View Full Version : advice on a sun coral
damianandrew
25-03-07, 11:05
just bought a sun coral two colours orange/yellow need as much advice on keeping this as possible.
internet says medium flow and any lighting
another says keep in low light with a high current
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thanx in advance
pics have been put on page2
They don't need light specifically, but do need to be fed (so if your system is new, you may need to target feed them).
Flow wise, you want them to be able to catch food inthe water column so probably not too fast. You can hang them upside down under flat plating rock.
Kev
Hi
These require low lighting and good water flow. Try to find a cave to put in as they prefer shaded areas.
They will mostly extend at night which is a pain in the posterior!
Feeding can be problematic, but that depends on your level of commitment!
Try Rotifers and Brine Nauplii.
Some take coral out into a tub of tank water with small power head for circulation. Then use a turkey baster to cover polyps with food, once or twice a week.
Mine looked lovely for about 18 months but feeding became an issue.
Shame on me!
Piran.
damianandrew
25-03-07, 11:37
dont mind the feeding bit, but i have a nice cave to put it in but the flow wouldnt be good
damianandrew
25-03-07, 11:38
ho do you know when it hungry?
the fact that they need a cave to live in is a tiny bit of a myth i think, it is true, in the wild there commonly found in caves, but i dont think theres definitive proof that its because theres no light there, more to do with the fact that theres ample food to support there life in these places.
Granted they dont like light, but mine have quite happily started opening in the day time about an hour an a half before my main lights go out, ready for food off me. i found lance fish is good for feeding because my fish steal everything else i feed the sun.
I love them, and wouldn't not have them in my tank!
if you havent already read this: http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=195870
the man most definatly knows his apples!
marc
ho do you know when it hungry?
they should be fed as a matter of course 3-4 times a week, but honesty read that link in my last post to you, the guy (gog aka evilervin) really knows his stuff :cool: and everything you need to know is in that link :)
damianandrew
25-03-07, 16:35
makes a good read only problem is i need some pictures of a sun coral not doing very well as i dont think mine was in good condition when i bought it
Hi
These require low lighting and good water flow. Try to find a cave to put in as they prefer shaded areas.
They will mostly extend at night which is a pain in the posterior!
Feeding can be problematic, but that depends on your level of commitment!
Bah rubbish :p
Mine sits directly under a 150 halide, no cave and only inches from the water surface. Just because the coral does not need light does not mean they require low light. They care not for light or lack of it in the wild they do well in dark areas as that is where their food source is, in ours tanks the food source is in a turkey baster.
Place it where it looks good and is easy to reach for feeding, feed as regularly as your tank will allow, I personally feed mine once every two days even though it does cause problems.
Have a read in the coral section, maybe search tubastraea posted by Evil.
Chris
if the polyps are extending, just keep feeding it up if you can, sorry mate i dont know of any links that will have pictures.... like i say, if the polyps are extending, feed it lots and you'll be ok i reckon....
if your worried, get a picture up, people might be able to help a bit more?
Bah rubbish :p
Mine sits directly under a 150 halide, no cave and only inches from the water surface. Just because the coral does not need light does not mean they require low light. They care not for light or lack of it in the wild they do well in dark areas as that is where their food source is, in ours tanks the food source is in a turkey baster.
Place it where it looks good and is easy to reach for feeding, feed as regularly as your tank will allow, I personally feed mine once every two days even though it does cause problems.
Have a read in the coral section, maybe search tubastraea posted by Evil.
Chris
all very sound advice imo!
i think the reason people say they do not need light is because they are not light dependant like other corals may require. mine is under 250 watt halides mid way up a 2' deep tank and have no problems but then I have quite a lot of flow and low nutrients. High NO3 and light do not mix with this coral as algae will form on the pink areas if flow is too low. it is about striking a balance in you system. Find a reasonable flow area, in light will be fine if your nutrients are low but if not somewhere where algae will not form on it and try to reduce your nitrates.
As for feeding, I have found that feeding once or twice a week is sufficient but if you can be more attentive with this coral, it will grow even better.
HTH
damianandrew
25-03-07, 19:16
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/sun666.JPG
Nice piece! Keep an eye on it to make sure the bit near the bottom does not get any worse. Feed it regularly. It is not an easy coral to keep but if you have the time and the patience then they can do really well.
A pic of mine...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/CIMG1577b.JPG
This is the one just under the halide, sun coral babies in weir, sump and rest of tank.
