Brain Coral Q's

[Crab Rangoon]

I've got a green Brain variety thats about as big as my fist, but I notice it only actually opens up and sends out tentacles with my Lunar light on, instead of my PC. Are they nocturnal? Surly I'm not giving it the optimum lighting for it, but I was surprised to see that it seemed to bask in the moonlight rather than the PC.

[::pete::]

A favites?

It likes moderate light and flow and at night is when the sleeper tentacles come out to feed. You should add phyto to supplement them.

[Reef69]

umm, the tentacles are only to feed, you are never going to see them out during the time the lights are on..

[Crab Rangoon]

I know tentacles are for feeding, but since worms, polyps, and other filter feeders seem to be spread/outstretched during lit hours, I didnt understand why the Brain would be nocturnal, where as the rest aren't.

[GaryP]

A lot of corals are nocturnal feeders, maybe even a majority of them.
A lot of zooplanktonic critters come near the surface at night. The corals feed when there is stuff to feed on.

Gary

[Ross]

I have one and it does the same thing...i feed it zooplankton sometimes. At one bottom corner it is starting to die. I dont know why. Its at the bottom of my tank in moderate/light flow...could clove polyps sting and kill it?

[GaryP]

Ross,

No on the clove polyps. They don't sting. They can overgrow a coral and choke out the light though. Mine did that to some yellow polyps.

Gary

[Crab Rangoon]

Also, the brain'll sting others, right? Some site said something about it being a chance to aggitate other corals. If this is the case, should I move my LTA? It used to sit up at the top of the rocks, but now its decided to settle down between a rock and the brain, I wouldn't want it getting stung.

[alexwolf]

I think the LTA doesnt really care where you move it, it will go where it wants!!!

[Crab Rangoon]

oh, well yeah, I knew that much, but I didnt want it stayin pressed up against something that'll sting it every day or night :-o

[Tim Marvin]

Brains won't sting, but the LTA will sting the brain.