Caribbean Sea Plume Care Guide
Pseudoplexaura porosa, the Caribbean sea plume, is a tall photosynthetic gorgonian with feather-like branching, a hardy choice for high-flow marine tanks.
Overview
Pseudoplexaura porosa is a tall Caribbean photosynthetic gorgonian, an octocoral known as a sea plume for its feather-like branching. Like other gorgonians it is a colony of polyps, each with eight pinnate tentacles, on a flexible axis, and it is considered a hardy gorgonian suitable for beginners.
Taxonomy
- Family: Plexauridae
- Genus: Pseudoplexaura
- Scientific name: Pseudoplexaura porosa (Houttuyn, 1772)
- Class: Octocorallia; Order: Malacalcyonacea
- WoRMS AphiaID: 290881 (accepted)
Habitat and biology
The species occurs on Caribbean reefs. It is zooxanthellate, drawing most of its energy from photosynthetic symbionts, with polyps that also catch plankton. As a flexible branched gorgonian it is adapted to shallow areas with strong water movement.
Aquarium care
Pseudoplexaura porosa is a passive, reef-, shrimp- and fish-safe coral and one of the more forgiving gorgonians for newcomers. Strong light is not required, but high flow is essential to prevent detritus settling on the colony. It is best added to an established tank of at least about three months.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm; Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Nitrate: ≤15 ppm; Phosphate: ≤0.1 ppm
- Lighting: 75-175 PAR (medium); Flow: high
- Growth rate: 0.3-1 cm per month (tree-like)
Feeding
Besides photosynthesis, the colony benefits from supplemental amino acids and phytoplankton, filtered from the water along with natural plankton.