receding brain

Barbara,

Yep, my very first thought is that you are burning it.

Again, Brain Coral like it in the sand and the light is less intense down there.

What arrangement, number and color of PC light tubes makes up a 192 Watt PC?

Again, it's not a food issue! My advice is that major feeding may not be good at this time. Make this first change and watch it.

At one time I was trying to get to your place to help with plumbing your tank. Is this is a good time to visit? I am heading up near Holladay today to take my daughter to the dentist. Call today if possible so we can arrange for me to come see the tank.

Mark

So I made a house call to see Barbara's Brain this evening! 

Barbara has some of the oldest fish in the area. A Yellow Tang and a Maroon Anemonefish that are about 10 years old. They are her first marine fish. She donated a 10 year old 9 inch long Hippo (Blue) Tang to Seabase last year. She lost a 7 year old Cleaner Wrasse last year. (Barbara, please correct me if I'm giving wrong info here)

Jon, next time I make a visit would you like it to be your house?

I had tried to get to Barbara's house for some time and now there was a real need. Yes indeed the Brain Coral had been burned, almost to death. She had moved it from a lower position in a tank with old PC lights to the top of the rock in another tank and then added 2 brand new 96 W PC lights.

The lessons here for all of us are:

1) not to change out every light at once but to replace them in sequence so the coral does not get sunburned.

2) understand the needs of the coral. (Brain, Elegance, Plate, Tongue, etc. like the sandy bottom)

3) when moving coral don't sunburn it

4) use this forum to ask questions before the mistakes are made. At least then, if things go bad, you can blame everyone and not have to shoulder all the blame yourself