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Coral Guide |  |
Family: Plexauridae (Octocorals)
Habitat: Shallow to mid-depth areas with strong lighting and wave surge
Light: Low Water Flow: Medium Space: 50+ gal.
Reef Safe: Yes Care Level: Difficult Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Some species lack zooxanthellae and thus feed on microplankton but others have them and do not depend entirely on microplankton.
Natural History: Knobby Sea Rod appears almost like a brown bottle brush when their polyps are extended. Branches grow horizontally instead of vertically like most corals. All species of this gorgonian favor strong current and most (the photosynthetic ones) grow in shallow areas.
Husbandry: This coral genus is only for the advanced aquarist dedicated to their difficult requirements. If not maintained properly, they become covered in nuisance algae and are reduced to small stumps. They require frequent microplankton feedings and should be kept with other organisms such as sponges and filter-feeding molluscs that require the same. Eunicea has a particularly bad odor when removed from the water due to its production of phenols. Mammosin (like penicillin) is repellant to fish, and crassin is also repellant to potential predators
AKA: Candelabrum