Black Sun Coral!

Dannyboy17 · 05/07/2006, 09:50 PM

So I bought an Orange Sunny, and two Black Sunny frags the other day. The Orange is starting to open up during feedings, but the black isnt opening at all. What could the problem be?

Ive got pics if they are required.

Chelsey · 05/08/2006, 12:12 AM

Black sun corals are generally difficult to keep, they don't usually do too well in captivity, at least IME. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Dannyboy17 · 05/08/2006, 12:22 AM

Couldnt agree more!

I have a feeling they will die...what are early signs of bleaching with these guys? They seem alright to me, at this point.

Freed · 05/08/2006, 12:36 AM

It may take a very long time for the feeding tentacles to come out but don't give up, they will. They are very dark green if you look closely. And so are the polyps. Not black. Give it at least a week with daily squirts of juice from the food you intend to feed it. They will open up eventually.

Dannyboy17 · 05/08/2006, 12:46 AM

Thanks a lot Freed, that gave me a lot of confidence with these guys! The Orange ones still havent completely extended, but they seem to get closer with every feeding. Are they the same way, just an expedited version?

BTW, I just read that these guys will not eat if there are Nitrates present in the water. Is this true? Mine are somewhere under 10, but above 0. Could this be part of the problem?

My tank is filled with Macro, and I will be adding a Berlin Hang On skimmer this week (10g tank), but I'd hate to lose them because of this problem. It seems impossible to keep them that low with so much feeding.

Freed · 05/08/2006, 06:23 AM

They'll eat no matter the nitrates. Just feed each and every polyp and they will be fine.

Dannyboy17 · 05/08/2006, 09:05 AM

Cheers Freed!

Javeo · 05/08/2006, 04:11 PM

I found the black ones as easy to keep as the orange, easier actually since my black sun stayed open most of the time. There are no signs of "bleaching" as they dont have zooxanthellea to lose! They just slowly waste away and die.
I gave them away though as both require too much feeding and I was having cyano. problems. make sure you feed at least every other day! Lots of mysis

Dannyboy17 · 05/08/2006, 04:42 PM

Heres what they looked like when I bought them, will get more pics of them tonight while feeding:

Freed · 05/08/2006, 05:44 PM

You can have just as much success with the black as you can the orange. Feed, Feed, Feed

Dannyboy17 · 05/08/2006, 05:46 PM

The subscribe feature really comes in handy on here!

And they will eat with the lights on right? I want to keep the lights on until about 11, but I suaully feed around 8.

Freed · 05/08/2006, 05:48 PM

Yes, you can "train" them to come out within minutes if you feed around the same time each time you feed.

Dannyboy17 · 05/08/2006, 06:55 PM

K, thats what Im aiming for. Thanks Freed!

Dannyboy17 · 05/08/2006, 09:53 PM

Got the Orange one eating tonight! Not fully extended but oh well:

Black ones havent opened at all yet...a bit worried, but Ive only had them 4 days, so I guess I should give it atleast a week. Feeding daily.

Dannyboy17 · 05/11/2006, 05:28 AM

Black ones still havent opened

Javeo · 05/11/2006, 04:54 PM

Move it into a shadier spot, more flow and try using cyclopeeze.

Freed · 05/11/2006, 05:21 PM

Trust me, they'll open. Squirt the juice/water from the mysis at them every day and they will start to come out and play. You can even hold a tiny mysis on each individual closed polyp and they will pull it in albeit slowly. Takes quite a while so be patient.

Dannyboy17 · 05/11/2006, 07:12 PM

Ok, I will admit they arent in shade, but my lights are only NO Flourescents. If I drizzle them with phyto, will they eat some even tho they dont open? I think one of the problems is that they stick out off the rock, so its hard to get the mysis to stick right on the polyp.

Freed · 05/11/2006, 07:27 PM

The only way they'll eat if they are not open is if a piece lands directly on the opening of the polyp and the current doesn't carry it away and it can grab hold of it. You can try holding the food right smack dab at the opening so it is touching the retracted polyp.

Dannyboy17 · 05/11/2006, 07:29 PM

Will try that tonight

Dannyboy17 · 05/11/2006, 07:53 PM

THEY ATE! The Black ones ate! Thanks a lot Freed, I held it right up to the poly, and the mouth came out and took it. No extension yet, but hey, aslong as they eat. Will the mouths eat phyto?

Freed · 05/11/2006, 10:49 PM

Don't know. Don't know what phyto is.

Dannyboy17 · 05/11/2006, 10:52 PM

Wow good timing, just got the email before bed. Phytoplankton, like tiny plankton creatures, very small tho. Im not sure if the sunnies can only consume meaty foods.

Freed · 05/11/2006, 10:53 PM

Meaty would be best. More protein and all that good stuff. Mysis would be best.

Dannyboy17 · 05/11/2006, 10:57 PM

Ok, I'll stick to that then! I might use the phyto on non-feeding days (every other day...well Ive been feeding everyday because I enjoy it, but I assume that will slow down).

Hopefully the black ones will help me out a little by extending one of these days. The Orange guys, thier tubes get longer with every feeding, Im guessing that means they are becoming more comfortable and will start exapnding more and more...I noticed a couple new heads open everyday.

05/07/2006, 09:50 PM	#1
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Black Sun Coral! So I bought an Orange Sunny, and two Black Sunny frags the other day. The Orange is starting to open up during feedings, but the black isnt opening at all. What could the problem be? Ive got pics if they are required.

