Gorgonians most say advanced to expert

[Mike Reef Addict]

I really didn't know where to post this is isn't a soft coral an I personally wouldn't call it SPS even though it does have small polyps.

I've always loved them! I've never had any issues an I have taken frags off the beach after storms in Florida wrapped them in paper towel and rode the bus for two hours back home.

Have been looking for one that was healthy at my LFS for a while now an I found a nice one already opening up an it's only been in the tank for 8 hours an I had an eye doc appointment so it didn't get the usual loving acclimation.

So what experiences have you guys had?

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

This app is funny wouldn't let me upload images.

 

[DanConnor]

Photosynthetic ones are easy, non are variably less so. Currently I have Plexaura flexuosa and Muricea elongata, both photosynthetic, and one NPS, a Mennella I think. All doing great for the last year and a half.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Years ago, I was given a bunch of purple sea whips by a LFS. These had arrived in such poor shape that they were not expected to survive (there was no tissue on many parts of the 'skeleton'.) I put them in a 110-gallon tank that used two Carlson Surge Devices for water flow. This flow was so intense that the gorgonians were bent almost double when the CSDs discharged. To make a long story short, not only did they recover but they grew new tissues and thrived. I did not intentionally feed them.

 

[nfrench2100]

I just got my first Gorg last Friday, 1 week ago today. I am by no means an expert at reef keeping. And mine is doing great so far. Great PE from the get go.

As stated above, the photosynthetic Gorgs are fairly hardy and easy to keep. I have done some research on the non photosynthetic Gorgs, and there a lot more difficult to keep.

I would say, as long as it’s getting decent light, strong flow and stable parameters, you’ll do fine.

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

Years ago, I was given a bunch of purple sea whips by a LFS. These had arrived in such poor shape that they were not expected to survive (there was no tissue on many parts of the 'skeleton'.) I put them in a 110-gallon tank that used two Carlson Surge Devices for water flow. This flow was so intense that the gorgonians were bent almost double when the CSDs discharged. To make a long story short, not only did they recover but they grew new tissues and thrived. I did not intentionally feed them.

Right on some of the ones I "rescued" where purple ones thay were thw same way, I used a pair of dog toenail clippers and cut them up and super glued them to rubble and they all did great gave some away. They say 50g or better these were in a 6 gallon Eclipse nano (pico now lol) Berlin a Seaclone skimmer and an Aquaclear 20 power compacts retrofitted to the hood. It's my 2.5 year old daughters pico reef now I had to keep trimming it back. Even had a Bubble coral and a Tridacnid clam in that tank lol we just did a reboot on her tank last week getting her some LEDs soon.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I like this article.
Some of the fans in it make me drool.

Sadly , we don’t really see a lot of interesting gorgs on this coast.

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/3/inverts

 

[SEMA]

I used to commercially collect knobby searod and the purple sea whips w/ Orange ployps. They grow in many different conditions. I've seen them in 3ft of water or less and tide is folding them back. They do love flow!

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

I just got my first Gorg last Friday, 1 week ago today. I am by no means an expert at reef keeping. And mine is doing great so far. Great PE from the get go.

As stated above, the photosynthetic Gorgs are fairly hardy and easy to keep. I have done some research on the non photosynthetic Gorgs, and there a lot more difficult to keep.

I would say, as long as it’s getting decent light, strong flow and stable parameters, you’ll do fine.

Right on first yellow one I've had but I've been pretty successful with purple and red ones (related ro the yellows) I'm by no means an "expert" but over the years there isn't much I haven't done both salt and freshwater.

 

[needbiggertanks]

I have the same one as you. I feed my tank frozen food soaked in selcon and thats it. Its been thriving well. I placed it under a rock ledge in high flow

 

[shred5]

As long as they are photosynthetic they are not to bad at all.. The one in your pic is a nps gorgonia. NPS Gorbonia are extremely hard and require lots of feeding and do not do well in a regular reef. They slowly die and usually get covered in algae overtime since they do better in little light. Thy do better in a dedicated NPS tank with a feeder that feeds lots of times a day. Nfrench2100 your is too.

Some of my gorgonia over the years.

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

Photosynthetic ones are easy, non are variably less so. Currently I have Plexaura flexuosa and Muricea elongata, both photosynthetic, and one NPS, a Mennella I think. All doing great for the last year and a half.

I'm pretty sure on my ID that is a Diodogorgia nodulifera do you know if these are photosynthetic? The ex-wife got both volume 1&2 of The Reef Aquarium. Getting a couple copies of Amazon soon.

 

[Kamden Uelton]

I have a blue berry gorgonian... Definitely the hardest to keep. I can keep my Crinoids well fed but for some reason Blueberries don't do well for me.

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

I used to commercially collect knobby searod and the purple sea whips w/ Orange ployps. They grow in many different conditions. I've seen them in 3ft of water or less and tide is folding them back. They do love flow!

Well they're getting it here! 2 Aqueon 950's and 2 700's on a Hydor controller alternating about every 45 seconds or so... Plus a MJ1200 on the HOB skimmer in a 55g lol

 

[shred5]

I have a blue berry gorgonian... Definitely the hardest to keep. I can keep my Crinoids well fed but for some reason Blueberries don't do well for me.

Blueberries are NPS too and probably the hardest of all..

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

I have the same one as you. I feed my tank frozen food soaked in selcon and thats it. Its been thriving well. I placed it under a rock ledge in high flow

Cool beans she's getting plenty of flow an I target feed my LPS zoas and brains 3x a week myisis (sp) and baby brine. I was feeding reef snow I think it was but I keep forgetting to grab a new bottle.

 

[DanConnor]

I'm pretty sure on my ID that is a Diodogorgia nodulifera do you know of these are photosynthetic? The ex-wife got both volume 1&2 of The Reef Aquarium. Getting a couple copies of Amazon soon.

I think your ID is correct. NPS, but supposedly not the hardest to keep.

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

I have a blue berry gorgonian... Definitely the hardest to keep. I can keep my Crinoids well fed but for some reason Blueberries don't do well for me.

We all seem to face that problem at times some can't keep candy canes mine divide all the time.

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

As long as they are photosynthetic they are not to bad at all.. The one in your pic is a nps gorgonia. NPS Gorbonia are extremely hard and require lots of feeding and do not do well in a regular reef. They slowly die and usually get covered in algae overtime since they do better in little light. Thy do better in a dedicated NPS tank with a feeder that feeds lots of times a day. Nfrench2100 your is too.

Some of my gorgonia over the years.

Nice! Thanks for the tip, Thought it was NPS myself I'll see how it does where I placed it and see how it does. What do you recomend feeding? I target feed my LPS 3x a week. So taking the time and feeding it won't be an issue I'm a hands on guy an all about husbandry.

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

I think your ID is correct. NPS, but supposedly not the hardest to keep.

Cool thanks I'm a mycologist too so I'm all about binomial nomenclature back 25 years ago that's all we used on corals now they're pink passion purple eyed neon protozoa yum yums lol

Me: so you've got some pink and purple zoanthids?