Lighting for Black Sun coral, ubastraea micrantha

[jasonrusso]

My local coral guy has a dark green sun coral that is really cool. I looked up the lighting requirements and Live Aquaria says low light. The coral is also non-photosynthetic. Does this mean that it CANNOT survive in moderate light? I have a spot front and center that was left vacant by my trachy that was getting too much light.

So I see that it does not REQUIRE high light, but will it survive under moderate light? Will it care?

 

[Crabs McJones]

My local coral guy has a dark green sun coral that is really cool. I looked up the lighting requirements and Live Aquaria says low light. The coral is also non-photosynthetic. Does this mean that it CANNOT survive in moderate light? I have a spot front and center that was left vacant by my trachy that was getting too much light.

So I see that it does not REQUIRE high light, but will it survive under moderate light? Will it care?

Non photosynthetic means that the coral does not have the symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae within it to utilize the light to produce food for the coral. So you'll have to manually feed the coral. Not sure the effect of putting one under moderate to high light though, most people put them in shaded spots. Maybe someone from #reefsquad has one and can provide more input?

 

[jasonrusso]

Non photosynthetic means that the coral does not have the symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae within it to utilize the light to produce food for the coral. So you'll have to manually feed the coral. Not sure the effect of putting one under moderate to high light though, most people put them in shaded spots. Maybe someone from #reefsquad has one and can provide more input?

Yes, I understand that, lol. I just don't know if it's harmful. Is it kind of like yelling in a deaf guys ear?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Think of NPS or non photosynthetic coral as the feeding polyps of LPS. Zooxanthellae in normal photosynthetic coral act as a sunscreen. Without zoox, the polyps will burn from UV rays. Since this coral does have some fluorescent proteins, it would look best under low shaded light. Probably wouldn't provide it with more than 60-80 par respectively.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Yes, I understand that, lol. I just don't know if it's harmful. Is it kind of like yelling in a deaf guys ear?

;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious
Good analogy lol!
I'm hoping one of the other reefsquad memebers that has one can chime in. Being that it doesn't utilize the light, I am unsure if higher light will effect it.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have all my nps high up on the rock in med to high flow. At about 3-400 par.

Mostly I did it for flow ,as I think thats key (if you’re blind , you use your nose and touch, no?)

When I loooked up the black sun corals in the wild , they were right next to the other corals, not deep , and you could see the sun at the surface. So I went with that.

Is it bad ? Dunno. My black sun was a rescue and there all slow growers. The they come out every evening , and the dendros next to them are popping new heads.

 

[jasonrusso]

I have all my nps high up on the rock in med to high flow. At about 3-400 par.

Mostly I did it for flow ,as I think thats key (if you’re blind , you use your nose and touch, no?)

When I loooked up the black sun corals in the wild , they were right next to the other corals, not deep , and you could see the sun at the surface. So I went with that.

Is it bad ? Dunno. My black sun was a rescue and there all slow growers. The they come out every evening , and the dendros next to them are popping new heads.

Think of NPS or non photosynthetic coral as the feeding polyps of LPS. Zooxanthellae in normal photosynthetic coral act as a sunscreen. Without zoox, the polyps will burn from UV rays. Since this coral does have some fluorescent proteins, it would look best under low shaded light. Probably wouldn't provide it with more than 60-80 par respectively.

So one for low light, one for high light. Ugh, this is confusing.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I have all my nps high up on the rock in med to high flow. At about 3-400 par.

Mostly I did it for flow ,as I think thats key (if you’re blind , you use your nose and touch, no?)

When I loooked up the black sun corals in the wild , they were right next to the other corals, not deep , and you could see the sun at the surface. So I went with that.

Is it bad ? Dunno. My black sun was a rescue and there all slow growers. The they come out every evening , and the dendros next to them are popping new heads.

What if I told you the polyps could be out during the day?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So one for low light, one for high light. Ugh, this is confusing.

Basically , move it around.

I’ll defer to M.R. Delbeek.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What if I told you the polyps could be out during the day?

The dendros are , the black sun sometimes.

What ya got?

 

[JCM]

I don' know what a reefsquad is, but sun corals are fine out in medium light. Obviously they won't utilize that light to grow, as you already know but the light won't hurt it.

And reeferfoxx is right, they can certainly open during the day. Just feed it during the day and it will learn quickly.

 

[reeferfoxx]

The dendros are , the black sun sometimes.

What ya got?

I guess research doesnt amount to anything?

I say it blast it with par and get the flash light out at night
https://reefbuilders.com/2012/10/10/tubastrea-micrantha/#

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I guess research doesnt amount to anything?

I say it blast it with par and get the flash light out at night
https://reefbuilders.com/2012/10/10/tubastrea-micrantha/#

What I haven’t found in articles like this is the why its more sensitive or the basis for this hypothesis. Im def open but....

Myself no having a high flow low light spot , I had to just go with what I had. Lol.

 

[LagunaGlide]

I have a friend who has a normal sun coral and it gets moderate light and is fine. From my understanding success with these really just relies on feeding it regularly. Like each head every day

 

[reeferfoxx]

What I haven’t found in articles like this is the why its more sensitive or the basis for this hypothesis. Im def open but....

Myself no having a high flow low light spot , I had to just go with what I had. Lol.

Salty, put on a black sweatshirt, black pants with a green ball cap, and drive out to Santee or Lakeside on a 85-90 day and just stand in the sunlight all day. Or drive out there with just a pair of shorts and no sunscreen. Is my logic skewed here?

I thought the articles about symbiotic zoox explained its purpose and how some corals dont share the relationship? Am I wrong here?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I don' know what a reefsquad is, but sun corals are fine out in medium light. Obviously they won't utilize that light to grow, as you already know but the light won't hurt it.

And reeferfoxx is right, they can certainly open during the day. Just feed it during the day and it will learn quickly.

Reefsquad is a group of members on the forum that are dedicated to assisting other reefers with questions, insight, as well as welcoming new members.

 

[JCM]

Reefsquad is a group of members on the forum that are dedicated to assisting other reefers with questions, insight, as well as welcoming new members.

Thanks for the explanation! I've been a member of another large reef forum for over a decade but I'm new here. I'm still learning how everything works here

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thanks for the explanation! I've been a member of another large reef forum for over a decade but I'm new here. I'm still learning how everything works here

Not a problem

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Reefsquad is a group of members on the forum that are dedicated to assisting other reefers with questions, insight, as well as welcoming new members.

Ie hardcore addicts.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ie hardcore addicts.

More addicting then drugs! Who am I kidding, Reefing is my drug! ;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious