Corky Sea Finger Gorgonia Care Sheet (Briareum asbestinum)

The Corky Sea Finger is an exceptionally hardy, fast-growing photosynthetic soft coral. Unlike delicate non-photosynthetic gorgonians, it relies primarily on reef lighting for energy, making it a great choice for reefkeepers of all experience levels.

Quick Stats

 Care Level: Easy

 Temperament: Peaceful

 Lighting: Moderate to High (100 – 250\text{ PAR})

 Water Flow: Moderate to Strong (Turbulent)

 Placement: Bottom to Middle of tank

 Photosynthetic: Yes

 Supplements: Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements

Light & Placement

 Lighting: Thrives under moderate to strong lighting. Standard reef spectrums (LED, T5, or Metal Halide) providing 100 – 250\text{ PAR} will ensure strong extension of its fuzzy brown/purple polyps.

 Placement: Secure the frag plug low to mid-tank on stable rockwork or sandy substrate. Leave ample space around it—under ideal conditions, it can rapidly encrust adjacent rockwork or grow erect branch structures.

Water Flow & Shedding

 Flow: Requires moderate to strong, indirect flow. Adequate water movement is critical to prevent detritus buildup between its branches and polyps.

 Shedding behavior: Gorgonians periodically close up and form a thin waxy film to shed accumulated algae or debris. Strong water flow helps peel this layer off, allowing the polyps to fully reopen afterward.

Feeding & Nutrition

 Primary Energy: Photosynthesis via symbiotic zooxanthellae.

 Supplemental Feeding: While not strictly mandatory in mature systems, occasional target feeding with fine particulate foods (micro-plankton, rotifers, oyster eggs, or liquid coral feeds) encourages faster growth and maximum polyp expansion.

Ideal Water Parameters

 Temperature: 75^\circ\text{F} – 80^\circ\text{F} (24^\circ\text{C} – 27^\circ\text{C})

 Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.024 – 1.026

 pH: 8.1 – 8.4

 Alkalinity: 8 – 11\text{ dKH}

 Calcium: 400 – 450\text{ ppm}

 Magnesium: 1250 – 1350\text{ ppm}

 Nitrate (\text{NO}_3): 2 – 10\text{ ppm}

 Phosphate (\text{PO}_4): 0.02 – 0.08\text{ ppm}