WTB: Pacific Gorgonian
- Thread starter JeffReef
- Start date
MandM
sick yet brilliant
Good luck finding and keeping one of these. They are beautiful but a real challenge to keep in a captive reef.
Gorgonian article
Wetwebmedia Gorgoinian info
(scroll down in these to see info on Pacific species.)
Gorgonian article
Wetwebmedia Gorgoinian info
(scroll down in these to see info on Pacific species.)
JeffReef
New member
I had a Red Pacific Gorgonian (w/ white polyps) when I first started reefing and I was not able to keep it for very long. I never used to feed corals. DT's live phytoplankton was just getting popular at that time.
I currently have a Red Chile Pepper coral (non photosynthetic) and it's doing well. It's being fed daily with my coral food mixture and it seems to be working. I'm hoping to have the same success with the Pacific Gorgonians this time around.
This Red Chile was a freebie from Marine Flora. Thanks Sam!
I currently have a Red Chile Pepper coral (non photosynthetic) and it's doing well. It's being fed daily with my coral food mixture and it seems to be working. I'm hoping to have the same success with the Pacific Gorgonians this time around.
This Red Chile was a freebie from Marine Flora. Thanks Sam!
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9237998#post9237998 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JeffReef
I had a Red Pacific Gorgonian (w/ white polyps) when I first started reefing and I was not able to keep it for very long. I never used to feed corals. DT's live phytoplankton was just getting popular at that time.
I currently have a Red Chile Pepper coral (non photosynthetic) and it's doing well. It's being fed daily with my coral food mixture and it seems to be working. I'm hoping to have the same success with the Pacific Gorgonians this time around.
This Red Chile was a freebie from Marine Flora. Thanks Sam!
Define "doing well". How long have you had it? What else are you feeding it? The microalgae in DTs are generally considered too small of a size for most gorgonians.
JeffReef
New member
Here is the pic of my Chili Pepper. I started off with one small frag, about an inch or so, two months ago. I now have 3 frags of it (and soon to be four).
Not a sure sign of success, but a good sign, nonetheless.
Quote:juaninsac
"The microalgae in DTs are generally considered too small of a size for most gorgonians"
How did you come up with this conclusion- is it from personal experience or from online articles that you've read?
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Nice! What else is in the food mixture? How often do you feed?
I've never kept non-photosynthetic gorgonians.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2002/toonen.htm
"It is hard to say for sure what is the smallest prey item that an animal can consume, but studies on a variety of gorgonians suggest that nanoplankton less than about 3 - 5 micrometers in diameter are a minor component of the natural diet (e.g., Coma et al. 1994, Ribes et al. 1998, 1999). As such, although DT’s Live Phytoplankton is a great product, it is probably not the best choice for a primary food item for D. nodulifera. DT’s is a live culture of one of the smaller phytoplankton species (Nannochloropsis), and the phytoplankton cells contained in this product are probably a little small (< 3 micrometers, on average) to simulate the natural diet of any of the gorgonian species studied to date. That is not to say that the animals cannot or will not eat DT’s (they may very well eat it quite happily), just that based on the gorgonians studied to date, the vast majority of the natural diet of these animals is composed of larger particles."
JeffReef
New member
Well, if you insist...
Here is my recipe:
2 TBSP of Phyto Feast
2 TBSP of Omega One Pellets (pulverized)
2 TBSP of PE Mysis
2 TBSP Selcon
2 ml of DT's Oyster Eggs
Mix all ingredients and pour into a 4.5 oz. container (empty Omega One container) and top off with fresh salt water mix. The salt will act as preservatives and will keep the mixture fresh (and stink free) while refrigerated. This mix will last me about a week.
I feed 3-4 TBSP everyday, one hour before lights off (7PM), with the sump turned OFF. I turn the sump back ON before I go to bed.
I got the idea of pulverizing the Omega One pellets from Adelaide Rhodes when she spoke in one of our meetings about Copepods.
Jeff
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9260982#post9260982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JeffReef
Well, if you insist...
Here is my recipe:
2 TBSP of Phyto Feast
2 TBSP of Omega One Pellets (pulverized)
2 TBSP of PE Mysis
2 TBSP Selcon
2 ml of DT's Oyster Eggs
Mix all ingredients and pour into a 4.5 oz. container (empty Omega One container) and top off with fresh salt water mix. The salt will act as preservatives and will keep the mixture fresh (and stink free) while refrigerated. This mix will last me about a week.
I feed 3-4 TBSP everyday, one hour before lights off (7PM), with the sump turned OFF. I turn the sump back ON before I go to bed.
I got the idea of pulverizing the Omega One pellets from Adelaide Rhodes when she spoke in one of our meetings about Copepods.
Jeff
Niiiiiice! So, do you somehow direct it at this gorgonian, or just add it to the whole tank? Do you pulverize the mysids as well? Ever consider adding Cyclop-eeze to the mixture?
I'm setting up a Caribbean biotope tank and I'd like to try my hand at one or two tiny frags of non-photo gorg eventually. This is exciting to see.
JeffReef
New member
I don't target feed-I just pour it straight into the tank. I pound the PE Mysis as much as I can before including it to the mix. You can add Cyclop-eeze if you have it. I just use whatever is available at home.
Look up Eric Borneman's coral recipe for more ideas.
Jeff
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