Hey there

[nefretier]

Recently we moved our tank and i haven't found it a happy spot since. I know it's slowly dying but I try to spot feed and continuously have been adding new food to the mix. So far its a mix of phytofeast, reefroids, frozen coral cuisine and this week I started oyster feast too. I have noticed a couple more polyps opening since I started the oyster feast but not enough for me to believe it will be okay.

 

[nefretier]

I would recommend pruning the dead sections off that gorgonian. Definitely try feeding it with some live phyto and reef roids! Mine seems to like Tetraselmis and Isochrysis the best of all the different phytoplanktons.

I will admit I've considered it but because this is my first gorgonia and nps I wasn't sure what backlash I would be bringing on. Any tips or specifics when pruning those dead sections?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Recently we moved our tank and i haven't found it a happy spot since. I know it's slowly dying but I try to spot feed and continuously have been adding new food to the mix. So far its a mix of phytofeast, reefroids, frozen coral cuisine and this week I started oyster feast too. I have noticed a couple more polyps opening since I started the oyster feast but not enough for me to believe it will be okay.

Good luck! It looks like it isn't receiving a lot of flow in that location. Gorgonians like pretty heavy flow, similar to what you'd use for Acropora corals, whether photosynthetic or non-photosynthetic. You could even try putting it in a bucket of tank water for a few hours with a powerhead to get a strong current and feed heavily in the bucket with a product like oysterfeast. Leave it long enough to let it sense the food, open, and feed, then move it back to a high flow area of the display tank when done being fed.

A healthy NPS gorg that is eating well will not get overgrown with nuisance algae. The constant opening of the polyps for feeding, the movement in the water column, and the periodic shedding of skin should prevent that. They grow in areas of both high and low light in the wild, but always in an area of high flow.

As for pruning, just nip barely into what looks like healthy tissue with a very sharp pair of scissors. I like using blunt/sharp 5.5" stainless steel surgical scissors from Germany. They hold up nicely and are relatively cheap on Amazon.

 

[Schraufabagel]

 

[Rmckoy]

I would recommend pruning the dead sections off that gorgonian. Definitely try feeding it with some live phyto and reef roids! Mine seems to like Tetraselmis and Isochrysis the best of all the different phytoplanktons.

Are gorgs similar to sun corals where you can train the to open at a specific time for feeding ?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Are gorgs similar to sun corals where you can train the to open at a specific time for feeding ?

Even more so, IMO. My sun coral is pretty much always open, other than if it just ate, and my NPS gorg is always open, even when it just ate. As soon as it finishes putting food into the polyp mouths, the polyps reopen ready to grab more.

 

[|Frank|]

Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Rmckoy]

Even more so, IMO. My sun coral is pretty much always open, other than if it just ate, and my NPS gorg is always open, even when it just ate. As soon as it finishes putting food into the polyp mouths, the polyps reopen ready to grab more.

I thought so .
I’ve never owned one . But have had a few sun corals over the years .
Years ago when coral colonies cost the same as frags today

 

[Sean Clark]

Welcome.

 

[SPR1968]

Hi and welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Ricox]

Welcome!

 

[G Santana]

Welcome to R2R

 

[AcroNem]

Welcome!
That is an incredibly difficult and demanding species to try. They require constant food to survive

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hello, I will be honest what pulled me here was intense searching on blueberry gorgonias. I've known of the hobby for about 5 years now but only recently got into reef keeping in the past two. My boyfriend and I have a 40 gallon tank. Currently we have pulsing xenia, armor of God zoas, some mushrooms, unknown zoas, and a long tentacle anemone. I made the jump to a blueberry gorgonia but I've struggled to make it happy and thrive so here I am.

Welcome! Glad you joined. Sounds pretty - I'll have to go look it up.

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This might help you find people local to you:

Local Reef Club Discussion

Looking for some locals to share frags and info with? This is the place! Find a local club that meets in your area! If you want to add your club just contact us.

www.reef2reef.com

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[rmorris_14]

Welcome to REEF2REEF. Lots of good people and good info on here.

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R. Good luck with your coral. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

 

[Jeffcb]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Manny’s Reef]

Hello and welcome to R2R. We sure are glad to have you here.

 

[ShepherdReefer]

Hello and welcome to the channel.

 

[FiddlersReef]

Welcome to R2R!

I totally appreciate the struggle finding a happy place for a coral...