🌑🌟 Midnight Sun Coral
Tubastraea micranthus
Quick Stats
Care Level: Moderate to Advanced
Temperament: Peaceful
Colour Form: Deep Black Skeleton with Golden Yellow to Orange Polyps
Water Conditions: 24-27°C, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Family: Dendrophylliidae
Lighting: Low to No Light (Non-Photosynthetic)
Supplements: Amino Acids, Trace Elements, Iodine
Water Flow: Moderate to High
Placement: Shaded Areas, Overhangs, or Caves
Overview
The Midnight Sun Coral is a striking contrast in the world of reef keeping—featuring a jet-black skeletal base crowned with vivid yellow to orange polyps that bloom like tiny suns after dark. Native to nutrient-rich Indo-Pacific reef slopes, Tubastraea micranthus is one of the few corals that thrive in the shadows, bringing brilliant life to the darkest corners of your aquascape.
With its branching, tree-like structure and intense color contrast, this non-photosynthetic coral adds a dramatic and exotic aesthetic to any reef. Unlike photosynthetic species, it does not rely on light, making it a perfect addition to shaded aquascaping features or low-light marine tanks.
Care & Feeding
As a non-photosynthetic coral, the Midnight Sun Coral requires regular, targeted feeding to thrive. Its polyps open most readily in the evening or under lower lighting conditions, eagerly accepting small meaty foods like mysis shrimp, copepods, or specialized coral foods. Feedings should occur at least 3–5 times per week to maintain health, color, and growth.
This coral prefers moderate to high water movement to carry nutrients to its extended polyps and to keep detritus from settling among its branches.
Optimal Parameters
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Alkalinity (dKH): 8-12
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Calcium (Ca): 400-450 ppm
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Magnesium (Mg): 1250-1350 ppm
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Nitrate (NO3): 1-10 ppm
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Phosphate (PO4): 0.01-0.05 ppm
Placement
Place the Midnight Sun Coral in shaded areas of the tank—under rock ledges, in caves, or at the base of aquascaping structures. It does not require lighting, but ensure the placement allows easy access for direct feeding and provides good flow to prevent detritus accumulation. Its upright, branching form adds beautiful vertical interest to underlit zones.
🌘🌞 Where Shadows Bloom – The Midnight Sun Coral brings brilliance to the reef’s darkest corners, unfurling golden polyps from obsidian branches like a constellation come to life. A rare beauty for aquarists ready to embrace the twilight.