I’ve searched forums and seen some similar issues in old threads but wanted to confirm some things and get some opinions.
Display Tank is a 24 gallon AIO 17.5 inches cubed. Noopsyche K7 mini lights.
I purchased a purple whip gorgonian (these are photosynthetic). I live in a very rural area and shipping is sometimes a nightmare. The shipping took 3 days. The water was black and smelled horrible. It was brown and had black tips on every arm. I set it up in a qt with good light and high flow and a few polyps came out immediately. I thought okay, I have something to work with. It shed like mad for a week. It still has a few dark patches partially attached that lift and blow around. Feed phytoplankton or reef energy and it looks like a bush the polyp extension is so good. It’s picky picky about flow. If flow is just right it’s open all night. Off a little and it sleeps til lights on or feeding time. It seems to want feeding at least daily. I suspect it’s using a lot of energy healing. The DT has a super low bioload with only one fish. (Royal gramma basslet) and a few softies.
So, questions: Can we feed reef energy to the display tank and direct feed phytoplankton to the gorgonian without causing issues? (weekly 25% water changes).
Next question, (I’ve seen two different answers) any hope of it regaining color as it heals?
Next question. It’s a moral question. I bought it to be purple. I can’t leave it in the QT because treating fish will kill it. I don’t have room in the DT for another gorgonian. I mean, it’s alive. Would you guys learn to embrace brown and it’s fighting spirit or replace it with a healthy coral?
Display Tank is a 24 gallon AIO 17.5 inches cubed. Noopsyche K7 mini lights.
I purchased a purple whip gorgonian (these are photosynthetic). I live in a very rural area and shipping is sometimes a nightmare. The shipping took 3 days. The water was black and smelled horrible. It was brown and had black tips on every arm. I set it up in a qt with good light and high flow and a few polyps came out immediately. I thought okay, I have something to work with. It shed like mad for a week. It still has a few dark patches partially attached that lift and blow around. Feed phytoplankton or reef energy and it looks like a bush the polyp extension is so good. It’s picky picky about flow. If flow is just right it’s open all night. Off a little and it sleeps til lights on or feeding time. It seems to want feeding at least daily. I suspect it’s using a lot of energy healing. The DT has a super low bioload with only one fish. (Royal gramma basslet) and a few softies.
So, questions: Can we feed reef energy to the display tank and direct feed phytoplankton to the gorgonian without causing issues? (weekly 25% water changes).
Next question, (I’ve seen two different answers) any hope of it regaining color as it heals?
Next question. It’s a moral question. I bought it to be purple. I can’t leave it in the QT because treating fish will kill it. I don’t have room in the DT for another gorgonian. I mean, it’s alive. Would you guys learn to embrace brown and it’s fighting spirit or replace it with a healthy coral?
