Sea Whip Tips?

[SpongeAl]

I have this yellow finger type gorgonian here.

When I got it, it had some black skelton exposed at the base, I figured from when they fragged it. Over time tissue has started to recede in the upper areas.

It's been in there about 2 months, it gets marine snow broadcast feedings 2-3 times a week, the usual water parameters 1.026, kalkwasser top off, 77°, although truth be told my phosphates are creeping up (.090) as I don't have a reactor online at the moment.

It's about 6" away, but offset a bit from the wave maker, so it should have decent flow, although it would probably do better with the current hitting it broad-side, it's tough to situate it that way. It has changed its shape a bit to catch the flow better.

Any pointers? Part of me thinks I need to feed more? (There are no fish in there at the moment)

 

[SpongeAl]

Upon reflection, this picture may have answered my question.

I think I see vermetid snails on there, that can't be helping lol.

 

[TORX]

IF that is cyno that I see on the rocks, then that is probably the main killer. Any algae on the gorg will kill it off as well. I believe that this is an NPS gorg, feel free to correct me if I am wrong, which requires much more then just coral snow for feeding. I would suggest picking up some reef chili or reef roids to feed along side of the marine snow and up the feedings to daily at least. Especially if you have heavy filtration that removes the particles they need. It may be too late for this one though. Gorgs tend to be very hard to keep for a lot of people when mixed in a reef tank due to their high food requirement. I have a few in my seahorse tank that are doing amazing, but when one of them was in my reef tank, I was having issues such as this.

 

[Shooter000]

+1 above

 

[SpongeAl]

IF that is cyno that I see on the rocks, then that is probably the main killer. Any algae on the gorg will kill it off as well.

It's possible. My main rock work does seem to have a burgundy coralline, although it never seems to get on the sand or anything. However I did put in a new rock around the same time as the gorg that has a dark red patch that I've yet to investigate.

I believe that this is an NPS gorg, feel free to correct me if I am wrong, which requires much more then just coral snow for feeding.

Holy smokes I think you are right. I had it pegged as a different species using liveaquaria as a reference, now I'm finding some NPS that resemble it closer by doing a google image search. It resembles an "Indonesian red sea fan" the closest. (Menella sp.)

I would suggest picking up some reef chili or reef roids to feed along side of the marine snow and up the feedings to daily at least. Especially if you have heavy filtration that removes the particles they need.

Indeed my water is very skimmed right now, like a fizzy pop, with fast bursting small bubbles, I'm even starting to get micro-bubbles in the display now. I think the LFS has some roids, I will pick some up before the weekend.

For now I should unplug the skimmer and toss in some frozen brine shrimp. I have a 50% water change scheduled for this weekend, so the other inhabitants won't mind the skimmer being off.

It may be too late for this one though. Gorgs tend to be very hard to keep for a lot of people when mixed in a reef tank due to their high food requirement.

Indeed, they suggest feeding it 2-3 times a day, which is an obvious problem. Although if any system could pull it off, this one might, I have an Octo 110ss skimming 22.22 gallons of water. However it still might make things interesting with the phosphates feeding that often.

So perhaps I will just try to nurse it back a bit, then find it a new home.

It was more or less an impulse purchase, I was wanting to add some fast height and interest to the scape. I did try to ask for help, but when I asked what it was, the guy said "sea whip", I though to myself he could have at least called it a gorgonia lol. I asked if he knew the species as I always look up my purchases on my phone, but as I say they only knew it as a whip. I never know what they are going to have, so I'm always trying to research on a busy Saturday afternoon at Big Als.

lol I got this one way wrong, but I did manage to leave that electric scallop behind. (Man that thing is cool)

I have a few in my seahorse tank that are doing amazing, but when one of them was in my reef tank, I was having issues such as this.

lol it's innocuous phrases like this get me to spend money. I've told myself many times I'm not doing the ponies until a later date, now that I already have this thing....hmmm seahorses eh?

Thanks for your help, I think we solved the case, this puts me in mind of the Rockford Files.

 

[SpongeAl]

+1 above

Noted.

 

[Kman]

It is a NPS coral and it needs to be fed a few times a day. I have that one and it is a tricky one. If mine doesn't get at least three times a day it flakes off the gorgonian core.

 

[SpongeAl]

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[scubasteve]

Make sure you blow off the skeleton part daily if not a couple times a day. If algae starts forming there it's hard to stop receding. If you can take it out give it a dip and keep blowing off daily and with lots of feeding and it should come back. I have to be careful after fragging my gorg and keep it clean or this starts to happen.

 

[SpongeAl]

Make sure you blow off the skeleton part daily if not a couple times a day. If algae starts forming there it's hard to stop receding. If you can take it out give it a dip and keep blowing off daily and with lots of feeding and it should come back. I have to be careful after fragging my gorg and keep it clean or this starts to happen.

OK so I will blow it twice, give it 3 squares and a bath, that's enough to make anyone happy.

I have to be careful after fragging my gorg and keep it clean or this starts to happen.

I already said I'll blow it, don't think I am going to frag it as well.

 

[Kman]

If you don't see the gorgonian core having new tissue growth over it in a few weeks you might want to cut the dead portion at the bottom off and epoxy it to a rock. This will cut down on algae growth and should spur new growth. I had to do that to mine. Worked like a charm.