This horny coral order contains all sea whips, sea fans, sea rods, and sea blades, which have a firm interior axial skeleton. This skeleton material, usually a very pliable proteinaceous compound called Gorgonin or possibly a calcareous compound, is covered with tissue.
Non photosynthetic species, mostly coming from the Indo-Pacific, are usually found in deeper water where they colonize walls of caves or are found on rocky and sandy bottom areas. Most require a temperature range between 73° to 81°F (23 - 27°C) along with good water movement and regular feedings of plankton-like foodstuffs.
Many of the Caribbean species are photosynthetic, requiring bright light and good water movement. Both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic species consume plankton-like foodstuffs, e.g., rotifers, baby brine shrimp, and various commercially prepared plankton-like foods.
Their flexible branches are covered with individual polyps and come in various colors. Light as required, and provide moderate to fast water flow. They will not tolerate hair algae or microalgae. Algae nutrients such as phosphate, nitrate and silicate need to be closely monitored.
The Flamingo Tongue, Cyphoma gibbosum, a very pretty mollusk from the Caribbean, is fond of eating gorgonian tissue/polyps. Also, keep your gorgonin specimens out of the range of stinging corals, e.g., Bubble, Elegance, and Hammer corals.
Only a specimen that is attached to a piece of rock should be purchased. If the main stem is not attached to some form of substrate, the entire specimen could deteriorate rather rapidly. An epoxy putty can be use to anchor their base should it not already be attached to a piece of rock. Specimens that have blackened tissue or where the horny skeleton shows through should not be purchased.
Some gorgonian will grow to the water's surface where they form ball-shape tips. Usually, they will branch-out under this bulbous tip and the aquarist can cut the branch, about two inches below, and secure the new stem elsewhere in the aquarium with underwater epoxy to form a new specimen.
Common names include Yellow Finger Sea Rod/Gorgonian, Red Finger Sea Rod/Gorgonian, Orange Finger Sea Rod/Gorgonian, or Tree (whatever color) Gorgonian. Lacks symbiotic algae. Widespread in the Caribbean and found in deeper water, 50 - 500 feet (15 - 160 m). Inhabits shaded areas, under ledges, cave walls, and deep sandy/rocky areas. Difficult to maintain.
Common names include Spiny Sea Fan, Spiny Sea Rod, and Sea Whip Coral. These photosynthetic corals inhabit shallow areas and are quite common in the wild. They do well in the closed systems under moderate light and with moderate water movement.
Common names include Feather Gorgonian, Bush Gorgonian, and Sea Plume. They form large plume-like growths in shallow waters.
Commonly called 'Sea Rod.' They form densely branching gorgonian-shaped structures and inhabit a wide range of water depths. Closed system requirements include moderate to excellent lighting and very good water movement.
Also commonly called 'Sea Rod.' They form a densely branching gorgonian-shaped structure and inhabit a wide range of water depths. Closed system requirements include moderate to excellent lighting and water movement.
Common names include Purple Frilly, Sea Feathers, and Sea Plume. Found in shallow reef areas having very good water movement. The most popular is P. elisabethae and is quite easy to maintain in closed systems with sufficient light and water movement.
Common name is Sea Fan. This fan shaped horny coral grows with the flat side facing the current to allow them to feed more efficiently on the flow of plankton. This is the same way they should be placed in the aquarium, however, they do not fair well in aquariums and are better left in the wild.
Common names include Sea Whip and Sea Blade. Found in shallow reef areas and has a flattened blade-like appearance with a somewhat triangular cross section. Difficult to maintain as it needs very good water movement and very bright light. Rarely do its polyps open in the aquarium, therefore they generally waste away. Better left in the wild.
These non-photosynthetic corals are commonly called Sea Pens. They are cylinder-shaped filter feeders that can dig its lower portion into substrate and stand erect. Some specimens emit waves of bluish-green light at night to ward off predators. Most are light tan, but some orange and off-yellow specimens are seen from time-to-time. If the aquarium does not contain substrate, a plastic bowl about three inches high filled with substrate may suffice.
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