Branching Black Sun Coral

[laga77]

Picked up a 1.5 inch frag of a Branching Black Sun Coral at an aquarium show in Chicago today. They had a larger colony of this type but I went with the small frag because I like to grow them out. The colony had long branches like the Sun Coral in the background and was not clumped like most Black Sun Corals. Now the fun part starts, trying to get it to open up.

 

[BarryV]

Nice fined laga77. Keep us updated with pics when it opens.
Thanks for sharing.
Barry

 

[rt67ghy]

I assume it's a tubastrea micrantha. Looking forward to seeing all the tentacles out.

 

[laga77]

No tentacles yet, but the polyps are full and somewhat extended. Will feed it live BBS and white worms tonight.

 

[mark54321]

Sweet, I saw those at the show too, but forgot to get them. Got few other pieces for my NPS tank. Looking forward to see yours fully come out.

 

[laga77]

Did not take long to open up. Last night had 5 heads open and all of them took in black worms. I think I got a keeper.

 

[BarryV]

Looking Good laga77 thanks for sharing.
Barry

 

[Qckwzrd]

Nice! I purchased a three headed frag a few weeks ago. It went from black to tan. After a week or so it got it's color back and started to open and eat.

 

[Hermannsae]

Oh boy, I had a black sun with 30+ heads and nobody wanted to have it. Finally I sold it for $20. They are beautiful animals. I had no problem feeding them. They took everything I offered. From my experience it helps if they are located in a light current. You can even train them, so they stay open during day hours.

 

[laga77]

Oh boy, I had a black sun with 30+ heads and nobody wanted to have it. Finally I sold it for $20. They are beautiful animals. I had no problem feeding them. They took everything I offered. From my experience it helps if they are located in a light current. You can even train them, so they stay open during day hours.

Simply beautiful!

 

[Qckwzrd]

Wow! And is an amazing looking coral, would have give you at least $25 for it j/k

 

[homer1475]

Oh boy, I had a black sun with 30+ heads and nobody wanted to have it. Finally I sold it for $20. They are beautiful animals. I had no problem feeding them. They took everything I offered. From my experience it helps if they are located in a light current. You can even train them, so they stay open during day hours.

Simply amazing NPS, but not sure I would call that species black? Mine is pure black and branching like Laga's. Thanks for sharing either way.

 

[Saxman7]

Oh boy, I had a black sun with 30+ heads and nobody wanted to have it. Finally I sold it for $20. They are beautiful animals. I had no problem feeding them. They took everything I offered. From my experience it helps if they are located in a light current. You can even train them, so they stay open during day hours.

i'm Loving the PE your suns are getting, I finally was able to get some Micrantha my home tank. How did you mount/make the structure they are on in the tank??

 

[Hermannsae]

In the display tank I had them glued to an overhanging rock.
This picture shows them in the refugium, I simply had them with cable ties on a stick which was laying on top of the tank. The whole colony was swaying in the current. Apparently they liked that!

 

[Saxman7]

In the display tank I had them glued to an overhanging rock.
This picture shows them in the refugium, I simply had them with cable ties on a stick which was laying on top of the tank. The whole colony was swaying in the current. Apparently they liked that!

That's Awesome! I'm gonna try this soon it seems like they love it too. I have a cool Idea I came up with from seeing what you did. it will be in my next build thread

 

[Saxman7]

Didn't get to post this earlier but here were mine after a couple days and working on them for 2 nights. In comparison to my other suns the heads on these are huge, like the size of blanos.

 

[Hermannsae]

Looking good and good luck with them!

 

[Member No. 1]

Tagging along, I have had great success with a orange sun coral my LFS was trying to kill. It's doing nicely now, new heads coming in. So I figured I'd give a black one a shot.
Picked this up yesterday, $40 not bad I thought. Hope to get it feeding in the next few days.

 

[Member No. 1]

An update.
Have had this for two days, was able to get a few heads to take food. They swelled up pretty good. I'll continue to feed daily until they all open and then cut back to 2-3 times a week.

 

[rt67ghy]

If you can try to feed it every alternate day for good growth.