View Full Version : Another Sun coral post!
Hello
I purchased this sun coral recently and having read previous posts includeing elivervins excellent thread I am aware they can be a sod to get to start feeding and require lots of feedingI am just not 100% sure I'm going about this correctly.
The fist few days this is how it looked it was accepting Mysis but would not extend it's polyps at all just seeming to suck the shrimp in.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/full%20old.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/right%20old.JPG
This is how it looks now after about 9 days I feed it every day but it has never extended more than this. I feed the fish first which gets the coral out to about this far but it stays like this so this is how I feed it, should I just leave it and it will come out more in time or do some corals just extend more than others?
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/full.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/left.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/right.JPG
This i where it is situated in the tank, it is in the light with a light flow from the skimmer outlet coming down over it.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/tankfull.JPG
Tank parameters are:
No3 10ppm
Po4 0.33 new Phos ban added last week
Dkh 8
Ca 480 ppm
Mg 1180 ppm
Ph 8.2
Nitrite and ammonia 0ppm
Any help would be appreciated
many thanks.
Paul
rich_tilbury
12-02-07, 23:33
It looks like it is opening up. Have you looked after the tank lights are off for a couple of hours. Mine opens a bit when the main lights go off, but really expands in the dark. I feed it then.
They feed on nocturnal plankton at night in the wild, so I guess they are programmed to open at night, although people eventually "train" them to open up during the day through feeding.
This is how it looks now after about 9 days I feed it every day but it has never extended more than this. I feed the fish first which gets the coral out to about this far but it stays like this so this is how I feed it, should I just leave it and it will come out more in time or do some corals just extend more than others?
IMO all you need to be doing is:
Relax, all is well. Continue feeding it (manually 'stick' the shrimps etc to the polyps if you have to) and it will fully expand once its settled from the collection, ship, lfs, and acclimation process.
IMO you should also raise your Mg to around the 1350 mark
They feed on nocturnal plankton at night in the wild, so I guess they are programmed to open at night, although people eventually "train" them to open up during the day through feeding
IMO this is a little bit of myth-information, in the wild Tubastraea sp are "programmed" to fed on Zooplankton and even small fish (fry) at any time of day, concentrations allowing.
IME, well nurished Tubastraea sp in the aquarium, should expand when ever food is 'senced' within the water column, be it day or night.
HTH
Gog
rich_tilbury
14-02-07, 17:10
Gog
I guess my Tubastraea believes you and certainly does behave as you describe - it is fat and so I guess well fed! Opens on cue when food is added. However, it saves itself for the night time when it opens right up.
In the wild Zooplankton "tend" to come out/move up at night and this seems to be whenI understood that most corals open to feed. Even without natural densities of plankton my corals tend to open up at night including the Tubastraea, with or without the food signal. That is from observation rather than from simple rumour mongering! ;)
I've just spent some time reading through your Tubastraea notes. Absolutely brilliant! When you find the white polyped variety can you let us all know?! ;)
it doesn't look in top condition to me that colony - I can see some dead areas.... it might take a while to get feeding. I recommend using a really 'smelly' food like cyclopeeze powder to get them into feeding mode. Then target feed heavily. In my experience they are hard to turn around once they start declining.
Hi Rich,
That is from observation rather than from simple rumour mongering!
In relation to which bit? (wild or captive)
I dont dive, so i cant talk from personal obserations, but, it is my understanding that Tubastraea sp, in the wild, do not soley (fully) expand during nocturnal hours, but i do agree that zooplankton is available in greater densities during these hours and and its during this period that the genus generaly eats... basicaly i dont agree with the "programmed to open at night" bit, they fed when they can.:)
In my experience with captive Tubastraea sp, if a well nurished coral continualy fails to fully expand during liminated hours, its normaly due to unwanted attension from fish.
I've just spent some time reading through your Tubastraea notes. Absolutely brilliant!
Cheers:)
When you find the white polyped variety can you let us all know?!
If i find a white polyped micrantha everyone will know.... sorry thats wrong. I ment to say; WHEN i find one, and AFTER I've bought it, I'll let you all know.:p
Gog
rich_tilbury
14-02-07, 22:07
Hi Rich,
In relation to which bit? (wild or captive)
Captive sadly, the wife and kids would divorce me for sure if I took up diving and spending evenings hovering mid ocean watching corals! :p
I work from home and my tank is next to me, so I guess my tank is probably more observed than most! The Tubastraea I have is open during the night, as the light comes into the room it begins to close slowly. When the actinic comes on it sort of pouts a bit and then is mostly closed when the main lights come on. Then when the main lights go off the polyps expand and then when the room is in total darkness they fully expand again.
