Sea Fan Gorgonia

The Red Sea Fan comes from the deep parts of the reefs of the Indian Ocean and has a classic sea fan appearance. It is red in colour and the thin branches are woven creating a mesh-like appearance. The branches have many very small white polyps that are usually only seen at night when the lights of the aquarium are off. The base of this gorgonian is brown in colour, and is usually attached to a small piece of rock. 

The Red Sea Fan is peaceful, but it should be given adequate space away from neighbouring corals or anemones. Underwater epoxy is commonly used to anchor its base to a piece of live rock in the reef aquarium. It is more challenging to maintain this species because they are non-photosynthetic and they require supplemental feeding several times per week. 

In order to inhibit algae and cyanobacteria growth, it is important that this gorgonian is provided with a medium to strong, constant or intermittent water flow. If in the event that it does begin to become covered with algae or cyanobacteria, remove it from the coral immediately, as this will cause rapid tissue deterioration. Algae can be removed gently with the use of a soft brush; combat cyanobacteria by soaking the coral in freshwater of the same temperature for approximately 1 minute. These corals will also benefit from the addition of iodine, calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

The Red Sea Fan should be fed a few times a week with a filter feeding food. Provide a varied diet of live or frozen baby brine shrimp, Marine Snow, Phytoplankton and other suitable micro foods.