Gorgonian: Please Help with some information

[cliffrouse11bas]

Here is a picture. It is not mine. It this members from another website "The_Barbe-Hatten_Project" Just wanted to give credit to his picture. I just want to know what these need and how do they do in tanks... Thanks

 

[firedad720]

not sure on the yellow, but i know the purple ones are photosyntesious(sp?). some need to be fead with food like micro-vert, and others just use good lighting
rick

 

[brooklyn johnny]

cliffrouse that is Diodogorgia nodulifera, a nonphotosynthetic gorgonian that is very tough to keep long term in captivity. It requires lots of feeding that is just not worth the hassle IMO, due to the fact that there are so many beautiful photosynthetic gorgonians like the one firedad shows. I have a nice photosynthetic yellow gorgonian that does well and can be seen in my 54 gallon thread. There is also a red variety of Diodogorgia nodulifera that should be stayed away from.

 

[brooklyn johnny]

Many of my photosynthetic species have done fine under moderate lighting, although they respond very well to strong lighting. They like lots of flow also...

 

[nm reef]

As stated they are non photosynthentic...light does them no good. Sadly the more colorful types of gorgonians are primarily filter feeders and seldom do well in typical aquariums. I've kept a cream colored photosynthic type for a few years with success...but the type pictured above...Diodogorgia nodulifera ...does not have a good success rate.
Below is the type I keep...not real sure of the specific name for mine...

 

[cliffrouse11bas]

Thanks I will prob steer the other way on that one...

 

[brooklyn johnny]

There are nice colorful photosynthetic gorgonians out there, with most having the typical purple base like mine shown below in this blurry pic...
NM_reef it looks like yours is in the Eunicea genus... thick branches with large polyps for a gorgonian... I too have a nice beige like that but I have seen them in purple too... on that note things do not have to be colorful to be cool... texture and shape stand out also...

 

[brooklyn johnny]

There are other colors though... here's a nice huge yellow gorgonian behind one of my female squamipinnis anthias...

 

[brooklyn johnny]

And finally a red base yellow polyp photosynthetic gorgonian...

 

[nm reef]

I absolutely agree that they don't need to be brilliant and flashy to be a good speciman to keep. Here is a closer look at mine from about a year ago. Growth has been moderate...and it suffered while I was switching from the old 55 to the new display ...but it has recovered real well and continues to be one of my favorite specimans. Not real colorful...but a very interesting coral just the same.I always see much better polyp extension when I clean the front glass or whenever I feed the tank a heavy dose of meaty type foods...I think the very fine suspended particles in the water perks mine up...

 

[brooklyn johnny]

Very nice NM reef... I have that same guy in my 54 and I got it because it's very unique... thick branches and large polyps for a gorgonian... as I said I think it's Eunicea sp. Tank looks great by the way...

 

[montidanae]

i feed minwe Cyclopezz and they love it