SALLY JO'S REEF AQUARIUM PICS -5/8/00

GEOTHERMAL AQUACULTURE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

This picture of the week shows one of the most colorful, hardy gorgonians that we grow here at the foundation. The orange Finger Gorgonian is bright orange yellow with red calyces and white polyps. This easy to feed predatory gorgonian can be kept in the bottom of the aquarium in lower light, but it does prefer strong water motion. The scientific name for this gorgonians is Diodogorgia nodulifera. This gorgonian needs to be fed each week and luckily it is one of the easiest ones to feed. This gorgonian has large beautiful white polyps that can catch pieces of flake food and small pieces of frozen food. When hobbyists take the least bit of trouble to feed this gorgonian they are rewarded with beautiful coloration and nice growth.

The bottom of the first picture shows the base of this gorgonian. in the lower right you can see a small colony of Cauastrea that Sally Jo's saved. This small colony of candy cane coral arrived in the shipment of live rock rubble. When I first looked at and I saw no indication of coral growth but Sally Jo did. it is interesting to look back through some of the other pictures of the week to see how this coral has healed and grown.

The next picture of the week shows one of my favorite corals. The PurpleRibbon Sea Blade is one of the most beautiful gorgonians that we grow here at the foundation. This beautiful gorgonians extremely hardy and it does like very bright light and strong water current. The scientific name for this photosynthetic coral is Pterogorgia anceps. The PurpleRibbon Sea Blade often sheds a waxy coating to remove any algae that might be on the surface so when your gorgonians looks like it shedding its skin do not worry. This Gorgonian is very easy to propagate by cutting off the extra branches that are starting to shade your other corals. These branches can be attached to other rocks with Garf Reef Gel.

This picture shows a beautiful white polyps that grow on the edges of this coral. when this coral does receive enough light these polyps will extend each day and they make a beautiful contrast with the dark purple body. If the polyps on your guard on and do not expand fully you may want to move the gorgonians into a brighter light. This picture also shows that this gorgonians it is good company for other corals because it is not very aggressive. Gorgonians make a beautiful addition to any reef aquarium because they have a different shape than most of the corals and they add a great accent of color

This next picture shows one of the most beautiful photosynthetic gorgonians that we grow in captivity. This gorgonian is often called the candelabrum because it is shaped like a beautiful Candlestick. Many strains of this gorgonians have so many polyps that they look like a Sinularia soft coral when they're fully expanded, and they do fill the ecological niche that other soft corals fill in the Pacific Ocean. This is one of the Gorgonian strains that have domesticated very well. These Gorgonians are notoriously bad shippers and often disintegrate when they are imported from the wild. Many of the strains here at the foundation have been in captivity for over five years and the babies from these are very hardy.

FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO PURCHASE, TRADE, AND SAVE AS MANY TYPES OF CORALS AS WE CAN.

IF YOU WANT TO PURCHASE SOME OF SALLY JO'S GREAT NEW CUTTINGS PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO ENTER YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER

`We are having a special on all of the coral cuttings. WHEN YOU PURCHASE 5 AT THE REGULAR PRICE OF $100 WE WILL GIVE YOU TWO FREE CORALS!. If you have any questions please use this form to ask them. WE WILL PHONE YOU AND HELP YOU PICK THE BEST CORALS FOR YOUR REEF AQUARIUM.`

We will continue to provide the most current data on reef farming for both education and profit.