Indo Rainbow Trachy Brain
Trachyphyllia Brain Coral Care
Trachyphyllia Brain Corals, sometimes called Open or Folded Brain Corals, come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. These slow growing semi-aggressive corals make excellent centerpieces and thrive in a wide range of conditions. Please see below for additional care tips for Trachyphyllia Brain Corals as well as checking out our Top 5 Tips for setting up a reef.
Location
Trachyphyllia Brain Corals are found in the islands of the Indo-Pacific including Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. Our Trachys typically come from Australia.
Lighting
Medium lighting would serve this species of brain coral well. Trachyphyllia coloration can vary somewhat based on the intensity and spectrum of lighting provided but is generally not dramatic.
Low Light
Low light translates to about 30-50 PAR
Medium Light
Medium Light is between 50-150 PAR
High Light
High Light is anything over 150 PAR
Lighting is a loaded topic, so for a more in-depth discussion of lighting, please see our Deep Dive article.
Water Flow
We recommend keeping the coral in an area of the tank with medium to moderate flow. High flow is not recommended as feeding can be difficult.
Feeding
Like most coral, Trachyphyllia Brain Corals rely to a large extent on the products of their zooxanthellae, however, in our experience, they also benefit from direct feeding. There are a variety of frozen fish foods available that make outstanding meals for Favia. We like to feed a mixture of meaty foods such as shrimp, fish, and squid with vitamin additives and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). The size of the food must be small enough that the polyp can fully ingest it. 
A Word of Warning
Trachyphyllia Brain Corals are one of the corals that can extend sweeper tentacles. Sweeper tentacles are often used as a means of defense against other encroaching coral colonies. Their white tips contain a concentration of nematcysts that can damage more delicate tank mates. Space should be provided between these corals and their neighbors.
Propagation
In terms of propagation, this genus has been successfully fragmented however care should be taken not to damage the individual polyps as recovery time can be long.
Acclimation
Proper acclimation is extremely important considering the stress imposed on the animals by the shipping process. Please take a moment to review our Acclimation Guide.
Photography
The images were taken with a Canon 5D mk II and 100mm macro lens under T5 Fluorescent lighting. Quite a lot goes into how we go about shooting the corals and anemones you see on Tidal Gardens. For an in-depth look at our methods, check out our comprehensive Reef Aquarium Photography FAQ.