"Feeling warm underwater?" use a Fan

Sea Fan

The Gorgonian is also known as a Sea Whip, or the Yellow Sea Blade. Its branches are flattened and blade-like. Members of the Gorgonians, have rigid structures composed of a calcite and a hard protein called gorgonin. They contain a vast number of tiny polyps housed in a flexible net-like skeletal structure composed of gorgonin (protein).


The behavior of the majority of Gorgonian sea blades is peaceful, but they should be given adequate space away from neighboring corals or anemones. Underwater epoxy is commonly used to anchor the base to a piece of live rock in the reef aquarium. This Sea fan is photosynthetic and requires a moderate amount of light depending on the amount of filter feeding food that is available. They are moderately difficult to maintain, but make a rewarding addition to the well-established reef system.

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, and cyanobacteria can be combated by soaking the coral in fresh water 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 Gorgonian 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, PhytoPlan and other suitable micro foods.