{"id":3594,"date":"2026-02-16T23:29:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/coral-sea-sun-black-hard-coral-tubastrea-sp\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T23:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:29:12","slug":"coral-sea-sun-black-hard-coral-tubastrea-sp","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=coral-sea-sun-black-hard-coral-tubastrea-sp","title":{"rendered":"Coral Sea Sun Black Hard Coral Tubastrea Sp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coral Sea Sun Black Hard Coral (Tubastraea sp.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Also known as Black Sun Coral, Sun Coral, or Tubastraea Coral)<\/em><\/p>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Coral Sea Sun Black Coral (Tubastraea<\/em> sp.) is a breathtaking non-photosynthetic large-polyp stony (LPS) coral<\/strong>, admired for its brilliant orange, yellow, or golden polyps<\/strong> that emerge from a striking dark, black or purple skeleton<\/strong>. Unlike most corals, Tubastraea<\/em> relies entirely on captured food rather than light for nutrition, making it a standout feature in shaded reef zones or NPS (non-photosynthetic) aquariums. When fully extended, its tentacles form a radiant, flower-like display that glows vividly under actinic or blue LED lighting. While hardy and long-lived, Tubastraea<\/em>requires regular feeding and stable water quality, making it a coral best suited for dedicated reef keepers.<\/p>\n

Origin<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Native to the Coral Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Tonga, and the Indo-Pacific region<\/strong>. Typically found on shaded reef ledges, cave entrances, and overhangs<\/strong> at moderate depths, where light is low but planktonic food is abundant.<\/p>\n

Feeding<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Black Sun Coral is non-photosynthetic<\/strong> and must be fed regularly<\/strong> to survive. It extends its polyps primarily at night to capture drifting plankton and small particles. Offer small, frequent feedings (3\u20135 times per week)<\/strong> of:<\/p>\n

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    Enriched brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, or finely chopped seafood<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Marine plankton or coral micro foods<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Reef nutrition blends (e.g., Reef-Roids, Coralific Delite)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Target feeding with a pipette or turkey baster works best \u2014 gently waft food over extended polyps to encourage capture. Consistent feeding is essential for polyp health, colour intensity, and skeletal growth.<\/p>\n

    Lighting<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Low lighting.<\/strong> Tubastraea<\/em> does not contain zooxanthellae and gains no nutritional benefit from light.<\/p>\n

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      Place in shaded or dimly lit areas<\/strong> of the aquarium.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Excess light encourages algae growth on the coral\u2019s surface, which can smother polyps.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Water Flow<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Moderate, indirect flow.<\/strong> Provide enough water movement to deliver food and remove waste without disturbing the extended polyps. A steady, alternating current helps mimic the coral\u2019s natural environment.<\/p>\n

      Placement<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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        Place under ledges, overhangs, or in shaded cave areas<\/strong> to protect from direct light.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Attach securely to live rock<\/strong> or stable surfaces using coral glue or epoxy.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Avoid placing in open, high-light areas where algae can overgrow its surface.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Tank Mates<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Reef safe.<\/strong> Compatible with:<\/p>\n

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          All peaceful reef-safe fish (gobies, tangs, blennies, cardinalfish, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Reef-safe invertebrates (shrimp, snails, hermit crabs)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Other LPS or soft corals that do not require high light<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Avoid:<\/p>\n

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          • \n

            Fish that pick at coral polyps (butterflyfish, large angelfish)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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            Corals or anemones with aggressive stinging tentacles nearby<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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            Grazing invertebrates that might disturb polyps during feeding<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Aggression<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Peaceful.<\/strong> Tubastraea<\/em> does not possess long sweeper tentacles or aggressive stings. However, it should still be given a few centimetres of space to avoid irritation from neighbouring species.<\/p>\n

            Experience Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Intermediate to advanced.<\/strong> While hardy once feeding is established, this coral\u2019s dependence on manual feeding<\/strong> and susceptibility to algae overgrowth<\/strong> require commitment and consistent care. Ideal for experienced reef keepers or those maintaining a dedicated non-photosynthetic coral system.<\/p>\n

            Water Parameters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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            • \n

              Temperature:<\/strong> 24\u201327\u00b0C (75\u201381\u00b0F)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              pH:<\/strong> 8.1\u20138.4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Salinity:<\/strong> 1.024\u20131.026 SG<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Hardness (dKH):<\/strong> 8\u201312<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Calcium:<\/strong> 400\u2013450 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Magnesium:<\/strong> 1250\u20131350 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Nitrate:<\/strong> <10 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Tank Size:<\/strong> Minimum 75 gallons (280L)<\/strong> for stability and adequate space<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              High-quality filtration, strong skimming, and regular water changes are essential to handle the bioload from frequent feeding.<\/p>\n

              Reef Compatibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              Reef safe.<\/strong> The Coral Sea Sun Black Coral adds stunning visual appeal to shaded reef areas, with its bright, flower-like polyps providing a striking contrast to surrounding rockwork. Perfect for NPS displays, twilight reef zones<\/strong>, or aquarists seeking a vibrant coral that thrives beyond the typical high-light environment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Coral Sea Sun Black Hard Coral (Tubastraea sp.) (Also known as Black Sun Coral, Sun Coral, or Tubastraea Coral) Overview The Coral Sea Sun Black Coral (Tubastraea sp.) is a breathtaking non-photosynthetic large-polyp stony (LPS) coral, admired for its brilliant orange, yellow, or golden polyps that emerge from a striking dark, black or purple skeleton. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3593,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[74],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3594","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-hard-corals","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/3594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=3594"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=3594"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=3594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}