Trachy Open Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi)

Description

Buy Trachy Open Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi) in South Africa from Silkworm Shop in Johannesburg. This coral is supplied as a whole, single-head coral.

About Trachy Open Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi)

The trachy, or open brain coral, is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral prized for its thick, fleshy tissue and its wild colour combinations, from neon greens and lime yellows to fiery orange and gold. It is hardy and slow growing, and a true centrepiece coral for a reef aquarium in South Africa. Every trachy is different, so each colour is a one-off piece.

Coral care at a glance

• Common name: Trachy Open Brain Coral (open brain coral)
• Scientific name: Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
• Type: LPS (large polyp stony coral)
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate – hardy and suitable for most reef keepers
• Lighting: Low to moderate (roughly PAR 50–150). Acclimate gradually and avoid very intense lighting.
• Water flow: Low and gentle. Enough indirect flow to keep the fleshy tissue clear of debris, without blowing it about or stretching the tissue.
• Placement: On the sand bed, flat and stable, in the lower part of the aquarium. Trachys are free-living and do not need to be attached to rock.
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive. It extends sweeper tentacles at night, so leave a gap of about 8–10 cm (3–4 inches) from neighbouring corals.
• Feeding: Photosynthetic, but it benefits from target-feeding small meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, finely chopped seafood or small pellets once or twice a week. Feed gently, after the tissue has opened at night.

Recommended water parameters

• Temperature: 24–27°C
• Salinity: 1.024–1.026 (35 ppt)
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• Alkalinity: 8–11 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm

Stability matters more than perfect numbers. Avoid sudden swings in alkalinity, temperature and salinity.

Acclimation recommendation

1. Float the sealed bag in your aquarium for 15–20 minutes so the temperature matches. Keep the lights low while you do this.
2. Dip the coral in a coral dip, following the dip’s instructions, to help prevent pests and hitchhikers. Use a separate container and never pour the dip or the transport water into your tank.
3. Drip acclimate for 30–45 minutes. Place the coral in a clean container and slowly drip your tank water in, so salinity and pH adjust gently.
4. Place the coral low in the tank in a lower-light spot, with gentle flow, away from its neighbours.
5. Build up the light slowly. Leave it in the lower-light spot for the first 1–2 weeks, then, if it is happy, move it up gradually to its preferred position. Moving it into bright light too fast can bleach or burn it.
6. Go easy on feeding for the first few days. Once it is fully open and settled, start target-feeding.

Tips for success

• Handle gently. Support the whole coral from underneath and never lift it by its tissue edge. Rough handling or sharp rock can tear the flesh.
• Place it on the sand bed once and leave it. Check that the sand is clean and that no fish or snails can bulldoze it.
• Keep sand and debris off the tissue. If it stays shrunken or the tissue recedes, check flow, lighting and water quality.
• Wear gloves and avoid contact between the tissue and sharp rock or glass.

These are general care guidelines. Every aquarium is different, so always observe your coral and adjust to suit your system.