Gorgonian ID + advise

NanoJHB · Apr 18, 2022

Hi all. My 10 gallon nano has been running for just over a year now, all my leathers and shrooms have been growing well.

About 2 weeks ago I added my first gorgonian. I know it's photosynthetic but I don't know what species it is.

When I first put it in the tank, the polyps were extending nicely but the last couple days the polyps haven't come out and it's flesh looks brownish (like a leather looks before it sheds). Any advice would be appreciated.

NanoJHB · Apr 18, 2022

NanoJHB · Apr 18, 2022

cdw79 · Apr 18, 2022

Can't quite tell but seems like there could be some algae growth on there- do you see that brown algae elsewhere in the tank? I had a similar problem with my gorgs, ultimately moving them to higher flow and keeping the phosphates lower has helped and now they're all extended all the time. Also check over your parameters- softies like you have can slowly get used to conditions that might be very sub-optimal for a new addition, so make sure those parameters are looking good. This also is all under the assumption you have a light good enough for a photosynthetic gorg, and while I'm not positive on their light requirements all types have been pretty straightforward for me light-wise, so I doubt that's the issue

NanoJHB · Apr 18, 2022

Thanks for the help. I'll take a water sample down to my lfs and get the parameters checked

cdw79 said:
Can't quite tell but seems like there could be some algae growth on there- do you see that brown algae elsewhere in the tank? I had a similar problem with my gorgs, ultimately moving them to higher flow and keeping the phosphates lower has helped and now they're all extended all the time. Also check over your parameters- softies like you have can slowly get used to conditions that might be very sub-optimal for a new addition, so make sure those parameters are looking good. This also is all under the assumption you have a light good enough for a photosynthetic gorg, and while I'm not positive on their light requirements all types have been pretty straightforward for me light-wise, so I doubt that's the issue

Dburr1014 · Apr 18, 2022

Looks like it needs more flow. It is shedding, it needs to get that "skin" off. I'm not exactly sure what type of is.

Hyde2406 · Apr 18, 2022

Use a turkey baster or power head and blow off the skin or algae it will help it

Hyde2406 · Apr 18, 2022

Mine don't mind high nutrients : nit 40 phos 0.2 so I wouldn't worry about parameters just add flow

NanoJHB · Apr 18, 2022

Dburr1014 said:
Looks like it needs more flow. It is shedding, it needs to get that "skin" off. I'm not exactly sure what type of is.

Thanks ! Wasn't sure if they shed like leathers

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Could be a purple bush or a rough sea plume

monicalooze · Apr 18, 2022

Higher flow. Could be algae or "skin". I found I had to be aggressive with removing algae and skin on mine. Once it was covered, a turkey baster wasn't strong enough and more flow didn't do it either. I used a soft bristled toothbrush to remove it. The gorg was mad for a few days, but opened back up.

It got bad enough that I lost tissue, but as soon as I removed the algae successfully, it grew back very quickly!

I also did big water changes after removing the algae because my nutrients were too high. Haven't had an issue since.
Hope this helps.

NanoJHB · Apr 18, 2022

Hyde2406 said:
Mine don't mind high nutrients : nit 40 phos 0.2 so I wouldn't worry about parameters just add flow

monicalooze said:
Higher flow. Could be algae or "skin". I found I had to be aggressive with removing algae and skin on mine. Once it was covered, a turkey baster wasn't strong enough and more flow didn't do it either. I used a soft bristled toothbrush to remove it. The gorg was mad for a few days, but opened back up.

It got bad enough that I lost tissue, but as soon as I removed the algae successfully, it grew back very quickly!

I also did big water changes after removing the algae because my nutrients were too high. Haven't had an issue since.
Hope this helps.

Just been reading your build thread ! Love your tank, super unique

Thanks for the advice Monica