Glowing corals

Do any corals glow?

 

Mine seem to under actinics ... The photo doesn't really do it justice, the GSP is much brighter in person. But not sure you want to open that can 'o worms by putting GSP in your tank. Many people hate it, I like it tho.

 

Many Corals will seem to glow under antics. But as for Corals that make there own light?? None that I know of, but that's not saying much.

 

Let's clarify the terms glowing, and flourescence.

Glowing to me, means it's generating it's own light. Meaning it will produce light itself in the dark. Like a light bulb. I'm not aware of any coral that do this, although there may be some out there. They aren't common in the hobby in my experience.

Fluorescence is producing light when stimulated by an external source of light. So you would need to have some light, like a black light most commonly, or actinic/blue lights in reef terms, in order to make the coral produce the fluorescence. There are lots of coral that fluoresce under the right type of light like was stated earlier.

Hope that helps!

 

I would just like to state:

Do NOT use a black light on your fish tank. It is neat for a quick peek, but long term effects. Such as blindness in fish.

 

This is true. I didn't think about adding a disclaimer but maybe I should have hehe.

 

candy canes, green star polyps, certain palys and zoas. Alot glow under actinics

 

If you interested in some technical information...
Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine - Feature Article: Coral Coloration, Part 2: Fluorescence: Pigments 510 - 565 and Notes on Green Fluorescent Proteins

 

here's my gsp under the actinics, makes me wanna put on some trance music