Brain EXPLODING !!!!

[bj]

And no - I'm not talking about a headache either. I bought 3 corals 2 days ago from the LFS. They looked great. The brain coral was about 4" in diameter ? Today it looks like a head of lettuce. It is almost 50% bigger than it was in the store. The polyps are much larger also - does this mean they are really happy or should I be worried ? The LFS had VHO's and I'm running 3 MH's - are they just working on their suntan ????

 

[lordofthereef]

its probly happier in its new home! your water conditions are probly way better then at the store, not to mention your better lighting! don't worry about it.

 

[templar]

I thought I remember reading somewhere that such a drastic increase in lighting causes the xooanthele (sp?) algae in some corals to go insane and start producing whatever they produce in heavily increased rates which the coral can't keep up with, resulting in the "exploding" look that you see. Or your coral might just be really happy in your tank. Your call, see if someoen else can confirm what I said, and then you should put the brain in a more shaded spot in the tank. Hope this helps.

 

[hondo]

perfectly normal for an open brain to do this. Mine will sometimes inflate to more than double in size, and then shrink back down.

 

[broomer5]

I would like to mention - you may want to accimate these new corals to your more intense lighting for awhile.
My brain swells as well.

 

[bj]

Thanks Broomer, I feel better now. Should I move it down in depth, or off to the side ? Its at a shallow depth now and I have a 30" deep 110 so theres room to do either or both ???