need help with new gorgonian

[teemee]

I went slightly crazy this weekend after having read so many posts on this section of the forum about gorgonians and bought 2 Indo Pacific and 3 Caribbean gorgonians. Everyone has extended their polyps and seems to be doing well except for the one pictured. I'm not even sure what its called, all I know is that it came from Sulawesi province in Indonesia. I had it perpendicular to the main powerhead which could be part of the problem, and I've since moved it so it receives more flow, but still no polyp extension. They were extended at the LFS, in a dark tank, so I was thinking maybe they only come out at night?
If anyone has any info that could help, that would be great.
I feed a homemade concoction of cyclopeeze, frozen mysis, phytoplankton, selcon, rotifers and spirulina brine, which is for fish, nps, and inverts. Its not easy to come across all of the food you guys have in the States here in Canada, but if you have any suggestions, please let me know! I'm going to try and scout out some capelin roe in Chinatown this week.
Thanks,
Margaret

 

[coltrref]

hello Margaret, welcome to the world of the gorgonias, they are beautiful animals.

the gorgonia of the image is Verrucella and it is nps (azoox).
in my experience, this one species needs moderate - high flow.
the extension of the polyps can always be with light or dark, when it receives food.
the food homemade is well.
feed them every day

 

[teemee]

Thanks Colt! Its hard coming across beautiful gorgonians here, other than photosynthetic ones and the impossible blueberry gorgonian.
I'm a big fan of your tank along with some others here on RC, and hope over time I can get my hands on some more nice gorgonians and other nps corals
Glad to hear my food is okay. I'm going to try and get my hands on some rotifeast to add to the mix for the next batch.
I've had a couple of polyps start to open up, so hopefully it was just the shock of being somewhere new

 

[coltrref]

thanks Margaret

my Verrucella:

 

[teemee]

Well, still no polyp extension - wishful thinking, I guess!
My veruccella is now maybe 1/2' below and in front of my MP40 on full blast, so at least no algae is collecting. I've added two types of zooplankton to the food I was already giving, as well as adding another powerhead on the opposite side of tank. I don't know what to do...
Could it have anything to do with the fact that I have recently been using tap water instead of RO? I've been adding prime and allowing the water to sit at least overnight... ugggghhhh I've probably handled it too much trying to move it around, but I haven't had any tissue loss... I don't know what more to do

 

[slapshot]

Well, still no polyp extension - wishful thinking, I guess!
My veruccella is now maybe 1/2' below and in front of my MP40 on full blast, so at least no algae is collecting. I've added two types of zooplankton to the food I was already giving, as well as adding another powerhead on the opposite side of tank. I don't know what to do...
Could it have anything to do with the fact that I have recently been using tap water instead of RO? I've been adding prime and allowing the water to sit at least overnight... ugggghhhh I've probably handled it too much trying to move it around, but I haven't had any tissue loss... I don't know what more to do

They hate phosphates and Nitrates! Go back to R/o water. Then just give it a lot of flow and leave it be. It will open when it is ready. You might also try lightly rubbing it with your fingers that stimulates them sometimes. Most Gorgonia will close up for a time, then shed and open again. It is not unusual. Now I wish I could get the polyp extension Coltrref has. Simply amazing.

 

[coltrref]

It is not unusual. Now I wish I could get the polyp extension Coltrref has. Simply amazing.

thanks my friend