Sea Fan

About

Found on subtropical reef slopes from the western United States down into Mexican waters, Eugorgia rubens is a gorgonian sea fan that inhabits moderate depths. Typically in the range of 24 to 30 meters in the wild. Like all gorgonians, it is a sessile colonial organism, anchoring itself to hard substrate and extending its branching structure into the water column to filter-feed on passing particulates. In the aquarium, that natural lifestyle translates to one clear requirement: robust, consistent flow. This species needs a strong, well-directed current to keep its polyps supplied with food and to prevent detritus from settling on the colony, which can lead to tissue recession. Lighting needs are moderate rather than intense, which is worth keeping in mind when choosing a placement on the reef. Eugorgia rubens is considered reef safe and does not pose a threat to stony corals or other invertebrates nearby. That said, it is not a beginner's coral. Gorgonians as a group tend to be unforgiving if flow, feeding, and water quality are not kept consistently on point. Hobbyists with some experience maintaining non-photosynthetic or low-light filter feeders will have the best results with this species.