Chris
thats a stunning sun coral chris! :wub:
damianandrew
26-03-07, 12:13
that is a great sun coral just hope mine is that good in time cheers chris
Hi
Nice looking coral, like the two tone colours!
Mine is kept on the bottom of tank, in the open under 150w halide and is doing ok. I think in the wild they do tend to be in caves etc but if you mimic this in your tank it makes them a PITA to feed and then people can't be arsed to do it.
I use cyclopeze to get it to open up then feed a mixture of marine mix, mysis and cyclopeze. Fed with a turkey baster.
Good luck and keep feeding it.
Matt
damianandrew
26-03-07, 17:01
just tried cyclopeze but my monster seios take it around the tank, it opened up a bit when the 150 mh,s went out and left the blues on, but not all of it, will it only feed at night??
Hi all,
Just thought id post my thoughts on some of the comments posted.
Lighting: as mentioned by other posters, Tubastraea sp do not require lighting, as it is a non-photosynthetic coral. They can be placed under MH's if you wish, just watch for algae growth on any exposed skeleton.
Flow: IME moderate, altinating(sp?) if possible, water movement. If kept to to low a flow rate detritus can settle on the coral which will damage the coenosarc. Too high a flow and the polyps may stuggle to naturaly recapture / capture any escaped food present in the water collum.
They don't need light specifically, but do need to be fed (so if your system is new, you may need to target feed them)
Would highly recommened that Tubastraea sp and alike are target fed no matter how mature a system is.
They will mostly extend at night which is a pain in the posterior!
IME only if there not completly healthy / well fed, or are receiving unwanted attension from other tank inhabitants active during the day.
Try Rotifers and Brine Nauplii
IMO Great as a treat, pants as a stapel diet for lasting health (unless dosed in HIGH consintrations daily or used to feed offspring).
ho do you know when it hungry?
There always hungry:D
the fact that they need a cave to live in is a tiny bit of a myth i think, it is true, in the wild there commonly found in caves, but i dont think theres definitive proof that its because theres no light there, more to do with the fact that theres ample food to support there life in these places
Totally agree, most dwell in caves / overhangs as the zooplankton concintrations are high in these areas, not because there is no light. Case in point, Tubastraea micrantha can be found mixing up with Acropora sp, etc on the open reef.
the man most definatly knows his apples!
but honesty read that link in my last post to you, the guy (gog aka evilervin) really knows his stuff :cool: and everything you need to know is in that link :)
cheers:o
Place it where it looks good and is easy to reach for feeding, feed as regularly as your tank will allow
Very good advice, and should be heeded.
Pingu, nice example of a very healthy looking sun coral, kudos
Damianandrew,
With reference to your pic, If i where you, I'd move the coral them the gravel / sand and place in on a rock to add water movement around the whole coral which in turn will aid the recovery of the low polyps, Pingu's pic is a good example of what im stabing at.
The coenosarc on the majority of the calcies doesnt look to taught which is a good sign, that with regular feeding the coral may reach its full potential in time.
HTH
Roger
if the flow is too fast, a quick tip, cut a plastic bottle in half, cover the coral with the bottle and use a baster to squirt say red plankton inside. otherwise turn off pump and target feed. mine feeds anytime through the day,i put food in for the fish,the coral senses that food is around, opens fully about 10 mins later and then i target gently with a baster, currently kept under a 150 with a medium flow. i feed every other day.
good luck.:)
just tried cyclopeze but my monster seios take it around the tank, it opened up a bit when the 150 mh,s went out and left the blues on, but not all of it, will it only feed at night??Dont worry about the Cycolopeeze moving around the tank, as long as it is recirculated back to the polyps, as opposed to being removed by your skimmer.
Once the coral is receiving sufficent nutriants / fully settled in, it should open during the day. If it fails to do so naturaly, a little coaxing wont hurt.
The following is NOT directed to damianandrew or anyone else how has posted on this thread...
A number of members have asked questions on the board or via PM, concerning Tubastraea sp opening only at night. The majority of these question pertain to the members first sun coral, and this worries me. I would not consider buying your first sun coral unless you see it expand / eat in the LFS (whos tanks will be lit during opening times). This in my mind serves three purposes, 1. you know it eats , 2. your LFS feeds it, and 3, you know its healthy enough to expand during the day.
HTH, and sorry for the soapbox bit,
Roger
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