Help with Sun Coral

[annabelseymour]

Hi

I have had this sun coral for a couple of weeks. It never seems to come out completely. The 2 ends come out fully and take shrimp when I feed directly, but no matter what/how I try to feed the polyps in the middle they don't appear to take anything or come out fully.

The coral is kept in a reasonably flow but away from direct light near the bottom of the tank. I turn the powerheads off and syringe food directly onto the coral but as I said it is only the polyps at the two ends that take anything.

I add copepods to the tank weekly and I also add reef energy.

Has anyone got any suggestions? I am fairly new to LPS but I do have a torch coral and a duncan coral that are both doing well.

 

[cichlid nutz]

Sun Corals are non-photosynthetic so light placement does not matter.
They are also typically nocturnal so they may hardly ever come out during "lights on"
In nature, they tend to attach just inside caves or under coral structures where thay can have nutrients wash across them.

At least you are feeding them. Most LFS don't even tell the purchaser that.

 

[fishcraze_1]

Have you tried using zo-plan. Just be patient. It will open. But like Mark said. Usually at night.

 

[annabelseymour]

Thanks - will try that. All the lights are out but it's still not opening fully - I'll be patient!!!

 

[Allmost]

remove the colony, everynight around the same time, place in a small container with tank water.
mix Cyclopeze with mysis, thaw, and pure some of the "juice" in the container over the coral.

wait 15 mins, then feed all the mouths, polyps open or not.

give it 15-20 mins, then place it back in tank. if you have new SW, replace the water, if not, just drain it without the uneaten mysis.

some polyps just dont have energy to open and "hunt" this way they get their energy fix.

after a couple of times of doing this, when time comes, just put some cyclopeze in water, it should open and be ready for feeding, at which time u can feed it mysis. if not, continue the above steps.

I have had sun corals 70% dead, coming back within weeks this way.

[then when u have ppl over, just put some cyclopeze in the tank to show off your fully open Sun coral ]

 

[annabelseymour]

REALLY helpful thanks. Really struggle to get cyclopeze in UK but will go on a mission tomorrow!

 

[charliet21]

Set ur alarm for 2 am and grab a flash light! If u keep ur water a little diirty and feed tank daily witj mysis, i would glue it to the under see of a rocj where is dark.

Gotta be smarter then the coral!

 

[Mark9]

I feed my other corals first.
The sun corals "sense" the food in the water and come out after about 15 minutes or so.
I then feed them.

Maybe yours are just not hungry?

Anyways, I think this the wrong thread for sun corals.
Try
Non-Photosynthetic Corals

 

[annabelseymour]

Thanks - yes it does seem more relevant!!

 

[Allmost]

they dont care for light ... once they are used to feeding and regain their AA, they will open most day long.

dirty water, will not allow them to open, as they wont be able to "taste" food. same with yellow water, which is why its so important to have GAC running.

 

[charliet21]

Well mine are open mostt of the time i dont target feed. I turn off pump amd throw a bunch of live brine in and let everyone and everything have at it. But thats me

 

[annabelseymour]

I do notice them come out a bit after I feed my fish no matter how much light and the two ends will come out fully. Have been unable to get Cyclop-were yet as the few places that sell it are out of stock - am still searching though!!!

 

[Allmost]

Well mine are open mostt of the time i dont target feed. I turn off pump amd throw a bunch of live brine in and let everyone and everything have at it. But thats me

lol and how long has that been ?

Sun coral is a well documented specie, its not a guess thing ... and its not about you or me.
some more info on the specie : http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/12/corals

 

[annabelseymour]

Have been trying to get cyclopeeze since I got coral as I read that they liked it but no success - someone is selling a pot on eBay buy the want over £1000 - I don't love my coral that much!!!!! Is there a similar product. Thanks for the extra reading - try to read as much as possible.

 

[Allmost]

oh wow no it should be like 20 bucks.

you could try different zooplanktons you can find locally.

 

[Mark9]

Have been trying to get cyclopeeze since I got coral as I read that they liked it but no success - someone is selling a pot on eBay buy the want over £1000 - I don't love my coral that much!!!!! Is there a similar product. Thanks for the extra reading - try to read as much as possible.

I just take some of what i'm feeding the fish and chop it up finer, one day Larry's reef frenzy, the next pe mysis.
They don't seem fussy to me.
It helps to feed the fish first though, they will try to steal the coral's food.
I used to view feeding corals a chore, but i actually enjoy it now, watching them take the food.

 

[charliet21]

Removed.

 

[charliet21]

Have been trying to get cyclopeeze since I got coral as I read that they liked it but no success - someone is selling a pot on eBay buy the want over £1000 - I don't love my coral that much!!!!! Is there a similar product. Thanks for the extra reading - try to read as much as possible.

Try zo- plan or reef chille bith work good. And move to a high flow area. But not direct flow

 

[Mark9]

Are yours in direct light?
i put mine under an overhanging rock.
They seemed to like it alot better not being in direct light.
They generally come out most of the time, except for the largest one, he's being difficult, only opens when he senses food, or the lights dim.

Ignore the cyano, i'm currently in battle.

 

[annabelseymour]

Have ordered some zoplan!! Have moved it into a slightly stronger flow - in a low light but it always has been and doesn't seem to mind the light. Definitely looking better and coming out more. I turn the powerheads off to feed as well.