Sun Coral (Tubastrea): Black

The Sun Coral, Tubastrea micrantha, is a unique yet beautiful coral species. Coloration can vary from red, orange, yellow or black. The Sun Coral requires targeted feeding and needs to be target fed every other day. For this reason, it is recommended for experienced aquarists only. Usually nocturnal, it will sometimes feed during the day. The Sun Coral can be fed using a pipette, syringe or turkey baster, and can be trained like this to be fed with the lights on. It is advisable to soak the food in reef supplements and vitamins that helps in maintaining a high level of nutrition. T. micrantha is generally not suitable for most community tanks, where insufficient food or too much light is provided. It is possible to breed the Sun Coral in captivity and needs high-current areas, where they reproduce in an asexual manner by generating a small yellow polyp in various areas around the tank. The Sun Coral is peaceful towards other marine aquarium specimens and is colonial in nature. It thrives well in a temperature range of 72-78 degree Fahrenheit, and with pH of 8.10-8.40. It can be placed on some substrate, such as cave or shielded rocky area at the bottom of the aquarium, and opens up after settling down properly in your reef tank.