Sea Fan/Gorgonian options?

[Delphinus]

Any photosynthetic species will do fine. Any non-photosynthetic species won't. Might be a gross oversimplification but for the most part that's the basic reality.

When you look at a gorgonian/seafan/seawhip, look at the polyps. Zooxanthellae is brown. So if the polyps are brown, it's a photosynthetic species. Flesh colour can be (and is usually) different, most often seems to be purple.

If the polyps are white, red, pink, blue, or purple, or any colour really, then it's non photosynthetic and requires specific feedings to survive. Each species is after a plantkton of a certain size and while it's certainly possible nowadays to simulate most appropriate particle sizes, usually the feedings required will put a huge heavy dent into the bioload of the system.

Most species collected in the Carribean are photosynthetic whereas most species collected in the Pacific are not.

My suggestions for a first gorgonian would be purple ribbon, or purple brush, or purple plume gorgonian. These tend to do really well and are nicely coloured and are photosynthetic. Another good one to look for would be corky finger, it's a much stouter gorgonian and is usually a plain brown overall, but the shape overall that the grow into is really cool.

TheReefShoppe.ca is usually a fairly reliable source of photosynthetic gorgonians. Maybe drop Kelly a line and see what he has or when the next shipment will be.