{"id":2846,"date":"2026-02-16T23:21:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/brain-coral-sea-trachyphyllia-sp\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T23:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:21:08","slug":"brain-coral-sea-trachyphyllia-sp","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=brain-coral-sea-trachyphyllia-sp","title":{"rendered":"Brain Coral Sea Trachyphyllia Sp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brain Coral Sea (Trachyphyllia sp.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Also known as Open Brain Coral, Folded Brain Coral, or Green Trachy)<\/em><\/p>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia<\/em> sp.) is one of the most recognisable and beautiful large-polyp stony (LPS) corals<\/strong>, admired for its vibrant colouration<\/strong>, fleshy texture, and distinctive folded or lobed appearance. Colours range from fluorescent green, red, and pink<\/strong> to metallic blue or multicolour combinations<\/strong>, often glowing intensely under actinic or blue LED lighting. This coral forms a single, large, fleshy polyp over a cup-shaped skeleton and is well-suited to peaceful reef aquariums<\/strong>. Hardy, photosynthetic, and easy to feed, Trachyphyllia<\/em> is a rewarding centrepiece coral for aquarists of all experience levels.<\/p>\n

Origin<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Native to the Indo-Pacific region<\/strong>, including Fiji, Tonga, Indonesia, and the Great Barrier Reef. Typically found in sandy lagoons and lower reef slopes<\/strong>, often resting freely on the substrate or loosely attached to rubble.<\/p>\n

Feeding<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Sea Brain Coral is photosynthetic<\/strong>, hosting symbiotic zooxanthellae<\/strong> that provide most of its nutritional needs. However, regular feeding enhances growth, colour, and polyp inflation. Offer 1\u20132 feedings per week<\/strong> of:<\/p>\n

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  • \n

    Mysis shrimp or finely chopped meaty foods<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Marine snow or zooplankton blends<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Specialized LPS coral foods<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Feed at night or when feeder tentacles are visible \u2014 the coral responds quickly to food in the water.<\/p>\n

    Lighting<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Moderate lighting.<\/strong> Prefers bright, indirect light but can adapt to higher or lower levels with proper acclimation.<\/p>\n

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      PAR range: 100\u2013200 \u00b5mol\/m\u00b2\/s<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Avoid direct, intense light that may cause bleaching or tissue recession.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Strong blue lighting enhances its fluorescent colours.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Water Flow<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Low to moderate, indirect flow.<\/strong> Gentle water movement is best \u2014 enough to keep the coral clean and provide oxygen exchange without disturbing its fleshy tissue. Strong flow may cause retraction or tissue damage.<\/p>\n

      Placement<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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        Place directly on sandy substrate<\/strong> or a smooth, flat rock at the bottom of the tank.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Avoid sharp rocks or coarse gravel that can cut the coral\u2019s soft tissue.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Leave 10\u201315 cm (4\u20136 inches)<\/strong> of space around it to prevent contact with other corals \u2014 Trachyphyllia<\/em> extends short sweeper tentacles at night.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Do not place it on vertical rockwork; it may fall and suffer damage.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Tank Mates<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Peaceful and reef safe.<\/strong> Suitable with:<\/p>\n

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        • \n

          All reef-safe fish (clownfish, gobies, blennies, tangs, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Reef-safe invertebrates (shrimp, snails, hermits, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Other LPS and soft corals placed at a safe distance<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Avoid:<\/p>\n

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          • \n

            Aggressive corals (e.g., Euphyllia, Galaxea) with long sweeper tentacles<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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            Large angelfish, butterflies, or puffers that may nip its tissue<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Aggression<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Mildly aggressive.<\/strong> Trachyphyllia<\/em> can extend short sweeper tentacles at night and should not be placed too close to other corals. Generally non-confrontational but can be stung or damaged by aggressive neighbours.<\/p>\n

            Experience Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Beginner to intermediate.<\/strong> Very hardy and adaptable under stable water conditions, making it ideal for both new and experienced reef aquarists. Responds well to feeding and consistent parameters.<\/p>\n

            Water Parameters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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            • \n

              Temperature:<\/strong> 24\u201327\u00b0C (75\u201381\u00b0F)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              pH:<\/strong> 8.1\u20138.4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Salinity:<\/strong> 1.024\u20131.026 SG<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Hardness (dKH):<\/strong> 8\u201312<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Calcium:<\/strong> 400\u2013450 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Magnesium:<\/strong> 1250\u20131350 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Nitrate:<\/strong> <10 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Tank Size:<\/strong> Minimum 75 gallons (280L)<\/strong> for stability and growth room<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Regular water changes and trace element replenishment help maintain vivid colouration and strong skeletal health.<\/p>\n

              Reef Compatibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              Fully reef safe.<\/strong> Trachyphyllia<\/em> is a peaceful, showy coral that adds movement and colour to mixed or LPS-dominated reefs. Best displayed on the sandbed under soft blue lighting, where it expands fully and shimmers with metallic hues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Brain Coral Sea (Trachyphyllia sp.) (Also known as Open Brain Coral, Folded Brain Coral, or Green Trachy) Overview The Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia sp.) is one of the most recognisable and beautiful large-polyp stony (LPS) corals, admired for its vibrant colouration, fleshy texture, and distinctive folded or lobed appearance. Colours range from fluorescent green, red, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2845,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[74],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2846","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-hard-corals","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/2846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=2846"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=2846"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=2846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}