The sun in the tank

[vetteguy53081]

The sun is referring to sun corals. We dont see many of them in tanks like we used to. Often they are orange or yellow in color, while some are black and even green. They dont have zooxanthellae within them and therefore require very little light and target feeding for best success using a pipette with brine or mysis shrimp. At this points the short but colorful tentacles appear. Powdered foods are also good first foods and should be dropped over them with flow temporarily suspended.
Feeding takes time and patience as they are slow feeders and again prefer low to no light when fed but can slowly be trained to feed in low light. They also are not fans of tank with elevated phosphate which may answer why we rarely see them ?

How many have these corals?
Do you find them challenging or easier than you thought?
What and how do you feed them?

Pics?

 

[blaxsun]

I have (or had) one, but it's been slowly declining over the past year. Some heads are still hanging on but I don't think I have it in the ideal location. I've been feeding it calanus, brine and mysis.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have (or had) one, but it's been slowly declining over the past year. Some heads are still hanging on but I don't think I have it in the ideal location. I've been feeding it calanus, brine and mysis.

They can be challenging

 

[Pickle_soup]

Had some, and I wanted to buy more, but I have read that they require pretty much constant feeding in order to keep them alive long term.

 

[PeterErc]

I had some long ago, they actually spawned but none of the babies survived.
I found it easier to feed them by putting a container with a hole in it over the colony. Blow some food in with a turkey baster and stir it up if food settles and coral is still showing feeding response. The container kept fish from picking out the food as well.
Awesome additions if their needs are met. If not willing to commit let them waste away somewhere else.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Had some, and I wanted to buy more, but I have read that they require pretty much constant feeding in order to keep them alive long term.

Not sure about constant but definitely daily feedings

 

[Lemons]

I used to have a few NP corals, i got them to spawn a few times! I found daily feeding was what got them to grow the fastest.

But it all went down hill when i got bryopsis and my nutrients spiked when i fluxed it ))

Still loved playing eye spy finding all the little orange babies everywhere lol

 

[Steve H]

Picture on the left is from 9/2011 and the picture on the right is from 9/2014 (system was broken down soon thereafter). They are really not that challenging, don’t require low light, don’t require constant feeds (1x daily is ideal), and do fine with elevated phosphate.