Gorgonian compatability

[Jake007]

I have a typical yellow finger gorgonian with white polyps. Can this touch soft corals without damaging it? Specifically, kenya tree, green star polyps, zoo, or recordia?

Also, I seem to get brownish/greenish hair algae on it that I need to brush off. Is this normal? Should I move it to an increased flow area? Will it do OK in a higher lighting area?

 

[CuttleKid]

I wouldn't place it near zoanthids. I had a colony that spread toward some of my sps corals and killed them. I'm not sure if it would be the same with gorgs but I would be cautious. As for the algae Im pretty sure thats normal and I think you are right on when you said to move it to a higher flow area. The gorgonian shouldn't bothered too much by higher lighting as long as you continue to feed it, it should be fine.

 

[Jake007]

OK... I will move to a higher flow area and brush off first. Thanks.

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

Also, I seem to get brownish/greenish hair algae on it that I need to brush off. Is this normal? Should I move it to an increased flow area? Will it do OK in a higher lighting area?

My experience with this gorgonian (assuming we're talking about the Caribbean Diodogorgia nodulifera) has been that you need to either keep it out of the light or keep it clean by gently wiping it down periodically. Higher flow can help keep them clean, but high flow has also IME caused them to not extend their polyps as much.

 

[Jake007]

Well I moved it to the higher flow area not touching anything. I will keep an eye on the polyp extention. If it looks like it is not extending as much... I will move it back to a lower light/ lower flow area. This one did have great ployp extension in the lower light / lower flow side of my tank.