UV vs Black Sun Coral

[J1a]

I had supplemented my aquarium with UV light (360nm and 380nm) for about a month. While I did not carry out a rigorous experiment, the UV supplement seems to improve the coral coloration, as well as clam growth and mantle contrast.

What I find extremely interesting, is that the UV spectrum seems to discourage the black sun coral from putting out its polyps.

Pre-UV, the black sun coral opens routinely from 7pm to about 8 am the next day, regardless of the exact time of feeding, which varies from day to day.

I run the UV supplement from 12 am to 9:30 pm. Along the way I realised the black sun coral does not open nearly as much at night. Water chemistry, flow and feeding has been the same. The only difference is the UV supplement.

I have sinced adjusted the UV schedule to 10:30 am - 5:30 pm. In synch with the dimming of the main lights. Now the black sun coral again opens on schedule.

It may be non-correlated, or there maybe something interesting here.

 

[nereefpat]

Thanks for sharing.

I don't think a ton of us keep non-photosynthetic corals, although the sun corals are really beautiful and unique.