sun coral

[total*clowns]

This sin't a question or an answer,(as yet anyway) just me showing off really !!!

I bought my first Sun coral today, wow worth the wait, it's fantastic, love it !!! Defo recommended !! anyone else got one ???

[Blue]

a truly beautiful coral. but if you don't already know - make sure that you spot feed this coral regularly as if not then this coral does not do so well. cyclopeeze is a good food for them. the best time to feed them(i have found) is the last fish feed you do before the lights go out. you will see that the polyps should all be extended roughly 5 minutes after the feeding of your fish.this way you can spot feed with either a syringe or a turkey baster.
this is just my advice. regards chris :wink:

[Coral Cultivations]

Nice post Chris

If you are prepared to spend the time to ensure these corals are kept well fed then they are superb animals, and can grow quite quickly in suitable conditions.

Sadly most people don't either have the time or make the effort to look after them properly, and they gradually starve to death.

Steve

[total*clowns]

:) thanks Chris, great advice on the feeding side of things, it has started to extend tonight just at lights out time, so I'm hoping tomorrow will be the first feeding time for the little lovely, got my big shringe all ready and waiting too !! Ohhhh the excitment !! I'm worse then the kids !!!! :-D

[Coral Cultivations]

Here is a quick tip to reduce pollution in the tank (and a method we used whenever we used to have Sun Corals at the shop):

Mix the food in a bowl of tank water, then remove the coral from the tank and put it in the bowl - as soon as it senses the food in the water it will expand and start pulling it in.

This way the amount of food added to the actual tank is kept to a minimum, and the coral gets plenty of food. I used to use the method for feeding these animals at the shop every night - they soon get used to the routine.

Steve

[total*clowns]

If I done this would they be ok with me puling them about so often ???

[Coral Cultivations]

They soon get used to it - Sun corals will expand as soon as they sense food in the water around them. A lot of hobbyists (and shops) feed their Sun Corals this way.

And, believe it or not hard corals are not as 'fragile' as most people think....

In the right conditions Acropora are one of the toughest corals there is - sps corals ARE the reefs after all!

Steve

[total*clowns]

Thanks Steve, I am on the mission of feeding today, got to wait for the DH to be home though becuase he wants to watch too!! Could i ask how often would you recommend I feed the little guy ???

[liquidlogic]

realy good points raised here learnt alot to

[Wilfy]

You need to feed the coral everynight, so taking it in and out of the tank sounds like a lot of messing about, target feed it in the main tank with some of the food you would normally feed your fish, hence you are adding no more pollution to the tank. Defrosted brine shrimp will be readily accepted but watch out for shrimps as they will steal the food before the coral has time to digest it.

regards

Wilfy

[Wilfy]

Forgot to add, the coral feeds continously on plankton in the ocean so regular feeding is a must.

[tonyponty]

lol hi the shrimps will pinch anything i have one that waits for crabs swapping shells then pounces lol