I have a pygmy angel, maybe it is hassling the Tubastraea when I'm not looking!
I am upgrading my tank shortly and Tubastraea are going to be a main feature! :) I will keep you posted and let you know if I can train this one to open in the day a bit more! :D
it doesn't look in top condition to me that colony - I can see some dead areas.... it might take a while to get feeding. I recommend using a really 'smelly' food like cyclopeeze powder to get them into feeding mode. Then target feed heavily. In my experience they are hard to turn around once they start declining.
Hello
I don't think it is in decline those dead areas look quite old and there are lots of really small heads around and behind them so think it's ok (can't complain for 20 quid anyway!)
I have been target feeding with Cyclopeeze and Mysis and now it is finally opening right up :D and feeding well, is prety much fully out within 10 mins of feeding the fish at about 7ish and then seems to stay out all eve including after I have fed it def does not seem bothered if the lights are on.
as there are so many heads I find it hard to target some of the really small ones and some of the lower ones is this a major problem or will the draw nutrients through there shared spine, vein, root thing (not sure what the word I am looking for is:o ) ??
I will post another pic tomorrow thanks every one for or your help
[quote=evilervin;1617232]IMO all you need to be doing is:
Relax, all is well. Continue feeding it (manually 'stick' the shrimps etc to the polyps if you have to) and it will fully expand once its settled from the collection, ship, lfs, and acclimation process.
IMO you should also raise your Mg to around the 1350 mark
Thanks for your advice Evilervin you seem to be the Sun coral guru:worship: and looks like ur right.
All is now looking good now and I have started to raise my Mg up ( I always stuggle with Mg in my tank seems I'm always dosing it but never seem to get it up high enough )
Paul
]
as there are so many heads I find it hard to target some of the really small ones and some of the lower ones is this a major problemIf your worried that the wee ones aren't getting enough food, my surgestion would be to just release a small 'cloud' of rehydrated cyclopeeze, mix with tank water, using a turkey baster.... basicaly let them catch the food as the flow draws it past them.
or will the draw nutrients through there shared spine, vein, root thing (not sure what the word I am looking for is:o ) ??It is believed that Tubastraea sp do not share nutrients via the gastrovascular canal, but the polyps can utilise nitrogen and phosphorous stored within the skeleton's pores as an energy source. Unfortunatly this energy supply can not sustain life for prolonged periods of time.
The reason the coral has this 'store',is so that in time of low zooplankton consintrations the coral has some energy to expanded its polyps when food becomes available.
(the following not really relevant, but, I've started, so I'll finish:p)
Relating this to the aquarist;
If a Tubastraea sp is to solely rely on it's 'back-up supply' of energy (no direct feeding or suitably sized food with the water column), and there is a persistent trigger to expand (eg feeding your fish):
The coral will, within a number of weeks, completly fail to expand and no longer have the ability to ingest food or expel any waste product that may be within the polyp. Accompanying this is tissue thining, followed by necrosis, and ultimatly end in the polyps shrivling to nothing.
If a Tubastraea sp is fed sparsely, or on low nutrient food such as 'normal' adult brine shrimp:
Although the coral may expand readily to except food, it will still be dipping its energy store to help prolong it lifespan. During this there will be no production of new coenosarc and or buds, over a period of months the coenosarc that is present on the coral will receed up to the calyx edge. Slowly each polyp will die off as the energy reserve depleats.
If a Tubastraea sp is fed high nutrient foods and often:
The coral does not use any of the stored energy and will live soley on ingested nutrients. The coenosarc will be plump, the polyps will expand readily and fully, there will be budding and the formation of new seperate corals. If for what ever reason the coral does not recieve a food for a couple of weeks (eg tanksitter never fed them whilst on hoilday), the coral should have a suitalbe store to see it through without deteriment. Please note; the previous is not an excuse for someone to bugger off on holiday without someone feeding the sunnies.
oaky I'll stop now that Ive gone way off course... sorry Paul:o
Gog
Forgot;
now it is finally opening right up
:thumbsup: (dont ya just love the new smilies)
Here are some pic's as of this eve:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/DSC00193 (Medium).JPG
:banana: :bigeye: :bouncy: :clap: :funky: :hysterical: :ohyea: :yahoo: :eheheh: :friends: :watsui: :roflmao:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/DSC00189 (Medium).JPG
New smileys can't say Ihave noticed them!!:D
ChrisBFish
16-02-07, 20:52
Wow - looking great there! :D Well done!
:rockon:
(dont forget to keep up with the feds)
As in FBI and the CIA!! Jeees what will they want with my sun coral!!:eheheh:
:oops::banghead::applause:
feds = feeds
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