Was the rock from Bali/Indonesia/Fiji, or was it Caribbean (Tampa Bay, etc)?
Not all gorgonians are hard to care for; some are filter feeders that depend on the correct type of flow and food particle size; others are photosynthetic and use filter feeding as more of a 'supplement'. The photosynthetic ones are much easier to keep. I have one of the sea ribbons/razor/cactus gorgonians at home, and it grows somewhat rapidly- lots of flow, halide, and a lot of food.