I recently purchased a 28g nanocube and am looking into keeping some sun coral, however the tank comes with a 150W MH lighting system. It is my understanding that this light would be too strong for a sun coral unless it was sheltered from direct exposure. I have two questions the first is would it be possible to keep the sun coral in this tank successfully? Second, does anyone know the range of light intensity that sun coral grow in or have a referance for one?
Sun coral lighting
- Thread starter Matt711
- Start date
Here is link to sun corals at the shores of Brazil , with temperature and desiccation tolerances, they have them at very shallow depths.
Daniela Stettler tank, sps and tubastrea together: pdf presentation, details, more.
My sun corals are in low light tank, no personal experience with high light.
Daniela Stettler tank, sps and tubastrea together: pdf presentation, details, more.
My sun corals are in low light tank, no personal experience with high light.
Sun coral
Sun coral
I have sun corals in both of my tanks... both are MH lighted. However, I take care to place the sun corals under overhangs or on the sides of LR away from the direct T% or MH lights. They are thriving.
The above coral started as two heads in October 2007. It is now eights heads and growing... I target feed mini-mysis.
LL
Sun coral
I have sun corals in both of my tanks... both are MH lighted. However, I take care to place the sun corals under overhangs or on the sides of LR away from the direct T% or MH lights. They are thriving.
The above coral started as two heads in October 2007. It is now eights heads and growing... I target feed mini-mysis.
LL
MCsaxmaster
New member
They couldn't care much less about lighting. You can keep the coral right at the waterline right below the bulb and you still wouldn't have light intensity as bright as where you'll sometimes find them in nature.
There are a few reasons you'll sometimes see them under overhangs--from reduced competition to larval settlement preferences to food availablility. They definitely do not NEED to under ledges and such, and you'll very often find them in other places.
There are a few reasons you'll sometimes see them under overhangs--from reduced competition to larval settlement preferences to food availablility. They definitely do not NEED to under ledges and such, and you'll very often find them in other places.
MCsaxmaster,
Sun coral are definitely a lot different then what I originally preceived. It's unfortunate then when I go to my LFS they say one thing, but when I read an actual scientific journal or paper it says the complete opposite. You seem to be right based on the research i've seen sun coral can handle direct sunlight in some cases. By the way, could you recommend a book on coral that focuses more on the actual research done in the wild (I noticed your major)?
Sun coral are definitely a lot different then what I originally preceived. It's unfortunate then when I go to my LFS they say one thing, but when I read an actual scientific journal or paper it says the complete opposite. You seem to be right based on the research i've seen sun coral can handle direct sunlight in some cases. By the way, could you recommend a book on coral that focuses more on the actual research done in the wild (I noticed your major)?
MCsaxmaster
New member
I'd recommend Eric Bornman's book Aquarium Corals as the best on on the subject out there, and a must-have for anyone intending to keep corals. It's a very readable, very good text.
As a note on advice from fish stores: the quality varies, a lot. Unfortunately, my experience has been that some fish store employees are not reliable sources of information, and this can be true even of the very well-meaning. However, there are indeed diamonds in the rough out there. There are some stores that have extremely knowledgable employees whose advice is very good indeed. I worked at a very good store when I was an undergrad. About 1/2 of the saltwater employees when I was there (myself included) have gone on to work in science/marine science professionally. The place attracts good employees because it is a great store.
There are other stores like that out there, but they are the minority, no doubt about it.
As a note on advice from fish stores: the quality varies, a lot. Unfortunately, my experience has been that some fish store employees are not reliable sources of information, and this can be true even of the very well-meaning. However, there are indeed diamonds in the rough out there. There are some stores that have extremely knowledgable employees whose advice is very good indeed. I worked at a very good store when I was an undergrad. About 1/2 of the saltwater employees when I was there (myself included) have gone on to work in science/marine science professionally. The place attracts good employees because it is a great store.
There are other stores like that out there, but they are the minority, no doubt about it.
Anteverius
New member
IME, the sun coral i have seemed to lose some of its color when not placed in a shady spot. it still opened up, but wasnt as brightly colored. i now have moved it back to its cave and it is back to full coloration. the only possible problem i can see with placing it in a nano is the amount of food they require. mine likes to eat alot, and it takes a good bit of food. it is pretty large though (40-45 polyps)
mollymonticello
Member
From what I understand, since sun corals are azooxanthellate, they don't "bleach" under bright light. There have been some reports of these corals losing color if not given foods high in color pigments (like cyclops). But, I have noticed that all of the sun coral "babies" that I have in my tank survive best in the shade. And algae often overgrow these corals and kill them. Algae is one of the sun coral's biggest enemies.
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