05/08/2006, 12:12 AM	#2
Chelsey Clownfish Addict Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,028	Black sun corals are generally difficult to keep, they don't usually do too well in captivity, at least IME. Hopefully I'm wrong. __________________ Always bear in mind your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. Current Tank Info: 100 gallon cube, 28 gallon snowflake tank, 2500 gallon broodstock system

05/08/2006, 12:36 AM	#4
Freed DammItImmaD Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 0' N 85° 12' W Posts: 7,757	It may take a very long time for the feeding tentacles to come out but don't give up, they will. They are very dark green if you look closely. And so are the polyps. Not black. Give it at least a week with daily squirts of juice from the food you intend to feed it. They will open up eventually. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

05/08/2006, 06:23 AM	#6
Freed DammItImmaD Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 0' N 85° 12' W Posts: 7,757	They'll eat no matter the nitrates. Just feed each and every polyp and they will be fine. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

05/08/2006, 04:11 PM	#8
Javeo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: England Posts: 739	I found the black ones as easy to keep as the orange, easier actually since my black sun stayed open most of the time. There are no signs of "bleaching" as they dont have zooxanthellea to lose! They just slowly waste away and die. I gave them away though as both require too much feeding and I was having cyano. problems. make sure you feed at least every other day! Lots of mysis __________________ Be to this world as a perfect knight, even if it means your life Current Tank Info: 400lt. 50kg/LR. 5cm sandbed. 234w EHO T5

05/08/2006, 12:22 AM	#3
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Couldnt agree more! I have a feeling they will die...what are early signs of bleaching with these guys? They seem alright to me, at this point.

05/08/2006, 12:46 AM	#5
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Thanks a lot Freed, that gave me a lot of confidence with these guys! The Orange ones still havent completely extended, but they seem to get closer with every feeding. Are they the same way, just an expedited version? BTW, I just read that these guys will not eat if there are Nitrates present in the water. Is this true? Mine are somewhere under 10, but above 0. Could this be part of the problem? My tank is filled with Macro, and I will be adding a Berlin Hang On skimmer this week (10g tank), but I'd hate to lose them because of this problem. It seems impossible to keep them that low with so much feeding.

05/08/2006, 09:05 AM	#7
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Cheers Freed!

05/08/2006, 04:42 PM	#9
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Heres what they looked like when I bought them, will get more pics of them tonight while feeding:

05/08/2006, 05:44 PM	#10
Freed DammItImmaD Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 0' N 85° 12' W Posts: 7,757	You can have just as much success with the black as you can the orange. Feed, Feed, Feed __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

05/08/2006, 05:46 PM	#11
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	The subscribe feature really comes in handy on here! And they will eat with the lights on right? I want to keep the lights on until about 11, but I suaully feed around 8.

05/08/2006, 05:48 PM	#12
Freed DammItImmaD Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 0' N 85° 12' W Posts: 7,757	Yes, you can "train" them to come out within minutes if you feed around the same time each time you feed. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

05/08/2006, 06:55 PM	#13
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	K, thats what Im aiming for. Thanks Freed!

05/08/2006, 09:53 PM	#14
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Got the Orange one eating tonight! Not fully extended but oh well: Black ones havent opened at all yet...a bit worried, but Ive only had them 4 days, so I guess I should give it atleast a week. Feeding daily.

05/11/2006, 05:28 AM	#15
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Black ones still havent opened

05/11/2006, 04:54 PM	#16
Javeo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: England Posts: 739	Move it into a shadier spot, more flow and try using cyclopeeze. __________________ Be to this world as a perfect knight, even if it means your life Current Tank Info: 400lt. 50kg/LR. 5cm sandbed. 234w EHO T5

05/11/2006, 05:21 PM	#17
Freed DammItImmaD Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 0' N 85° 12' W Posts: 7,757	Trust me, they'll open. Squirt the juice/water from the mysis at them every day and they will start to come out and play. You can even hold a tiny mysis on each individual closed polyp and they will pull it in albeit slowly. Takes quite a while so be patient. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

05/11/2006, 07:12 PM	#18
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Ok, I will admit they arent in shade, but my lights are only NO Flourescents. If I drizzle them with phyto, will they eat some even tho they dont open? I think one of the problems is that they stick out off the rock, so its hard to get the mysis to stick right on the polyp.

05/11/2006, 07:27 PM	#19
Freed DammItImmaD Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 0' N 85° 12' W Posts: 7,757	The only way they'll eat if they are not open is if a piece lands directly on the opening of the polyp and the current doesn't carry it away and it can grab hold of it. You can try holding the food right smack dab at the opening so it is touching the retracted polyp. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

05/11/2006, 07:29 PM	#20
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Will try that tonight

05/11/2006, 07:53 PM	#21
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	THEY ATE! The Black ones ate! Thanks a lot Freed, I held it right up to the poly, and the mouth came out and took it. No extension yet, but hey, aslong as they eat. Will the mouths eat phyto?

05/11/2006, 10:49 PM	#22
Freed DammItImmaD Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 0' N 85° 12' W Posts: 7,757	Don't know. Don't know what phyto is. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

05/11/2006, 10:52 PM	#23
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Wow good timing, just got the email before bed. Phytoplankton, like tiny plankton creatures, very small tho. Im not sure if the sunnies can only consume meaty foods.

05/11/2006, 10:53 PM	#24
Freed DammItImmaD Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 0' N 85° 12' W Posts: 7,757	Meaty would be best. More protein and all that good stuff. Mysis would be best. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

05/11/2006, 10:57 PM	#25
Dannyboy17 Coconut Bangers Ball Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pineville, PA Posts: 570	Ok, I'll stick to that then! I might use the phyto on non-feeding days (every other day...well Ive been feeding everyday because I enjoy it, but I assume that will slow down). Hopefully the black ones will help me out a little by extending one of these days. The Orange guys, thier tubes get longer with every feeding, Im guessing that means they are becoming more comfortable and will start exapnding more and more...I noticed a couple new heads open everyday.