Gorgonian Recession

tdileo · Jan 13, 2018

I’ve had this photosynthetic gorg for like 6 months now and it hasn’t opened in the past three, but has continued to grow and look okay. The other day it started losing flesh, so yesterday I took it out, cut off a little bit below the dying part, gave an iodine dip, and placed it into my new tank where in case it was a disease there shouldn’t be anything else floating around. Here are some photos.

Big G · Jan 13, 2018

Following

YellowFinsReef · Jan 27, 2018

Usually when my gorgs start to do that, it means they are not receiving adequate flow or the water quality has gone down.

Big G · Jan 27, 2018

YellowFinsReef said:
not receiving adequate flow

Yes, I've noticed that mine really like being in the blast of the powerhead, actively swaying back and forth a bit.

tdileo · Jan 27, 2018

YellowFinsReef said:
Usually when my gorgs start to do that, it means they are not receiving adequate flow or the water quality has gone down.

My water quality is always good and stable, I am mostly into SPS specifically across but I do keep a couple soft and LPS as well. Initially this just started where it was touching another coral and i didn’t realize, but it only progressed from there. After multiple sections sections unfortunately it’s 100% dead now. The only other corals I’ve lost were one tenuis frag and a trachy, so this was also a bummer. I’ve prided myself upon taking the best care I can, but I suppose even the best reefkeepers lose corals sometimes.

esse · Jan 30, 2018

YellowFinsReef said:
Usually when my gorgs start to do that, it means they are not receiving adequate flow or the water quality has gone down.

What aspects of water quality might attribute to gorgonians receding like this?

reef lover · Jan 30, 2018

Needs more flow...

YellowFinsReef · Jan 30, 2018

esse said:
What aspects of water quality might attribute to gorgonians receding like this?

Usually high phosphates and nitrates. It's tough because you want to keep nutrient rich water and also feed the gorgonians, but you don't want the water quality to go bad. I find that I have to find the fine balance between nutrient rich water while not letting the parameters get out of control.