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Seafans | Gorgonians

So What is it, a Sea Fan or a Gorgonian? Actually their both. Sea fans used to be called gorgonians, they are found throughout the oceans of the world, especially in the tropics and subtropics. The commonly used name for this order of coral is now a Sea Fan, but many aquarist's will always call them Gorgonians. So whichever name you use, they have tiny polyps which form colonies of polyps. In this hobby, sea fan or Gorgonian are pretty interchangeable. Sea fan being used more for those of a certain fan shape. Their polyps are mostly flattened, erect, often branching, and often they are shaped like a fan. There are some others that are not fans shaped, they are more whip-like, bushy, often encrusting. Colors are many, with a range from purple, red, rusty brown, bright orange, green, and even bright yellow.

The Sea Fan (Gorgonian) are very similar to soft corals, they are most often found in the warmer waters around reefs. To keep upright and strong sea fans will anchor themselves in the ocean sand or mud sometimes as much as 8 inches deep. There are over 450 different species found in the oceans around the world. A sea fans size, shape, and appearance are highly correlated with their location. The more fan-shaped and flexible tend to populate shallower areas with strong currents, while the taller, thinner, and stiffer sea fans are found in deeper, less bright waters. Many species of sea fan (gorgonians) have a symbiotic relationship with algae to gain access to a more reliable food source. The algae will carry out photosynthesis and the sea fans will get the energy as well as oxygen.

Photosynthetic and Non-Photosynthetic Sea Fans (Gorgonians)

Photosynthetic gorgonians love light, so be sure to place them in an area of your tank where they will be under moderate to high lighting for several hours a day. Photosynthetic corals take in the light creating photosynthetic algae, called zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae live within the tissues of photosynthetic corals and provide them with oxygen and the products of photosynthesis, including glucose and amino acids. The corals, in turn, use these products as the energy source for building calcium carbonate skeletons and growing more living tissue.

Non-Photosynthetic (NPS) corals need to receive their energy from feeding on food. This can be problematic because they need to be consuming food almost constantly. To take care of Non-Photosynthetic (NPS) corals feed a mixture of food with a range of particle sizes, ranging from tiny phytoplankton to small rotifers and larger calanus copepods & mysis shrimp. Obviously the corals with big mouths want the big food and vice versa. Feeding should be done a few times every day. The amount of food you feed depends on the size of your tank and filtration. Adjust your feeding's based on your corals’ response. Automatic feeders are very popular with Non-Photosynthetic (NPS) tanks. It takes out a considerable amount of the work. These feeders can easily be built DIY or an automatic feeder can be purchased from your local fish store.

Don't Let Your Sea Fans (Gorgonians) be stung!

Photosynthetic gorgonians are fairly easy to keep, but many corals can sting and damage the tissue of the Sea fan (Gorgonian). So make sure you keep them at a distance from other corals to prevent stinging. In general, always provide a few inches of space around every coral in your reef aquarium since many are territorial in nature and could sting or engage in chemical warfare.

Give Them What They Need!

Most of the sea fans available to the aquarist come from shallow reef areas with strong tidal currents and ample sunlight. Therefore providing them with the same conditions in your aquarium is the smart way to go. A moderate to strong water flow is one of the most important factors in successfully keeping sea fans (gorgonians). The moderate to strong water flow helps some shed a thin membrane layer, much like leather corals, every few days to help rid their tissue of bacteria, algae and other irritants. Sufficient water flow helps blow off the mucus membrane ensuring better overall health and longer polyp extension. Sea fans always prefer to be placed upright, standing tall, secured to a rock with marine epoxy. If they are leaning up against the aquarium wall or against another hard surface, it impedes the water flow and harms the tissue.



Red Finger Gorgonian
Diodogorgia nodulifera
Picture of Red Finger GorgonianClick Picture for More Information

Description The Red Tree Gorgonian is an attractive branching tree-like coral, the branches break easily, making it easy to propagate in this way. Other names for the Red Finger Gorgonian is the Red Tree Gorgonian, or Red Sea Rod. This is a very popular gorgonian for Sea Horse aquariums.

Care Level Moderate

Yellow Finger Gorgonian
Diodogorgia nodulifera
Picture of Yellow Finger GorgonianClick Picture for More Information

Description The Yellow Tree Gorgonian is an attractive branching tree-like coral, the branches break easily, making it easy to propagate in this way. Other names for the Yellow Finger Gorgonian is the Yellow Tree Gorgonian, or Yellow Sea Rod. This is a very popular gorgonian for Sea Horse aquariums.

Care Level Moderate

Orange Tree Gorgonian
Swiftia exserta
Picture of Orange Tree GorgonianClick Picture for More Information
Description The Orange Tree Gorgonian (Swiftia exserta)is a great addition to the reef tank. Anchoring this gorgonian to a small piece of live rock so that it can stand up in a tank will make positioning it in areas of high water flow much easier

Care Level Moderate

Golden Sea Rod
PseudoplexauraPorosa
Picture of Eagle Eye Zoanthid PolypsClick Picture for More Information

Description :This is one of the easiest gorgonians to keep. The Golden Sea Rod grows in a vertical, tree like formation. Coming from the shallow waters of the Caribbean and Western Tropical Atlantic, the branches are Rusty yellow in appearance and have a bumpy texture when the polyps are not expanded. When the polyps are open they are a beautiful golden yellow.

