How to attach the red gorgonian without cutting?

[dendro982]

Bought yesterday the second, this time big, red finger gorgonian, Diodogorgia nodulifera. This one came unattached at all - the stem ends at the base, as it was cut - have no idea, how it was attached in the ocean, before it was collected.

The first gorgonian was smaller, and had the wider base - just enough for the soft rubber bands. Some time later it attached itself to the rock and rubber bands were removed.

Nothing like this with the second one, and the big sail surface (in a high flow) will add the strain on the base.

Checked the web: most recommend cutting off the soft tissue at the base, and glue the center rod into the LR or epoxy blob.
Something stops me from doing that. Do you know anything non-invasive?

Thought about placing it in the nook in LR, but this is the main mass of the big LR, and gorgonian can't be moved afterwards, and, the second, springing in the flow will rub coral tissues, touching LR, could be abrasions and infection. The first gorgonian moved in the flow together with the small LR rubble - no problem.

 

[Jamokie01]

Only good way to attach a gorg is the way you found online. I use wire strippers to remove the flesh from 1/4"-1/2" of the skeleton. Then I drill a hole the size of the skeleton in a small rock, trying to make a tight fit. Put a drop or 2 of superglue in the hole followed by the gorgonian. The flesh will grow back down pretty quickly.

 

[matttaylor]

How big around is the base w/flesh? Could you possibly use a toothpick inserted into the base, or a small piece of acrylic?

 

[dendro982]

Here is close-up of the bottom:

I don't even see the central skeleton. In the Calfo's article (if I recall right) about fragging, including different gorgonians, was mentioned, that some gorgonians don't have a rigid center, should be tied and will grow over stone with time, like my first gorgonian did:


For now surrounded the new coral by pieces of LR, helps to keep it upright. Didn't opened yet.


The keepers of Diodogorgia gorgonians, post how yours is doing with time, what type of the tank, any advice or observations - will help a lot.
Thanks.

 

[Jamokie01]

Yea, I have a yellow, and like I said, your best bet is cutting off the flesh. They all have a skeleton (excluding briarium) of some sort, some are just less defined. But if you look at your pic you can clearly see the difference between the flesh and skeleton. Non-photosynthetics grow too slowly, and if they are in a current (which they need to be), they just keep blowing over if not properly secured.

 

[dendro982]

Thanks, will do this, if no other choice.

 

[dendro982]

Well, did it. All was not as expected: the wire stripper was unusable - the red outer tissue was not easily separated from the central greyish part, by touch they were as the same, something like soft chondroid tissue. Had to cut it off piece by piece, until reached the greyish matter.
Main coral:

The bottom branch, that was too low:

HoldFast epoxy didn't hold at all - as a dough:

Eventually, after epoxy solidified a little, added superglue gel and inserted the LR wedge in the gap (really hate the sloppy work!):

The gorgonian was handled and exposed to the air too much, could be sick for a long time.

BTW, do you know any links to the information about the internal part of Diodogorgia nodulifera?

Another problem - microworms?

Can you identify, what is it an what to do with them - something like yellow-white microworms or microisopods, ~1/16" or 1.5mm long. Can't get more clear image, sorry.

The bigger bugs are the small isopods, living in this tank since beginning. Cleaner wrasse took care of them, but I moved the wrasse into the bigger tank a week ago, and now have the isopods infestation again. Seems, like I have to buy the small, 1-1.5" fish, able to eat them and fit for the 6g tank.

Thoughts and suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[sndwave80]

Thanks for the information on how to attach this coral. I tried once before and it killed the coral but did not try stripping the tissue away.

 

[dendro982]

2 days later, the main coral started to open polyps:

The bottom part, that was handled too much:

It was not so much stripping, more like cutting through a hard potato