Gorgonian question?

[clownfanatic55]

I just bought my first Gorgonian coral tonight. Floated it for 30 minutes and it is looking good. I know it says strong flow and strong light. I got it in the right lighting but it falling over when I put it in the strong flow portion.

So, am I putting in too much current flow?

 

[meowzer]

I would say if it is falling over the flow is too strong...LOL....have you tried inserting it into a rock, or glueing it down? ALSO...what type is it? some gorgonians are NOT photosynthetic you know...the reds and yellows are not

 

[clownfanatic55]

Well it came with a little rock that I laid down in my LR but the flow is way too strong and is knocking it over so I will adjust my PHs, but it isn't the RED or YELLOW. It is white and has darker polyps on it.

 

[meowzer]

How about a picture????

 

[clownfanatic55]

I am uploading a picture of it right now. IT is going really slow.

 

[clownfanatic55]

I think I got the flow right. The polyps weren't coming out because it kept falling over but now how I have it all the polyps are coming out and it is still moving constantly.

 

[clownfanatic55]

I will try get a better picture tomorrow when the water is cleared up. I had put some Reef Builder in there and it made the water a little cloudy.

 

[flower]

As long as you see it wiggle a little in the current, it is getting good water flow..I would love to see a picture once it blooms open.

 

[clownfanatic55]

There it is all bloomed and everything!! Its beautiful!

 

[meowzer]

Oh yes it is....I love the little clown goby peeking out at the bottom
IDK enough about them to know what type it is though.....

 

[mell]

Looks kinda like my purple gorgonion. Is it purple with brownish blooms?

 

[clownfanatic55]

It is just a little Yellow Clown Goby. It isn't the Watchman goby. I am thinking about getting one of those. They are sweet looking. I have a Green clown Goby as well. I love this hobby.

 

[clownfanatic55]

Yeah once it blooms out, it does have a purplish tint to it.

 

[aquaknight]

Plexaurella
The slit-pore gorgonians belong to the genus Plexaurella. They are all pale brown or yellowish, and form colonies with club-tipped branches. Large specimens may have many branches, but average sized colonies consist of a main axis and just a few branches, giving a shape like a big sahuaro cactus. These are very hardy and can be recommended as a "beginner's" coral. They must not be allowed to rest against the substrate, however, as the portions of branches that lay on the sand or against a rock will suffocate and rot, turning black and falling off the axis. Tips of branches under bright illumination (close to a 250 watt or 400 watt metal halide) may fail to open. This is a response to photosynthetically produced active oxygen. Shading will stimulate expansion of the polyps in this case.
Courtesy Julian Spring, Advanced Aquarist