gorgonian problems

[fishnbarefoot]

I purchased a gorgonian over the weekend that my lfs had for months. It is deteriating already.It has brown stuff on it and it blows off leaving deteriation. I have a picture but can't figure out how to attach on this board???

I have a well established 180 gallon reef, many corals,good water parameters, 3 - 175 watt 10kk Mh's & 2-165 watt actinc VHO's. I keep my alk and cal kind of high. Can this be a problem? Too much light? Fungus?

 

[jazzyreef]

sounds like it may have been on the way out before you purchased it.

Do you know what species it is?? Gorg's vary widely in their needs- some can grow in darkness, others need light... what does it look like--color, polyp size, etc.

 

[skylsdale]

The dead or dying parts should be snipped from the gorg.

It's hard to help you unless we can identify what species it is.

 

[fishnbarefoot]

I watched it for months and it has been doing great. I can't find the name. I expect it's a local from the Gulf of Mexico, since I live on the Gulf Coast of Fl.It is a greyish purple kind of color with small brown polyps. Was "furry" at the lfs but never opened up much since it came home. I do have a small silver gorgonian that came on LR and it has prospered. I have tried a few over the years and for some reason never did well. I'm frusterated because I can keep some more advanced corals but for some reason I've only been able to keep the one small silver. I wish I could attach a pic!

 

[danmhippo]

How about the placement of the gorg? Most gorgs fare well at med-strong current area. Skydale is right. Snip off the deteriorating portion and relocate the gorg.

It's hard to tell, but I've had gorgs died to just a small bit and came back in 4 months. Are you feeding them? Stirring up detritus in the tank to form a dust cloud can be used as a feeding tool.

 

[jazzyreef]

sounds like briareum or erythropodium spp., which are photosynthetic, and commonly collected in the caribbean for the trade. I agree you should remove the dying parts; also, I would use some sort of coral dip like lugol's solution. I don't know that an Iodine deficiency is the problem or not.


Similarly, I had one die about a year ago that was similar in appearance--mine had polyps that were light purple--same color as the stalk. About six months after I got it, it spawned!!! An egg was released from each polyp, (I didn't see any sperm clouds, nor do I know whether gorgonians have both gametes together--invertebrate zoology is still a year off)
It seemed to do alright for a while, then gradually started losing tissue in much the same way you're describing--brown algae, or at least it appeared to be algae, formed on the surface, and when in the current, it sloughed off over a long time. It eventually got pulled from the tank, after several months of decay.

Hope I didn't discourage you. try dipping and removing the necrotic tissue. Good luck.

 

[esmithiii]

FishNBarefoot:

To post a picture, you must upload it to a site that will host photos, or if you have a static IP you can host it yourself.

Once you have uploaded it to a host site where others can view it, you need to link it here using the IMAGE button you will see when you post a reply (directly under the "Add Reply button")

If you cannot figure this out or if you have a problem finding somewhere to host it, e-mail it to me and I will post it here.

Ernie

 

[reefworm]

fishnbarefoot,
If you don't have access to Borneman's book on aquarium corals it would be a good idea to get a copy - a terrific reference.

As a rule of thumb, gorgonians that have brownish polyps are the photosynthetic types and thus easier to keep if the lighting is adequate. The others - white or colored polyps - tend to be filter feeders and are far more dependent on feeding. It may well be that feeding heavily enough will overtax the filtration of most captive systems.

I would also agree with the advice to snip the dead/dying parts. Keep good flow to prevent infection. In fact, gorgs do well when placed perpendicular to strong current from a PH.

best of luck,
rw

 

[JKurtz]

I had the same experience with a similar (if not identical) gorgonian that I purchased from GARF a while back. Actually, they sent three different varieties bonded to one plug. Two of them deteriorated practically before my eyes. The third survived and has been doing just fine ever since. The survivor definitely favors a high-current location in the tank.
Several sources I've read indicate that this type of gorgonian gets damaged easily in shipping and can deteriorate within hours if infection takes hold. My guess is, that's what happened to your specimen (and mine). It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong to cause the problem since the rest of your corals are thriving. I was equally surprised by my loss because I'd never had one of my corals die before.

Best of Luck!

Jeff

 

[fishnbarefoot]

Thanks to everyone. It's too late. Came home today to sticks. Whew! that was quick! I'm really at a loss. I did the basics like putting in a high current area and all,I do dose Iodine and feed DT's. Heck I don't know. Really frustrating. I would think they would be easier. I appreaciate the help.
Ernie - I'll try to send an e-mail that to you so we can all take a look and hopefully learn something.
Jim.

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

sounds like briareum or erythropodium spp.

Actually, from the description giving of the necrosis, it sounds like neither of those two, which are strictly encrusting with relatively large polyps. I'm leaning toward an erect species; Muricea, Pseudoplexaura, etc. Anyway, the necrosis does sound like it is arising from maybe starvation (need a picture to determine whether the animal is photosynthetic), and a lack of water flow/contact with another solid body.
Chris

 

[Anonymous]

Here's a few pics of my new Gorgonians. Are these the same species?

Close-up on polyps. This was the first day in the tank.

 

[esmithiii]

Here is FishnBarefoot's picture:

 

[jazzyreef]

Definitely not the same species. I really don't know that much about gorgs, but mine resembles an erythropodium in Delbeek & Sprung's 'reef aquarium' book. Mine didn't have the bumpy calyces (spelling???) where the polyps expand/retract. Also, that's much more red than mine. Mine was erect, but probably had encrusted a branch of driftwood and was mounted to stand up. Curious as to the species in the 1st pic--beautiful!!

 

[Anonymous]

Just a note: my top picture shows the actual color. The bottom two pics show too much red saturation typical of actinics' effect on Nikon Coolpix cameras.

 

[Anonymous]

FishnBarefoot,
You have a species of Eunicea, probably Eunicea knighti, (knobby candelabrum). All Eunicea species are photosynthetic. If the colony is relatively shallow in your system (lit by 3 175 watt halides), than you should be filling its photosynthetic needs adequetely. I would still feed, both blanket and target. Water flow must be brisk, and the colony must be kept from coming into repeating contact with any structure. I would take a very sharp, sterile pair of shears and snip off the necrosing tip of the colony a full 2 cm (at least) below the necrosis.
HTH,
Chris

 

[SPC]

Posted by Chris:
I would take a very sharp, sterile pair of shears and snip off the necrosing tip of the colony a full 2 cm (at least) below the necrosis.

Just to add to this I would also place some super glue on the cut area. I had this same thing on an encrusting gorg, cut it twice but the necrosis returned each time. Jerel (Landescaper)recommended I try the super glue, and the necrosis has not returned.
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Great idea Steve!

 

[Tim Reed]

Are those pictures of a gorgonian or some other coral because that was sold to me as a coral... not a gorgonian???

 

[Anonymous]

Gorgonians are a type of coral: class Anthazoa, subclass Octocorallia, Order Gorgonacea.
Chris