Gorgonian help please

[Eb1air]

I recently ordered a purple frilly and a purple candelabra and a purple ribbon gorgonian the ribbon is ok not happy but the other 2 have exposed there spines 2 times now first shipment died in 2 days got replacements and now dying again. I have a mixed tank everything in the tank are happy across lps sps softys.
90 gal dt
40 gal sump
Alk 9.02
Cal 525
Mag 1502
Sg 1.026
Nitrate .02
Phosphate. .7
Temp78
Ph7.8 to8
Dosing brs 2 part hybrid method n kalk in ato
Dont know what is wrong after 6 years in hobby never had any issues keeping anything in my tank. Decided to add a little more diversity with the gorgonians but I keep killing them lol idk what the issue is.

 

[lelandmarine]

What kind of lighting do you have? do you think it could be too strong (I know they need to have high light but if they haven’t had intense light for a while could it be to strong Initially? Not sure how sensitive they are to phosphate? Might be worth checking the parameters of the water they’re coming in or checking with the facility that you bought them from to see what parameters they run

 

[tripdad]

They are going to want more nitrate than .02, they need a fairly strong flow and if these are the ones with tan polyps they should be photosynthetic so adequate lighting. Are they from KP Aquatics? If so then I have some of these also, no problems. I would also lower mag to around 1400 to 1450 and calcium down to around 450. They need strong flow as they have to "shed" their skin every so often to clean themselves. Also they will not tolerate algae growth on them.

 

[Eb1air]

They came from gulf coast ecosystems but could be my lighting I have ai Vega and oceanic revive 247b which covers the entire tank all running 100% n 15% whites 30% green n red. The water they came in was nasty smelling both times so probably high p and n

 

[tripdad]

I have no experience with that vendor but have had great results from the folks at KP Aquatics with gorg's. Don't know about other products but their gorg's are good and healthy. Mine are in an SPS tank so lots of light, lots of flow. Flow is number one. If they aren't being blown around then it's not enough.

 

[sp1187]

not advocating this but my NO3 is always 40+ PO4 .9/1.2 and they are doing well in my tank.

 

[Eb1air]

I run bare bottom with very high flow. I do have a problem with nitrates have to dose it to get a reading and have been trying to get my cal n mag down trying to hold off on water changes. Its slowly going down as per my trident recently trying kalkwasser for the past month with a cup of vinegar added to ato for better saturated kalk my ph has been a problem for the last 5 yrs figured trying to use kalkwasser to fix and been dialing my 2 part back

 

[tripdad]

If your using vinegar to saturate your kalk then your basically carbon dosing your tank, hence the no nutrients. I don't see enough corals to be worried about super saturated kalk. Maybe drop that for standard kalk and see if nutrients rise a little.

 

[lelandmarine]

Second on kp aquatics, healthy, reasonable price

 

[DeniseAndy]

I used to have a tank full of gorgs. 16 different species at one point. However, I have never kept them in with corals other than them or leathers. Whole other thing...

So, they do require a lot of flow. They also require feedings even if photosynthetic. They also can be damaged easily if mishandled or do not have ideal conditions. Best course is to get captive bred or raised frags as these do a lot better IME.