Gregorian HELP!!!

[gtahuahua]

My purple gregorian tree looks liek it is shedding. Is this a good thing? Why is it doing it? If it's bad thing how can i fix it? HELP!

[robalv]

The gorgonians all need strong currents to help rid themselves of the waxy film that is secreted to rid themselves of algae. Surge devices or turbulent water flow is best.

[ErikH]

Those can tend to be near impossible to keep, depending on it's feeding habits.

[Crazyeyes]

Both people are correct, the main reason why it may be hard to kept them is due to the fact that they are filter feeders. If your skimmer is to good then all the nutrients are taken out of the water, so what some people do to help the Gregorian is they either: put the skimmer on a timer, or feed them dt's.

[jpond83]

i would put one in my tank again. most don't last long in captivity

[Troutmasters02]

Seems like hobogato has some success, I think inpart from going skimmerless and wavebox. Maybe he will chime in...

[hobogato]

those who have responded already pretty much said it all. photosynthetic gorgos dont seem to go thru those phases as much as non photosynthetic ones. all will periodically close up and molt that covering. some of mine do it once a week while others have never done it.

if you have a skimmer on your tank and it is not a photosynthetic gorgonian, you will have to target feed it for long term success.

[justahobby]

Is yours photosynthetic or non?
I have had success (one year with good growth) with photosynthetic gorgonias... and bad luck with the non light luvers. So don't write them all off. Diatoms and slime have been the big bad bullies in my experience. Too much flow and you lose polyp extension but too little flow gives you shedding and build up. Obviously the best thing to do in this case is fight the exces nutrients. You can and should brush the build up off with your fingers or a very soft brush and break die off branches.

[hobogato]

IME, any touching of gorgonians with hands or other tools causes them to protect themselves by going into a secretion/shedding cycle. the best way to get any buildup off of them is to hit them with a bit of current by swishing water with your hand or indirectly pushing water towards them with a powerhead.


.... You can and should brush the build up off with your fingers or a very soft brush and break die off branches.

[msmith619]

I used to live in Destin, FL a few years back and would dive and collect the purple gorgonians. Here is my experience: they come from deep water, over 120 feet deep where I found them, they are not photosynthetic, and despite collecting them on several different trips, none lasted longer that a few months. They shed the purple covering and look like thin brown dried up sticks.

[hobogato]

not true of all gorgos - many are photosynthetic and many are not. depends on the species. the non photosynthetic ones are much harder to keep and require lots of food of the correct size. in most tanks, the skimmer removes the food that these gorgonians would eat, and many people who have been successful keeping them in systems with a skimmer use a continuous food drip or target feed them.

[hobogato]

here is one example of a photosynthetic gorgo
http://www.reeflex.net/tiere/2060_Briareum_asbestinum%2001.htm

parent site - really good for id
http://www.reeflex.net/kategorie/67.html

another good site
http://www.seadb.univpm.it/en_Sea-fans-gorgonians-Octocorallia-Alcyonacea_75.htm