Gorgonias are photosynthetic Octocorals, but also benefit from some sort of filter food. We feed Kent Zooplex about 2-3 times a week. The Purple Feather Gorgonia closed up for about a week and turned brownish colored. Much to my surprise (and relief) it was simply shedding. On the morning of Feb 7th, the polyps started opening again.
The Feather Duster, Sabellastarte magnifica, is a filter feeder. For a period it was expelling something long and stringy, sometimes an additional mucous looking substance?