (Trachyphyllia radiata). I also would like your inputs as to whether my setup or stocking is stupid (well maybe not stupid, but wrong in some way)
<Ok.>
My tank setup is as follows:
65-gallon (24” tall) glass aquarium FOWLR for 4 years and reef now for 1 year
ASM in sump protein skimmer
4 X 96 watt PC fixture (4 days old and replaced a 2X96 watt fixture) with 1 10K, 1 7200K, and 2 Actinics with the Actinics on from 11am to 10pm and the “white” lamps on from 12 noon to 9 pm.
80 pounds of rock and 1 inch of sand
20 Gallon refugium with a DSB, Chaetomorpha, and pods reverse lit from main tank
A Mag 9.5 through a SQWD for return from the refugium
2 Maxijet 1200s for in-tank circulation
300 watt heater set at 78 degrees
<Sounds like a well thought out set-up.>
My water parameters are:
Temp- 78 to 80
pH – 8.1 to 8.3 depending on the time of day
Ammonia and Nitrates – 0
Nitrates – 10
Calcium 390
DKH – 10.6
Alk –3.77
Magnesium – 1230 to 1250
Salinity – 1.025
PO4 - .05
<All acceptable.>
I dose Lugol's once a week and Kalkwasser nightly.
Live stock (everyone plays together well so far)
Yellow Tang (I realize that this might become to big for my 65 gallon)
<Yes.>
2 Black Percula clownfish
Royal Gramma
Flame Angel (not bothering corals…yet)
Clown Fairy Wrasse
I don’t think that I am overstocked but you guys and gals are the experts and any input would be appreciated.
<Seems ok for now but as you mentioned it will be to small long term for the tang.>
Corals
1 colony of Blue Striped mushrooms (Actinodiscus sp)
1 colony of red mushrooms (Actinodiscus sp)
1 Ricordea colony (Ricordea floridae)
3 different colonies of polyps (Zoanthus sp.)
1 Candy Cane LPS with 7 polyps (Caulastrea furcata) approx. 14 inches from light.
1 Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia paradivisa) approx. 8 inches from light.
1 Open Brain (Trachyphyllia radiata) in the sand approx 24 inches from the light.
The problem is with my Brain (the coral that is). For the first 2 days, he looked great, color good and inflating during the day. I have yet to see any feeder tentacles and cannot coax them out with meaty juice sprayed in his direction. Anyway, it goes downhill from here. 
On day 3, my old 2X96 watt PC light lost a ballast so now he was only under 96 watts of 10K light. I moved him to the top of the rocks about 8 inches from to light considering the move from sand to rock was less stress than losing half of his light. 
<Actually I would have rather left it in its established “spot” and fed a bit extra to compensate.>
Had to wait 3 days for either a warranty replacement ballast or my new 4 X 96 watt fixture (whichever came first). I got my 4 X 96 watt fixture and moved him back to the sand. That was 3 days ago. 
Since the ballast went out, he has not inflated once and I cannot entice him to feed. He looks real skinny but the color is still good. 
<Likely stressed from both the move and the new lighting scheme. I would not stress too much just yet. He may have trouble acclimating to the new lighting, I would attempt to partially shade the specimen until it adjusts.> 
Should I just leave him be, try to force feed him, or what? 
<No force feeding could be detrimental.> 
Please offer any advice or criticism that you can. I learn something new in the hobby every day, mostly from you wonderful people.
<Thank you for the kind words.>
One more question in this lengthy email (I only type with 2 fingers so it is hurting me more than it is you).
<Hehe, okay.>
What is considered moderate lighting for my set up? 
<Depends on the targeted livestock, for your targeted specimens it’s a high lighting scheme.> 
I bought the 4 X 96 hoping to satisfy the moderate to high lighting requirements that a lot of the LPS corals call for.
<You have definitely done so. Under this lighting you could even keep some SPS such as Montipora.>
Thanks for your patience, contributions, and help. 
<Your welcome.> 
I really do try to research this stuff first before throwing another repeat question at y'all.
<That’s all we ask.>
Mike.
<Adam J.>