Frustration, I acclimated, tried to acclimate my Suns to the coral light

[Hammerstone]

And they are upset and not eating right. One of my RFAs isn't eating yet but seems happy with the light. My black Suns are a little pissed but pretty much doing good and so are three of my RFAs, eating and such. I don't think anyone can help me so I'm venting. It makes me feel better. My husband isn't a reefer so I can't bi$&@ to him. Do you think the Suns will ever get used to the bright lights or am I done for. They open on and off all day but then smooshed as far as they can into their houses. I don't have a remote to turn down the intensity but I had algae on my roof so I left it there for a week and then slowly week by week removed the algae as a way to acclimate the Suns. I would like to bang my head against the wall and have a fit, a sad fit.

[Hammerstone]

I just thought of an idea. Do y'all think I could put a square of tin foil above them under the LEDs ?Since its tin foil I don't think it would be an electrical hazard. Their rock is glued to a big rock and I don't have the real estate to move them. Uugh.

[Hard Softy]

Better to vent here than with the spouse

I'm new but someone will help most Ricky tic

[Hammerstone]

Thank you ???

[dpoltsdsu]

Sun Corals are generally nocturnal corals. To have them open up during the day, you need to acclimate the coral to open during the day by slowly starting to feed them more during the day so they don't associate night with food. This is sometimes a slow process and difficult process, however, there are a variety of online threads from individuals that own the coral that have done this successfully.

 

For example

http://aquanerd.com/2010/10/training-sun-polyps-to-stay-open-day-and-night.html

 

Good luck!

[william_payne1]

I put mine in a cave so they won't get any light and started feeding in the morning vs. midnight or so, it took a while to get em there but it's doable just feed em an hour or so later on each feeding untill they are getting fed at the time you want. Just get em out of the light and they should do better.

[Hammerstone]

Can they get used to the light? I've had them a long time but under regular lights.

[jimmyree]

Some good info here, although the last section has some bad news about black suns: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/12/corals

[Hammerstone]

Some good info here, although the last section has some bad news about black suns: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/12/corals

thank you very much for the aricle!!! That was nice of you!!! It's funny, my blacks hav acclimated to the change with grace and the colony has spread over time. They are on the bottom of the tank and their polyps glow bright green. Of course time will tell but I have faith. Strangely it's my orange ones are the sad ones but are up higher. They had become a nice size as well. I have RFAs scattered around on the sand. Tonight they look better than yesterday. I'm cutting back on the light cycle. They haven't been attacking their nightly spot feeding a where the blacks eat maybe three times over. So I'm tricking them by turning the blues on early and maybe even going to black. I usually put everything to bed at 9:30 which is after I spot feeding or a little later. I just hope the orange colony will adapt to the bright light. My sons Suns are close to the top.

[jimmyree]

Your very welcome, that is amazing that you are having good results with the blacks. I think the oranges are just being pissy about the change and will probably adapt. The fact they are eating at all is a good sign. If they don't start coming around eventually maybe you could consider light cycle time (as you have already figured), maybe moving your light a little further from the surface. I'm not sure what kind of lights you are running but some have adjustable output levels to help with acclimation. Just a few ideas. I don't think I personally would black them out completely with foil or such because your goal is to eventually acclimate them to the light, just maybe try and acclimate them a little slower with less light and gradually increase over weeks. According to what I have read the light wont hurt them, they just don't need it to grow, but starving themselves is certainly a concern if they are that stressed out.

[Hammerstone]

Your very welcome, that is amazing that you are having good results with the blacks. I think the oranges are just being pissy about the change and will probably adapt. The fact they are eating at all is a good sign. If they don't start coming around eventually maybe you could consider light cycle time (as you have already figured), maybe moving your light a little further from the surface. I'm not sure what kind of lights you are running but some have adjustable output levels to help with acclimation. Just a few ideas. I don't think I personally would black them out completely with foil or such because your goal is to eventually acclimate them to the light, just maybe try and acclimate them a little slower with less light and gradually increase over weeks. According to what I have read the light wont hurt them, they just don't need it to grow, but starving themselves is certainly a concern if they are that stressed out.

id say about half the oranges are eating but they seem to switch off and on, yes and leave me alone. I'm still attempting to feed them all every night. Then tonight about half the blacks were hungry. I love them, they were my first corals. My RFAs and my new Zoas only like small pieces of shaved shrimp. They don't like mysis. Three out of four are eating. Those are still pretty new. Iam keeping a very close eye on all of my inverts and corals. My clowns are doing awesome. They used to only stay in one spot. Now they are patrolling the entire tank. I think they are very interested in all the goings on!?

 

I know patience is key. I just like everything to thrive, not just stay alive. Just like everyone here does.

 

Thank you for talking to me, I appreciate it!!!???

[Water Dog]

Try PM'ing BJV for some pointers. He has had some real demonstrated success in keeping both black and orange sun corals... to the point where baby sun corals are popping up all over his tank.

[Hammerstone]

The light acclimation in my problem. I have nowhere to move them as they are on large chunks of rocks. They were doing awesome before the light change. Now I have photosynthetic too. I'm kinda screwed. My sun has one up high and has the coral lights.?

[Hammerstone]

I don't know what my last sentence meant, I was in a hurry. Bottom line, Suns are not happy. I'm trying a shorter light cycle.