Purple Frilly Gorgonian Sea Fans

[puks]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking about buying Purple Frilly Gorgonian Sea Fans.

Based on the description it's Photosynthetic Gorgonians.

I'd like to know

- How big it might be when growing?
- How fast it grow?
- Is it peaceful to other corals?
- How much space to give between it and other corals?


Thanks

 

[dbl]

I'm sure someone with a great deal more experience than I will answer, but I've had them in my tank for about 5 1/2 months. It has grown at least an inch or two during that time. I have it on the sand bed in what I would say medium light, but pretty good flow. It's my understanding they need good flow to help keep them "clean". I have a decent sized plate coral at their base (not shown in this older picture), and everyone seems to be getting along!

This was under the blue lighting, but they really are purple!

 

[puks]

How flexible is it? I mean if it moves far horizontally under the flow.

 

[dbl]

I'm not sure if I would call it flexible, but it sways nicely, a couple of inches either way, with the varying flow of the tank. The one thing I did discover, is I had to burry the little piece of live rock it's attached to a little (probably close to an inch) so it didn't blow away. When first put in tank, it blew over a couple of times.

 

[puks]

Do you know how to manage it if it grows to large?

 

[dbl]

Just took another shot so please forgive the blue, crappy cell phone picture, and "Mike" for photobombing. I didn't turn the pumps off and this picture is taken from nearly the same perspective to try to give you an idea of movement. You can also see how much it's filled in during the short time I've had it. You'll have to take my word for it that it has grown around an inch or two in height.

Your question regarding managing growth is a good one as you can see it's about to get very friendly with a very large hammer. I guess when the time comes, I too will be posting the question here, or simply finding a new place to park it.

 

[puks]

Thanks dbl. It was very helpful.

 

[dbl]

You are very welcome. Hopefully someone else will chime in as well, as all the above is merely based on my limited experience.