Tropical Fish Forums

[bowkry]

can anyone tell me what this is? I can't find it in any book
http://ca.msnusers.com/bowkry
then click pictures

[Mike612]

Bali Blue Sea Fan, Acalycigorgia sp.

http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=02-1211-10
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+601+1160&pcatid=1160&N=0

Hope the links help.

[bowkry]

thank you very much

[bowkry]

has anyone had any luck keeping them?

[FloridaBoy]

Bowkry, you won't find a lot of success stories out there, but there are some advanced aquarists keeping them.

In the world of Gorgonians, there are two sides, photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic animals.

This sea fan you are looking at is NOT photosynthetic, it relies on a great deal of target feeding just to survive in most aquariums. They tend to slowly starve, even in the average reef system. The feeding of these animals usually requires dumping a fair amount of suspended food in the water column and often results in rising nutrient levels in the tank. There are some advanced aquarists who have success, but you have to be prepared for the level of care they need, and they are often maintained in a specialized system dedicated to the well-being of suspension feeders. Here are a few links that may help you:

A good overview of Gorgonian care by Rob Toonen:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/3/inverts

Generally speaking, the photosynthetic species are a little easier to maintain, as long as you don't allow algae to smother them. Here are some examples...
http://www.garf.org/36/gorgallabout/allaboutgorgs.html

Regarding non-photosynthetic species:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=971170
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Keepin' marines happy for 25 years

[bowkry]

I have a purple gorg. that I have had for some time and it is a filter feeder. I feed it photoplantin and snow, and when I feed my fish its gets all fuzzy, I do not have aproblem with taking the time in trying to feed it, I just hope that it responds. It is the most amazing thing in my tank.

[FloridaBoy]

Excellent, please post some photos...
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Keepin' marines happy for 25 years

[bowkry]

I added some more pix. I know my glass is dirty I have to go buy blades.
It is a 165 or so (its 7 feet) 50 gal sump and 30 gal ref. Running 2 250 watt halides on a pfo duel ballast and 4 65 watt compact 2 attinic 2 duel blue
http://ca.msnusers.com/bowkry/shoebox.msnw

[bowkry]

The pix that says in bloom is when I feed it ( the best reaction I have had is squirt some realy small brine rite at the gorg)

[FloridaBoy]

Ahhh yes, I see it there, thank for the pix...
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Keepin' marines happy for 25 years