Gorgonian help

[jd371]

Anyone have long term success with Gorgonians? I added a Yellow finger about 2 months ago. For the past 3 weeks now there is no PE. I did notice some Cyano on it so I cleaned it off and placed it where there is a lot more flow 2 weeks ago. I broadcast feed my fish so there is plenty of food for it to take out of the water column and I supplement that with additional feedings for my coral with either Reef Frenzy, Phyto, Marine Snow or a cube of Rotifers.
This is the third one I'm trying in my 2 yr old 75g tank. First one just withered away, second was overcome by Dinos. After getting rid of the Dinos and since my tank is very stable now with excellent coral growth and very little algae mostly confined to the refugium I thought to give it another shot. The second one I had lasted the longest at 6 months before the Dino outbreak.

 

[Claus84]

They need a lot feeding, I had a red and yellow that I rescued from a mates tank. I target fed several times daily with coral food, I would feed once then wait for the polyps to open up again and repeat a few times at each sitting, they survived with this but didn't really thrive and my water quality took a dive! . They are now in an nps tank with a constant drip of phytoplankton, which is where they belong IMO. I do have a tiny frag left that encrusted on the rocks, no PE for well over a month and suddenly opened up again today, I would persevere and try target feeding with the circ pumps off, they may open up once they sense the food.

 

[jd371]

Thank you. I will try and target feed for a reaction. If this one doesn't make it, that's it, no more Gorgonians. This and Elegance corals are the only ones I have trouble with in my tank.

 

[Claus84]

Thank you. I will try and target feed for a reaction. If this one doesn't make it, that's it, no more Gorgonians. This and Elegance corals are the only ones I have trouble with in my tank.

No problem, good luck! You can get some really nice photosynthetic gorgonians, I haven't found any as bright as the Diodogorgia but they still add some great shape and movement to the tank and also grown like crazy in the right conditions

 

[YellowFinsReef]

I've had great luck with mine. Mine is a mixture of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic gorgs. It actually encrust over the glue I had it on. In NPS I have the yellow finger, red dragon, blueberry, and red with gold polyps. These can be challenging but I think the most important thing to get it to live is flow. They need a strong flow that would be damaging to most corals in my opinion. I use to have some with some cheap wave makers/pumps and they would die in a couple days. I upgraded and got some vortechs -- and my gorgs took off.

Second thing is to keep them in nutrient rich water and well fed. For me, I keep them with my wrasses. When I feed my wrasse, the gorgs get fed too. I feed a mixture of LRS frenzy, nutramar ova, rotifers, and cyclopeeze. Once in a week, I'll mix some reef snow from tropic marin with some oyster feast and phyto to supplement.

And recently I've come to learn from my mistake that ph swings could be detrimental to gorgs. I accidentally OD my tank with parashield and had completely wiped out 3 full grown gorgs overnight.

I hope that helps.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I don't spot feed any of my five gorgs. I would however look at flow. They need more than most think.

 

[Oldreefer44]

Had several for years with no special feeding. My most successful one had probably increased tenfold in size and is located in the center of my tank where there is very strong flow.

 

[leahfiish]

I have 3 gorgonians from kp aquatics:
A corky sea finger
https://www.kpaquatics.com/product/corky-sea-finger/

Yellow sea Feather
https://www.kpaquatics.com/product/yellow-sea-feather/
(don't have a good picture of this one
And purple sea Feather
https://www.kpaquatics.com/product/purple-sea-feather/

When I got them:


I used to target feed and broadcast feed bottled (dead) phyto but stopped because nutrient levels were getting too high and I haven't seen any ill effects. They are very hardy and some of my fastest growing corals. The yellow one was knocked behind the rocks and stayed there for about a month before I got it out and it's totally fine, no worse for wear.

I do notice mine close sometime, usually when my alkalinity falls below 8 but sometimes it seems random. Sometimes they will stay closed for a few days. When I notice that I usually shake them around in the current to get algae off them. It seems mine are prone to growing diatoms on them and when that happens they don't open but after cleaning them off they are good.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

current to get algae off them. It seems mine are prone to growing diatoms on them and when that happens they don't open but after cleaning them off they are good.

They shed constantly. So they really need flow. Some are more waxy than others. I have one that comes off in strips. I imagine in ocean flow it would be high enough to not let it accumulate it that much. I think I've heard lectures to that effect as well.

 

[jd371]

Thanks for the help. Moved it to a spot with a lot more flow than before, hopefully this helps. Still waiting on PE, have seen a few poke out a little but not for long.