Stupid Question

[ReefWhatYouSow]

So does non-photosynthetic mean it is something that I can stick in the shade of my tank? Such as under platforms and rock structures?

[KimP]

Lol, I love your handle!
Non-photosynthetic corals are a great choice for shady spots. I've even hung them upside down under ledges before. Just make sure you can easily reach them for whatever way you feed them.

[billdogg]

Non photosynthetic means that they are unable to gain any nutrition from the lighting, unlike the majority of corals commonly kept. It will require frequent (at least daily, if not several times daily) feedings of an appropriate food. NPS corals can be very challenging to keep for any length of time.

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Originally Posted by KimP

Lol, I love your handle!
Non-photosynthetic corals are a great choice for shady spots. I've even hung them upside down under ledges before. Just make sure you can easily reach them for whatever way you feed them.

Thanks Kim! I tried to be clever

That could be cool using the underside of ledges. A way to gain space in the tank.

Originally Posted by billdogg

Non photosynthetic means that they are unable to gain any nutrition from the lighting, unlike the majority of corals commonly kept. It will require frequent (at least daily, if not several times daily) feedings of an appropriate food. NPS corals can be very challenging to keep for any length of time.

Thanks for the info. It looks like I will have to make sure that I have the dedicated time to feed before putting any in. Is there any way to auto feed NPS?

[Mcgeezer]

NPS corals typically need to be spot fed on each polyp that'd exposed. They are much more challenging

[KimP]

What are you thinking of keeping? Sure, most nps are difficult but bigger polyped ones like dendros are not much harder than any other coral. Especially if you already broadcast feed your tank. Just feed each polyp at least once or twice a week (plus the broadcast feedings) and they'll thrive! I've kept colonies of dendros for many years this way. I'd definitely stay away from sun corals and then all the smaller polyped nps for starting out.

[tmz]

I agree dendrophyllia are realtively easy vs other heterotrophic ( non photosynthetic) corals. Most of the others perish without specialized feeding.
Cerianthus (tube anemones) also do very well in shady areas with good flow in a tank with broadcast feeding. They have long tentacles and sting ;so they need some space . The can eat very small fish too.

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I was checking out divers den on live aquaria (just for fun) but saw that I liked a few things. Definitely liked the tube anemones.

[ReefWhatYouSow]

If everyone can recommend some NPS that you all find pretty easy to care for that would be great!

[KimP]

I've had fantastic luck with dendrophillia, hidden cup coral (which might be only available as a hitchhiker, but look for it in the b/s/t of this and your local club), and tube anemones. Have you read the non-photosynthetic corals section here on RC? There are other large polyp nps corals but they are really expensive. Really neat though!

[Fallling]

Sun corals, dendros, Balanophyllia, and other LPS are typically good beginner nps as they won't need feeding every day. Gorgonians are much more difficult... some downright next to impossible. With some lps experience under your belt, Menella gorgs do seem to be a good place to start with nps gorgs (will require everyday feeding... I feed a cocktail of frozen cylop-eeze, reef roids, and fauna marin products to mine). Chili corals are also not too difficult as far as nps go (again, would start with lps). You might want check out the stickies over the NPS forum if you haven't already.

[Fallling]

Also, the main difficult thing with nps lps is to make sure the fish don't steal their food... at least IME.

[KimP]

I don't have trouble with fish, but don't even get me started on any shrimp or crabs! I'm in the process of a new build and when I move things over there will not be any hermits or shrimp. Grrrr! As for the fish, I just put some food in for them first, then feed any corals. The fish never seem to notice.

[Fallling]

Originally Posted by KimP

I don't have trouble with fish, but don't even get me started on any shrimp or crabs! I'm in the process of a new build and when I move things over there will not be any hermits or shrimp. Grrrr! As for the fish, I just put some food in for them first, then feed any corals. The fish never seem to notice.

Ah. I have only one hermit that was randomly thrown in with an order of snails, so he's not an issue. My peppermint shrimp... I guess they're still in there? Rarely see them.

It's mostly my fairy and flasher wrasse... always hungry, hungry hippos. They eat frozen mysis so I feed them first, and then feed the sun coral and dendros. I squirt a extra mysis with a turkey baster over the sun coral and dendro colony so that when the wrasses ultimately come by to steal food, there's still plenty left for the corals.

[KimP]

Sounds like a solid plan. I've had peppermint shrimp tear the mouths completely out of corals to get at food. They're ruthless! You're lucky yours behaves.

[kmbyrnes]

Sun Corals are great!
Had some in my nano for 6 weeks before they decided to eat.
Now moved to my 110.
They eat when I broadcast feed the tank and I also target feed about once a week.

[KimP]

Yeah, that's the trick is getting them to even open up so you can feed them. That's cool you got some that open for you! They sure are colorful.

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I sure am glad that I asked cause it is great to hear that people are able to enjoy the NPS.

Pics sure would be great everyone! : )

[KimP]

Here are my dendros. There are 2 colonies there and the one on the right I'm bringing back to health. It's looking so much better now! They are easy to grow if you just feed em. I'll try to get a pic of my hidden cup corals.

[Fallling]

Not the best picture, but here is my sun coral (I haven't taken any specific pictures as of yet). He's open about 80% of time.



Again, not a great picture, but here my purple menella gorgonian. He's also open about 80% of time and has grown probably 2 inches in the 5 months I've had him.



At some point, I'll get around to taking some better pictures

[ReefWhatYouSow]

These pictures definitely excite me. These look awesome! I will definitely be looking into getting some in the next tank.

Any pics of the long tentacle nems?

[Rexican]

I don't see this as a stupid question. Thanks for the info guys and gals.