Sun Coral not opening.

nc2tarheels · 10/17/2006, 05:59 PM

I know the ordeal. Wait and it'll open. I know that it doesn't require light (i've got it under a ledge). But i've had this thing for a week and it won't open. What gives???

rsxs1212 · 10/17/2006, 07:09 PM

ive never had them but try putting some little pieces of chopped silverside or shrimp by them to kind of coax them to open up

musty baby · 10/18/2006, 12:36 AM

have you checked it in the middle of the night?

sufunk · 10/18/2006, 08:21 AM

You need to try and feed it, you cant just wait for it to open. Try putting a little frozen cyclopeeze or a few drops of selcon/zoecon in the tank. That should make it open and then you can feed it. Try something meaty. I use a mix of finely chopped shrimp, scallop, mussels, clam and squidd.

ozman3803 · 10/18/2006, 08:43 AM

I actually got one last weekend and it has been opening up at night. I have started feeding it during the day and withing 15 min or so they start opening up to feed. I guess you can train them to open up during the day as long as you keep a pretty good feeding schedule.

oldsaltman · 10/18/2006, 08:57 AM

Mine is also under a ledge, but it only opens after lights off unless I feed it something. It stays open most all night.

Chelsey · 10/18/2006, 10:59 AM

Frozen cyclopeeze is your best bet. Mine open like clockwork but to get them to do that I've had to feed cyclopeeze regularly and then feed squid/mysis/silversides. I got two new colonies almost a week ago and they're just now learning when to open...usually they open just as I'm getting done feeding the other colonies.

Earl45 · 10/18/2006, 04:32 PM

How often do you guys feed your sun coral, and how often is too often?

jessp · 10/18/2006, 06:49 PM

three times a week is the max my tank can take. gotta keep the excess nutrients down. i just feed the tank including fish three times a week. my acans, blastos and other lps also indulge.

homesidereef · 10/18/2006, 07:37 PM

I have tubastraea (sun coral) spread out in various places in tank.
I've had very good results with these beutiful corals. I place
mine in high flow (not direct powerhead flow!!!!!) Low light areas.
some come out only at night..and some don't care, as long
as they smell food! I feed enriched live brine, or baby mysis
twice a week

this old colony is always open ,sorry bad pics from last night!

nc2tarheels · 10/18/2006, 08:18 PM

i actually have it in a bowl outside of the tank. I just now took it out of the tank and into a bowl and put some zooplankton in there. Mixed it up and I can tell it's wanting to but the "feathers" haven't came out. It looks as if the mouth is open slightly. That's all. I have some shrimp that I was gonna feed it but should I wait til if fully opens or go ahead and put it in the bowl with it?

homesidereef · 10/18/2006, 10:58 PM

it takes patience!!

Brian5280 · 10/27/2006, 04:10 PM

I have my sun coral right out in bright light on the sand bed. When I want to feed it, I take a 20 coke bottle with the bottom cut off and put it over the coral, then I use a turkey bastor to blast it with food. You might want to give that a try.

10/17/2006, 05:59 PM	#1
nc2tarheels Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 112	Sun Coral not opening. I know the ordeal. Wait and it'll open. I know that it doesn't require light (i've got it under a ledge). But i've had this thing for a week and it won't open. What gives???

10/17/2006, 07:09 PM	#2
rsxs1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bradenton Posts: 1,148	ive never had them but try putting some little pieces of chopped silverside or shrimp by them to kind of coax them to open up __________________ 60% of the time it works every time Current Tank Info: 75g RR,asm g3, eheim 1250, 2 1200's one highflow maxistream mod (may do another or med flow.) , 30g sump,fuge, 4x54 T5 lighting SLR reflectors, RO/DI top off, 20L FOWLR, 10 g prop/sps dedicated

10/18/2006, 08:57 AM	#6
oldsaltman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 1,333	Mine is also under a ledge, but it only opens after lights off unless I feed it something. It stays open most all night. __________________ "No honey I can't just send it back. It's all wet and they won't take it back now!" Current Tank Info: 90g inwall with a 30g sump

10/18/2006, 10:59 AM	#7
Chelsey Clownfish Addict Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,031	Frozen cyclopeeze is your best bet. Mine open like clockwork but to get them to do that I've had to feed cyclopeeze regularly and then feed squid/mysis/silversides. I got two new colonies almost a week ago and they're just now learning when to open...usually they open just as I'm getting done feeding the other colonies. __________________ 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

10/18/2006, 06:49 PM	#9
jessp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Miami Posts: 2,747	three times a week is the max my tank can take. gotta keep the excess nutrients down. i just feed the tank including fish three times a week. my acans, blastos and other lps also indulge. __________________ i'm jess and i'm an addict! Current Tank Info: No tank at this time :(

10/18/2006, 12:36 AM	#3
musty baby Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: over yonder Posts: 1,751	have you checked it in the middle of the night?

10/18/2006, 08:21 AM	#4
sufunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Davie, Florida Posts: 2,004	You need to try and feed it, you cant just wait for it to open. Try putting a little frozen cyclopeeze or a few drops of selcon/zoecon in the tank. That should make it open and then you can feed it. Try something meaty. I use a mix of finely chopped shrimp, scallop, mussels, clam and squidd.

10/18/2006, 08:43 AM	#5
ozman3803 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: lincoln, ne Posts: 242	I actually got one last weekend and it has been opening up at night. I have started feeding it during the day and withing 15 min or so they start opening up to feed. I guess you can train them to open up during the day as long as you keep a pretty good feeding schedule.

10/18/2006, 04:32 PM	#8
Earl45 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 139	How often do you guys feed your sun coral, and how often is too often?

10/18/2006, 07:37 PM	#10
homesidereef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: LOS ANGELES,CA Posts: 158	my suns I have tubastraea (sun coral) spread out in various places in tank. I've had very good results with these beutiful corals. I place mine in high flow (not direct powerhead flow!!!!!) Low light areas. some come out only at night..and some don't care, as long as they smell food! I feed enriched live brine, or baby mysis twice a week this old colony is always open ,sorry bad pics from last night!

10/18/2006, 08:18 PM	#11
nc2tarheels Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 112	i actually have it in a bowl outside of the tank. I just now took it out of the tank and into a bowl and put some zooplankton in there. Mixed it up and I can tell it's wanting to but the "feathers" haven't came out. It looks as if the mouth is open slightly. That's all. I have some shrimp that I was gonna feed it but should I wait til if fully opens or go ahead and put it in the bowl with it?

10/18/2006, 10:58 PM	#12
homesidereef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: LOS ANGELES,CA Posts: 158	it takes patience!! __________________ Balanced on the biggest wave, you race towards an early grave.... Current Tank Info: 60 gal, 20 gal sump, 20 gal eco system refuge, 220 gal skimmer, phosphate reactor, 18w uv sterilzer,1/10hp chiller, tunze streem 6100 with controler,two overflows, squid return on 1400 hh quite one pump, two 150w 14k hqi two 96w actinc

10/27/2006, 04:10 PM	#13
Brian5280 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Denver Posts: 182	I have my sun coral right out in bright light on the sand bed. When I want to feed it, I take a 20 coke bottle with the bottom cut off and put it over the coral, then I use a turkey bastor to blast it with food. You might want to give that a try.