How long does it take for a new coral to open up?

This morning I got a brain coral and finger leather coral. My finger leather seem to be doing fine, open up.
I am worried about my brain coral. Does it take more then 8 hours for a new coral to open? Maybe I am getting to hyped up over nothing, but it better to be safe. Then wait.
My water test is all fine zero nitrate/nitrite, pH 8.2, 0 ammonia. Had a small zoo coral for about 2 weeks?
Maybe it's because I put some garlic xtreme drops for my clown fish?
 
Originally Posted by bknow
brains usually open up at night with no light...
Really? So brain coral are night time feeders?
Didn't know that, I found it open in light?
 

brandon7491

Member
lol na yesterday i finished cycling my new 20gallon long tank. so i put all my corals from my 14bio to the 20. 2 of which are brains. they are beginging to open up but probably not for another day or so. ur just like me lol worying. they will oppen up soon enough
 
Yesterday I found out my salt level was 1.026. Add a little fresh bottle water.
Now it's 1.021
It's still close!
It's looks a little fuller then a couple days. I saw it feeding at night.
What should I do?! It's been close for 5 days!
 

lovecraft

Member
Originally Posted by Razor Vampire
Yesterday I found out my salt level was 1.026. Add a little fresh bottle water.
Now it's 1.021
It's still close!
It's looks a little fuller then a couple days. I saw it feeding at night.
What should I do?! It's been close for 5 days!
I'm new, but I thought the proper range for corals and inverts was 1.025-26?
I'm confused...why did you change your SG?
 
Originally Posted by lovecraft
I'm new, but I thought the proper range for corals and inverts was 1.025-26?
I'm confused...why did you change your SG?
My hydrometer stated 1.023-1.020 is a good range.
 

lovecraft

Member
Originally Posted by Razor Vampire
My hydrometer stated 1.023-1.020 is a good range.

Get a refractometer, it will help.
Everything I've read around here says 1.025-2.6 for corals and inverts. I could be mistaken, but I think I'm right. A real swing of SG from 1.026 to 1.021 would make me a little nervous. I had many problems getting my SG right with 2 different hydros.
Right after my cycle my LFS wouldn't let me have a fish because their refrac read my water at 1.030 but my hydros were telling me 1.023-1.025. Now that I've been using it for a couple of months, I've seen my two fish act agitated when I accidentally went 1.025 to 1.027 during a water change....I don't think rapid SG swings are good, but I could be making a mountain out of a molehill

I'm not sure if that has anything to do with your brain cause I haven't got around to trying those yet, just some shrooms and zoos.....but this was just my limited experience in that I felt better knowing I have a more confidence in my SG readings...

The $40 refrac is much better than my 2 $10 hydros...
 

petjunkie

Active Member
1.021 is too low for corals , 1.026 is perfectly fine but I would buy a refractometer as my hydrometer was 5 points off the whole time I had it, or get yours tested against one so you know if it's off and by how much.
 
What about my brain coral!
I first got it measure at the pet store where it was 1.026, then at home I add 1/2 gallon of fresh water. My point being everything looks fine, nothing in shock. I don't trust my hydrometer, which stated 1.021. Like you said, it could be .05 point off.
If anyone! I worry about my brain coral. I moved it under some rocks. Does it need a strong water flow?
 

brandon7491

Member
no do not give it strong water flow cuz it wont open up. put it under a cave or a ledge so it gets light but not alot of light. it will open up soon
 

brandon7491

Member
no do not give it strong water flow cuz it wont open up. put it under a cave or a ledge so it gets light but not alot of light. it will open up soon
 

pettyhoe

Member
A swing from 1.026 toi 1.021 is a big swing for corals. It will stress them out and keep them from opening. But remember, you shouldn't check your salinity immediately after you add fresh water, because the water isn't mixed properly and will yeild a faulty reading. so it probably wasn't 1.021. Brains do well in some tanks and terribly in others. It should open up within a week, if it doesn't, look for deterioration. Try not to swing the salinity that much from now on, and keep it from 1.023 to 1.026 if possible. Being outside of that range isn't bad, it is changing it at a quick pace that really hurts marine animals.
 
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