Purple Plexaura Gorgonian
Plexaura sp
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Water parameters
Water parameters are being added.
About Purple Plexaura Gorgonian
General information
In general, gorgonians coming from the genus Plexaura are considered as colonial ocotcorals. They have a branching colony and the axial core of its coral skeleton is usually thorny and hollow with no sclerites. One of the easy identification characterisitics for the genus Plexaura is their polyps which has an 8-pinnate tentacles.
As for the Purple Plexaura Gorgonian, they are predominantly colored violet with white tentacles. This are the water parameters for cultivating Purple Plexaura Gorgonian:
- Calcium: 420 – 440 ppm
- Alkalinity: 2.86 – 4.259 MEQ/L (8 – 12 dKH)
- Phosphates: > 0.10 mg/L
- Magnesium: 1260 – 1350
- Strontium: 8 -10 mg/L
- Temperature: 72° – 78° F (22° – 26° C)
- Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 – 1.025
- pH: 8.1 – 8.4
Diet & nutrition
The Purple Plexaura Gorgonian is not a photosynthetic species. They get their nourishment by snatching small foods present in the water like plankton. Supplemental feeding is highly advised where you can give them brine shrimp and mysis.
Determining sex
The Purple Plexaura Gorgonian should be placed at the bottom portion of the tank. You may need a gel glue or putty to fasten them on an exposed rock.
Breeding & spawning
The Purple Plexaura Gorgonian only requires minimal lighting but a strong flow of water. This is the reason why they should be placed at the bottom of the tank.
Origination
The Purple Plexaura Gorgonian are a subtropical species found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the USA and Canada.
Cautions
While the Purple Plexaura Gorgonian is not aggressive, you still need to give ample space between other species corals. What you should be cautious is during the handling process since the branches are highly brittle and can easily break off.
Acclimation process
Purple Plexaura Gorgonian are purely marine species. Therefore, salinity must be entirely maintained from 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.
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