Rehabing a Gorgonian

[KillBill75]

I just recieved a Yellow finger gorgonian that has been slowly deteriorating over the last several weeks in a friends tank with crap for Ca++ and Alk routine!
Any way, I've dipped it prior to adding to my system and was wondering what would be proper for a succesfull rehab.
P.S. I have in an area of lower light (not dark) because of fear of burning with my VHO & MH lighting.
Thanks.

[mbeach66]

sorry to barge in on your question, but im going to add one to this post that maybe you can help me with. I just recently got a new lighting system, VHO's and i find that the Algae has grown like 10x faster! how can i solve this problem besides cleaning the glass everyday?

Thanks, and sorry i don't have advice for you on your coral, as i am still a novice! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[brody98]

killbill sounds like your doing everything you can, time to let nature take its course. good luck /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angelwings.gif

[brody98]

mbeach are your lights brand new or new to you? If the lights are new then you must have way too much nutrients in the water. If that is the case make small water changes for a few days to get the levels back to normal, if they are used, time to get new bulbs. When the bulbs are worn out they emit the wrong spectrum of lighting, one that lends itself well to algae growth

[mbeach66]

the lights are brand new and also new to me!
Do you mean nutrients as in nitrates and nitrites and such? if not, how can i test for these nutrients?

[brody98]

Well sort of.. What type of algae do you have? Green algae that look like a slime mat or does it look like tiny hairs? Or is it brown, or red algae that looks like a slime mat. The excess nutrients are from over feeding. It’s basically dissolved food/fish waste that your skimmer isn’t pulling from the water. I know you said you got vho's but how large is the tank and how many watts are you running and what Kelvin temp are the bulbs?

[mbeach66]

looks like green algae..no hairs. i am getting a skimmer for christmas /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif . i have a 40 gal, with 110 watts i think 10000K., make sense? hope so! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/spin.gif

[KillBill75]

I also have a 40 gallon with x2 75 VHO's & a 175 watt Metal Halide.If the tank is a new venture (within 3 monthes) than this is a natural progression. But if not than it is As Brody stated, you should test for phosphate at your local fish store or buy the kit. Phosphates will creep up on you if you forget to do a monthly water change of at least 10-15% and this is due to food not being consumed by fish and or critters.
As you my 40 gallon is susceptible to quick chemistry changes so we need to stay on top of it, I really don't know how guy's with little nano reef's do it.
Any Way Good luck.

[KillBill75]

DON'T WAIT TILL X-MAS BUY ONE NOW! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bigshock.gif

[mbeach66]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif YES SIR!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[brody98]

I have gone without a skimmer for amost a year before. It can be done!! you just need to keep on top of the feeding and water changes

[KillBill75]

Sorry /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[brody98]

Sorry I didn’t mean anything by saying that, I just meant if you don’t have the cash you can get by without one, but you really, really got to stay on top of the water changes and limit your feeding. I had no choice my cpr sump/skimmer went to crap on me and I was in no position to buy anything let alone saltwater stuff at the time. as soon as I got back on my feet I went out and got a Aqua-C EV. If you have the funds by all means get a skimmer it makes life so much easier. Sorry my friend I didn’t mean to sound like a jerk. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif

[KillBill75]

No worries compadre!I was actually refering to mbeach66
But it's good to see we are equally scrapping up funds to keep our vice alive!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/peace.gif

[brody98]

ok cool /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[cheerncougar]

were you exposing your gorgonian to air? if so that could have also been causing the die off