Are photosynthetic sea fans beginner-friendly?

[Fin]

A rule of thumb that I have always gone by to distinguish between photosynthetic gorgonians and NPS gorgs is the color of the polyps. If they have white polyps, like the popular orange and red gorgs, I avoid buying them, because they are NPS. Brown polyps are usually photosynthetic and easier gorgs to keep. Personally, I have not run into an instance that this hasn't proven to be true. Certainly could be exceptions to the rule.

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

A rule of thumb that I have always gone by to distinguish between photosynthetic gorgonians and NPS gorgs is the color of the polyps. If they have white polyps, like the popular orange and red gorgs, I avoid buying them, because they are NPS. Brown polyps are usually photosynthetic and easier gorgs to keep. Personally, I have not run into an instance that this hasn't proven to be true. Certainly could be exceptions to the rule.

Thank you for the tip!

 

[davidcalgary29]

The polyps on the Grube's are white-pinkish, though, and not really brown -- perhaps a tannish pink. Maybe they lighten up more under higher lighting conditions; Mine is growing up to the upper level of my Evo.

 

[plankton]

Photosynthetic tend to be tidal and enjoy high light and flow. They grow well but they do shed mucus and I even need to turkey baste them sometimes. I also feed phyto and copepods everyday.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Sorry but non photo ones can be kept in home aquarium. I have a friend who grows a nice yellow one.
I recently got my order from this site and yes they're not a robbery site. Lol. I didn't buy a 1/4" frag of something for $100. Yay! Lol.
In my order was a purple stony gargantuan with white polyps im pretty sure is photosynthetic. These are my opinions and reports. Lol. I don't wish to argue only state my exp.
D

 

[Paul B]

You certainly can keep non photosynthetic corals in a home tank. But not for long. They will start starving as soon as you get them.

Those corals should live forever but in a trank I doubt you could keep them for a year or two. I hope so, But I doubt it.

Of course I could be wrong as I am not the God of Non Photosynthetic sea fans.

 

[Fin]

The polyps on the Grube's are white-pinkish, though, and not really brown -- perhaps a tannish pink. Maybe they lighten up more under higher lighting conditions; Mine is growing up to the upper level of my Evo.

I have had a Grube's. Compare them to the red and orange NPS that have distinctively white polyps. Much whiter than the Grubes, IMO anyway. I am not saying that you can't keep NPS corals, I said that I avoid them. Just my experience.

 

[ncjeepguy75]

I was trying to take current pictures of everything last weekend. Here are the gorgonians I have. The 3 on the frag rack are the NPS ones and I've only had them for about a week so I put them there to monitor them before I decide on final placements. The photosynthetic ones have all been in the tank for at least a year and started out as sticks.

@Trouble1375 looking good!....I just got one of the orange (with white polyps) and purple (with white polyps) that you have (on the frag rack)...they were sold to me as non-photosynthetic...which either is fine with me because I feed heavily and use benereef, phyto, oyster feast type foods...any pointers in keeping them open and looking good?...by the way - tank has been setup for 2 years....