Gorgonian help

[PokeFish]

my purple plume gorgonian closed around 2 days ago and has been closed ever since. My phosphates are pretty high, but i have been lowering them and the gorgonian used to tolerate such levels, but suddenly just closed. I did however frag it . Or i may suspect some kind of chemical warfare between corals? i have toadstools and kenya trees. It was also near an anemone that may have been stinging it... because of this i have moved it away to a lower section. any ideas?

 

[J1a]

Just ensure it is getting good flow. Gorgonians sometimes close off for a while to shed the "skin" to refresh it's surface.

Of course, ensuring it doesn't touch other corals is a good idea too!

 

[rhostam]

Mine do that occasionally. If you just fragged them that could certainly upset them. Shedding, too, as others have said. A RBTA and a rock flower decided to move around and actually climbed up one of the rocks where a gorgonian is attached and was in direct contact for a day or so. After they moved from it took a day or so before it was back to normal.

I had phosphates spike a few weeks ago and the gorgonians seemed entirely un-phased.

Give it some time.

 

[Karen00]

How long have you had the gorg? As mentioned above gorgs will often close to shed a waxy layer. That's how they get rid of stuff that accumulates on them. Mine close about once or twice a month and it varies how long they stay closed. As long as you're not seeing the tissue receding it's most likely fine.

 

[PokeFish]

Just ensure it is getting good flow. Gorgonians sometimes close off for a while to shed the "skin" to refresh it's surface.

Of course, ensuring it doesn't touch other corals is a good idea too!

yeah i was just worried cuz its never done this before

 

[PokeFish]

How long have you had the gorg? As mentioned above gorgs will often close to shed a waxy layer. That's how they get rid of stuff that accumulates on them. Mine close about once or twice a month and it varies how long they stay closed. As long as you're not seeing the tissue receding it's most likely fine.

bout 5 months
..
ive noticed some stringy stuff coming off its skin?

 

[PokeFish]

Mine do that occasionally. If you just fragged them that could certainly upset them. Shedding, too, as others have said. A RBTA and a rock flower decided to move around and actually climbed up one of the rocks where a gorgonian is attached and was in direct contact for a day or so. After they moved from it took a day or so before it was back to normal.

I had phosphates spike a few weeks ago and the gorgonians seemed entirely un-phased.

Give it some time.

alright thanks

 

[Karen00]

bout 5 months
..
ive noticed some stringy stuff coming off its skin?

It it looks clear and waxy then that's the stuff they shed. Tissue recession in that type of gorg will reveal what looks like a black wire when the tissue falls off.

 

[PokeFish]

It it looks clear and waxy then that's the stuff they shed. Tissue recession in that type of gorg will reveal what looks like a black wire when the tissue falls off.

yeah no recession. not really clear though... its like white ish stands

 

[frankny]

my Gorgonians once a while close n shed skin then opens up again nicely, think maybe they grow up bigger this way?

 

[PokeFish]

my Gorgonians once a while close n shed skin then opens up again nicely, think maybe they grow up bigger this way?

ah so they are like leathers?
but better

 

[Karen00]

yeah no recession. not really clear though... its like white ish stands

I guess I should've said the layer they shed is more of a cloudy opaque white. Take a pic under white lights if you can just to be sure but it sounds like that's what it is.

 

[PokeFish]

Here is some of it

 

[PokeFish]

Alright a little update: it finished shedding, opened, then closed again. I am suspecting that it is due to the algae growing on it still? Should i keep blowing it off