[jsgates]

Just got a Yellow Finger Gorgonian & a Chili Coral with my last purchase. Chili Coral is doing great! They have been in my tank for about a week. This is my second try at a gorgonian, this time the flow in my tank is much better. I know that these Yellow Finger Gorgonians are not photosynthetic and require feedings. The first one that I had was lower in my tank and didn't have as much flow. It collected algae and the tissue on it's branches started to deteriorate. Before I was only using Phytoplex 2 times a week. Here is what I have changed.

2 more powerheads are in my tank now. The new yellow finger gorgonian is placed a little higher in the tank, but kind of in the shade under my skimmers MagDrive 3 pump. There is Hydor Koralia 3 powerhead about 3 inches away from the gorgonian blasting it so algae won't build up on it. This appeared to be working for the past week......then when I came home from work today I noticed a couple branches are starting to lose some of the tissue and are drooping a little bit. I have been feeding my corals every night, alternating every other night with Coral Frenzy and DTs. I feed the tank before going to bed, and leave the skimmer off all night. Then I turn the skimmer back on in the morning. I can't see how it couldn't be getting enough food. Do I have too much flow? Too much light? Suggestions please. I really don't want to lose this gorgonian. It adds a LOT of color to my tank. Some people say these never live, but how can LiveAquaria & Saltwaterfish.com sell them if they can't keep them alive themselves? I figure if I can keep a Gorgonian that this not photsythetic, then I shouldn't have any problems with the Photosynthetic ones. Water quality is good

PH: 8.2
ALK: 5 meq/l
SG: 1.026

Water temp stays between 79 & 82 degrees. Thanks for any tips.

BTW, my tank almost a year old now and is well established.

[spanko]

I tried one and had no luck. Have gone to the photosythentic ones.

Here is the Pteregoria


Here is the Plexaurella

[jimw369]

Spanko+1....the yellow finger (or spot) gorgonian cant take the light. Dont care how much you try and feed it.

[spanko]

Yeah here is a pic of mine. Just started opening less and less polyps and finally was no more.


Oh yeah this is my tank prior to going to a reef flat biotope.