Trachyphyllia Coral: Natural Habitat and Appearance
Also known as Open Brain or Trachy coral, Trachyphyllia is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral. Generally, they exist in colonies that can move around freely in the tank with water flow. This feature is helpful for them to change location in an unpleasant environment. But, of course, this will depend on the settings of your tank and how spacious it is.
The Open Brain coral prefers to exist as a single, large polyp. This means the coral usually exists as one large colony with several daughter colonies.
In terms of appearance, the Trachy coral resembles a double or triple-headed trachea. You can find them in a variety of colours, including brightly-dominant green colonies, yellows, and pink.
Lighting
Trachyphyllia is a photosynthetic animal. Like most LPS corals, they depend on the end products produced by a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae living in their flesh. By using chlorophyll, these zooxanthellae can convert light energy into simple absorbable sugars for the coral.
But with light intensity, the Trachyphyllia isn’t like other corals. They require a minimal amount of lighting conditions in the reef tank. Ensure to keep the intensity between 50 – 100 PAR. Anything higher than this might burn the coral and cause them to bleach out.
Feeding the Trachy Coral
While Trachyphyllia corals depend on zooxanthellae for food, they can eat anything from sinking pellets to brine and shrimp.
Usually, you will find them displaying their beautiful-coloured tissues in the tank. But when they sight a food particle, they immediately change their tissues into tentacles to catch food. They become more responsive to food and water currents when they are well-fed. However, be sure not to overfeed them as this could cause more harm than good.
If you want to feed them, aim to feed them several times every week so they can eject the waste produced.
Water Flow
As already said, Open Brains thrive in low to medium water flow. Set low to medium flow for two reasons:
- The water remains calm and clean. In low circulation, there is a mass accumulation of debris that can stress the coral or even lead to its death. Providing medium flow at intervals can prevent this scenario from occurring. Moreover, the medium flow will help you clean the water and make it ’liveable’.
- When the flow is low (or at zero), it’s easier to feed the corals. Keep in mind, however, that this only works for targeted feeding.
A sign of a heavy flow is when one side of the coral is drawn tight tо the ѕkеlеtоn аll thе time. If the excessive flow is not reduced, it can cause the coral to die eventually. Hence, always stick to low flow.
Temperature
An ideal temperature for keeping the Trachyphyllia is 72 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When you combine low flow with a medium temperature, you give them room to thrive efficiently. But do not overdo these.
Common Problems with Trachyphyllia Corals
Bleaching or Discolouration
A bleaching problem occurs when a special algae feeds the Trachyphyllia coral. Usually, the algae can leave the coral under stress conditions like light and temperature changes, after which bleaching happens.
To prevent this, check the water conditions frequently and confirm the water is stable. If you notice a problem, the best thing to save the corals from a discolouration problem is by performing a partial water change once or twice a week.
Coral not opening
It’s common for an open brain coral not to open up instantly when introduced into a new environment. However, you should notice some changes after about 3 days. You may consider replacing your coral or performing a partial water change if this exceeds three days. This would help in keeping the tank water clean.