Care Level Easy

Purple Bottle Brush Gorgonian
Pseudoterogorgia elisabethae
Picture of Purple Bottle Brush GorgonianClick Picture for More Information

Description The Purple Bottle Brush Gorgonian is also referred to as Purple Bush, Lamarck's Gorgonian, or Rough Sea Plume. It is a branching coral that is closely related to hard corals. It is beautifully branched, forming feather-like colonies and has a beautiful purple coloration.

Care Level Easy

ORA Aquacultured Grube's Gorgonian
Pinnigorgia flava
Picture of ORA Aquacultured Grube's GorgonianClick Picture for More Information

The ORA Aquacultured Grube's Gorgonian, Pinnigorgia flava is a fast growing coral that is a graceful, thin-branched that can be described as tan to pink in color with similarly colored polyps. It is pinnately branched, forming tall, feather-like colonies and has a beautiful coloration.

Care Level Easy

Rusty Gorgonian
Muricea elongate
Picture of Rusty GorgonianClick Picture for More Information

Description Rusty Gorgonian also known as Muricea elongate is an attractive, hardy octocoral that thrives in some of the most adverse environments in the Florida Keys. There is quite a bit of natural color variation in this species. Colors go from a rusty, burnt orange color to sometimes be more yellow than orange. As with most shallow water gorgonian, this species is photosynthetic, so it will do best in a well-lit tank. This is a fairly hardy gorgonia and would make a good starter gorgonian.

Care Level Easy


Purple Candleabra
Plexaura flexuosa Picture of Purple Candelabra Sea FanClick Picture for More Information

Description: Sea fans like the Purple Candelabra create a beautiful display of height and motion in the home reef aquarium. They are easily maintained and propagated, making them an ideal choice for the dedicated hobbyist.

Care Level Easy

Corky Sea Finger
Briareum asbestinum
Picture of Purple Corky Sea FingerClick Picture for More Information

Description The Corky Sea Finger (Briareum asbestinum), often called the Purple Corky Finger, has a beauty all its own. In the wild it is normally seen in one or more erect, finger-like rods rising from it. When not open the fat fingers are purple with slightly raised calyces that are more of a nub than a tube. Long, grass-like tan to golden polyps extend from the calyces, giving it a striking "furry" appearance. The Corky Sea Finger is durable and very easy to care for, its only requirement is a moderate to strong water flow.

Care Level Easy



Blueberry Sea Fan
Acalycigorgia sp.
Picture of Blueberry Sea FanClick Picture for More Information

Description: The Blueberry Sea Fan is also referred to as the Blue Gorgonia or Blue Tree coral. Blue is a very unusual coloration for any coral, and this Sea Fan will make a great showpiece or centerpiece to any reef aquarium. The red or orange base color with intense blue polyps differentiates this variety from other sea fans.

Care Level Moderate

Purple Ribbon Gorgonian
Pterogorgia anceps
Picture of Purple Ribbon GorgonianClick Picture for More Information

Description The Purple Ribbon Gorgonia is also referred to as Purple Sea Blade, or Purple Sea Whip. This particular gorgonian has rows of polyps that extend down the sides of each blade.

Care Level Easy

Purple Frilly Gorgonian
Pseudopterogorgia Bipinnata
Picture of Purple Frilly GorgonianClick Picture for More Information

Coming from the shallow waters of the Caribbean and Western Tropical Atlantic, the Purple Frilly Gorgonian grows in a tree-like fashion with feathery looking purple branches. Branches have a bumpy look and feel when the polyps are not expanded. When expanded tan color floral polyps are beautiful against the purple background. A very hardy gorgonian it will add to both the beauty and to your reef aquarium's diversity.

Care Level Easy

Green Lace Sea Fan
Pterogorgia citrina
Picture of Green Lace Sea FanClick Picture for More Information

Description: The Green Lace Sea Fan, Pterogorgia citrina, also known as the Green Lace Sea Whip, or the Yellow Sea Blade. A very hardy gorgonia found in the shallow waters of the Caribbean and Western Tropical Atlantic. It is an olive green to yellow color with lots of branches. The outer edges are an exciting blue color. They do best in a well-lit tank and fed filter feeding foods. It makes a beautiful addition to a well-established reef aquarium. They do wonders for any type of coral reef aquarium display.

Care Level Moderate

Golden Rod Sea Fan
Diodogorgia Nodulifera
Picture of Golden Rod Sea FanClick Picture for More Information

Description The Golden Rod Sea Fan grows in beautiful fan-like formations. Its branches are deep red or purple colored and covered with beautiful golden yellow polyps. A hard to find, beautiful, finger gorgonian out of the Indo Pacific.

Care Level Moderate




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Photos are representative of each species. All marine life is unique and your coral may not look identical to the image provided.