A little die off

[Zack]

A guy wants to sell me a 6" red open brain for $15, the catch is that some not a lot of it is a little dead, is it just going to keep dying or will it be ok?

[Pineapple House]

Yes, there is a chance of it recovering, if the conditions are good. Likely, anything under 'less than average' water conditions would result in more of the tissue ripping. Recovering LPS corals can be tricky, esspecielly with more sensitive species.

FWIW,
I would buy it. It probably has next to no chance recovering sitting in the LFS's care, or a very slim chance of being bought by an expert aquarist for the mere idea of recovering the poor brain. Likely it will do best in your hands, much much better than the LFS's.

There is an additive (Darn...I cannot remember this!) called 'Coral Something' which can be bought at Petco, for around $10.99. Put the brain in a bucket, add the correct amount of the additive, and it should shortly recover. This is poisonous to fish, so make sure none gets in the tank!

PH =)

[Zack]

hey ph
thanks I will look into that. So what about lighting for it while in bucket?

[phistio]

zack,

if the meat has receeded all the way to the skeleton, i wouldn't even attempt trying to recover it...

if you do decide to get it, make sure you wrap it in plastic underwater so that no air gets to it.

as far as the solution, i've never heard of it, so i dunno...but i imagine you could get away without direct lighting for a couple of days....no more than 5 though. the bucket will get some indirect lighting, especially if you put it near your MH tank.

[HoopsGuru]

It's fairly important to know why the specimen is dying. If it has some sort of disease, then I would even make an attempt as it is most likely too far gone. If it is from the normal LFS problems like coral allelopathy, insufficient lighting, etc....then perhaps you may be able to save it. "Kinda" dying is pretty vague, as Phistio said, if the skeleton is bare do not waste your money, even if it is for a noble cause. If you do, you unknowingly cause a demand for a replacement....which may get the same fate.

[Zack]

he said it was a little die off from bad lighting. I think I will try it.