natalia_la_loca Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Hey everyone, I have a photosynthetic gorgonian that isn't looking good. It's a purple bottlebrush (muriceopsis flavida) that I ordered from Aquascapers in December 2012. It was looking great until late last fall, when it started having a really irregular growth pattern. The tips of the branches are bulbous, some of the branch tips are pointing downward (!), polyp extension is irregular. This started to happen a few weeks after I pointed a powerhead toward this gorg, hoping to give it some nice flow; this caused it to bend forward slightly at 15-second intervals. I also upgraded the lighting to a stronger LED in August. I was thinking maybe the powerhead was too strong and moved it so it wasn't pointing directly at the gorg, but the problem hasn't gone away. I haven't made any other changes to the tank since then other than adding a couple of acans in November and January. My other photosynthetic gorgs (Eunicea sp.) are showing no ill effects. Tank specs: 37 gallons Skimmer: Reef Octopus BH2000 Lighting: Lumentek Pro 120 LED from Reef Radiance (max. 60% intensity) Pumps: two koralia 2 on wavemaker; one koralia 1 Canister filter running lignite carbon, Purigen, Poly-Filter; filter floss replaced weekly, carbon 1x/month Water change 10 gallons weekly, manual top-off with RODI Carbon dosing: vodka 5ml daily Alternating Rod's Food and Coral Frenzy 2-3x weekly Temp: 72-74F Sal: 1.025 Nitrate: 0 Phosphate: 0 pH: 8 kH: 10 cal: 420 tankmates: 2 erectus seahorses (Apr. 2013), 1 mandarin (May 2009), 1 hector's goby (Dec. 2012); various softies/LPS/SPS, turbo snails, blue leg hermits Here is the gorg last August before things got weird: And here it is now: Any ideas? Link to comment
metrokat Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Is that an oxydator in the back? When did you install it? Link to comment
natalia_la_loca Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 It is an oxydator--forgot to mention that. Installed December 2012. Link to comment
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