Goni receeding :(

elChino

elChino

New member
I am very aware of the difficulty that comes with owning a Goniopora but mine has been quite healthy for a decent amount of time (7+ months) and is now showing signs of recession around the base where it was normally fully covered. Is this normal or am I another victim (or should I say, is IT another victim) of an unfamiliar habitat?

My tank is almost a year old and I am battling a bit of cyano at the moment which is near the base of the Goni. Could there be a correlation? Or could it just be it's time?

Please, experts :) I beg you, help me with this and please offer any advice as to how I can save it or stop the recession.

It isn't showing any other signs or anything, it looks really good still except the recession. I also just read that they like to be near the top of the tank which I didn't know, it has always been near the bottom and still done very well.

Thank you in advance.
 
It sounds like it could be tissue necrosis. If it is, there's really nothing you can do. We've had TN take out one of our gonis in a matter of days once it started. It's very quick. Are you feeding it? If so how often? I'm sure you know they come from very nutrient rich waters so there should be an abundant supply of DT's, oyster eggs or cyclopeeze for it. Try to make it comfortable. Keep me updated.

Kerry
 
Hmm... that's not good. I do supplement DT's 3 times a week and I spot feed it cyclopeeze but not that often. What's a proper regimen for feeding? I'm really upset about this, it's been my favorite piece for a long time. So nothing can stop tissue necrosis? The recession started nearly a week ago or more, it's not a lot but just like the first row around the bast on one side. Could the cyano cause this, do you think?

Thank you so much for responding, I was hoping to hear from you guys.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I do have a clown and it does host in it, as well.
 
Well the clown hosting is not good for the goni. You can slow down the necrosis by giving it a reef dip for about ten minutes. Be forwarned, that gonis do not like dips but it might help some.
 
Thank you again for your expert advice. I think I will try moving it and feeding it more before I try the dip. How oftern should I be feeding it?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6560155#post6560155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elChino
The recession started nearly a week ago or more, it's not a lot but just like the first row around the bast on one side. Could the cyano cause this, do you think?
Click to expand...
Is the cyano actually touching or growing on the goni tissue and/or exposed skeleton? If it is, the cyano will cause the tissue to recede. Also, if this is happening, the cyano will grow on the exposed skeleton too and the problem will continue until the coral has no tissue left. Is the cyano red or green?

Does the tissue in the recessed area appear dangling, loose or rotting (brown jelly)....... or is it just completely clean gone with white skeleton showing? From your description, it doesn't really sound much like an infection. If the tissue is completely gone vanished, then watch for little amphipods to creep out from under the edge of the coral and start tearing at the tissue. They will make their way around the lower perimeter and begin to strip the coral from the base up.

What kind of lighting do you have the coral under? If you are using metal halide, do not put it near the top of the tank.

Definitely move the coral to a different spot and keep it fed with cyclopeeze on a regular basis.
 
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The cyano wasn't touching the base, but it was very close. It is red cyano. The tissue isn't dangling or rotting, just recessed about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch, completely gone with the with skeleton showing underneath. A very clean recession, no visual sign of rotting or infection.

I have PC lighting, about 260W on a 55g.

I went and bought so Liquid Life today but they game me Bio Plankton, should I return it for Marine Plankton if they have it or is that still ok? I want to give it the best choice so if Marine Plankton is better, I will see if they have any of that.

Thank you for your concern, time and help. It's greatly appreciated.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6571026#post6571026 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elChino
I went and bought so Liquid Life today but they game me Bio Plankton, should I return it for Marine Plankton if they have it or is that still ok?
Click to expand...
Return it and get the Marine Plankton.

What are your calcium/alkalinity levels like?
What color(s) is your goni?
 
Haven't tested for calcium for a while. I usually have to take my water in for that one my alkalinity was a little low and i'm using reefbuilder for that.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6571577#post6571577 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elChino
Haven't tested for calcium for a while. I usually have to take my water in for that one my alkalinity was a little low and i'm using reefbuilder for that.
Click to expand...

IF there are critters knawing at the lower perimeter, which is kind of what it sounds like to me, this is not a food related health problem. Make sure your calcium/alkalinity levels are where they should be, move the coral to a different spot (if you haven't already), and check to see if there is a small amphipod colony living underneath it. Try to keep an eye on the area at night.
 
yeah, i will have to keep a closer eye on it but i've never seen anything near it. i did move it from the sandbed to about 3/5ths up the tank and it still opens up to it's fullest and is looking good as always but i will keep an eye on the base of it as well as keeping my levels where they should be. i didn't realize those small crustaceans would bother it. i will make sure that's not happening, too.

thanks!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6582632#post6582632 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elChino
yeah, i will have to keep a closer eye on it but i've never seen anything near it. i did move it from the sandbed to about 3/5ths up the tank and it still opens up to it's fullest and is looking good as always but i will keep an eye on the base of it as well as keeping my levels where they should be. i didn't realize those small crustaceans would bother it. i will make sure that's not happening, too.

thanks!
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention, if the recession turns out to be caused from critters eating at it, the critters aren't tearing at it anymore after it is moved. The tissue surrounding the area may either heal or break out with brown jelly. I would wait a couple of days and observe it before you start feeding it because the food will encourage a brown jelly infection.

I didn't realize they would bother them either until I saw the recession and observed this little monster and his friends tearing at it. Notice the tissue perimeter to the left of the amphipod. That is all new growth.

Close-up.jpg
 
good to know. i have moved it and haven't seen a single amphipod or anything picking at it. although, where it's at is irritating my gorgonia so i will have to move it again. i'm just running out of room up near the top.

it seems the side that isn't receeding is almost extending past the skeleton, almost like the new growth in that image.

also, something unrelated to the recession, probably, but i do have 'buds' on my goni that i've thought were babies but haven't fallen off yet and it's been quite a while, maybe somewhere around 3 or 4 months or even longer like that. i hope it's just taking it's time and not another problem, altogether.

thanks for taking time to post the picture and help me out. i really don't want to lose it. although, i fear the inevitable.

how long have you had yours?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6589715#post6589715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elChino
good to know. i have moved it and haven't seen a single amphipod or anything picking at it. although, where it's at is irritating my gorgonia so i will have to move it again. i'm just running out of room up near the top.
Click to expand...
:) One of my gonis sweeps the top branches of my gorgonian. Parts of the branches eventually fall off, which creates nice little frags.

it seems the side that isn't receeding is almost extending past the skeleton, almost like the new growth in that image.
Click to expand...
If your coral was originally "free-living", I think the new growth would continue on underneath the coral a little bit. Mine was cut off of a substrate, which makes it appear like a "free-living" specimen, but it is not. I think this is one of the largest problems with goniopora and brown jelly infection....but that is another topic. When you move yours again, check underneath to see if there is a flat area or attachment scar where the coral was broken or cut off of a substrate.

also, something unrelated to the recession, probably, but i do have 'buds' on my goni that i've thought were babies but haven't fallen off yet and it's been quite a while, maybe somewhere around 3 or 4 months or even longer like that. i hope it's just taking it's time and not another problem, altogether.
Click to expand...
It is taking it's time. My "Mothership" Goni currently has 15 buds on it. Some of them are 9 months old. The older ones look like they will drop within the next month or two. When the coral is retracted, it looks like a "FrankenGoni" :D You can see it here
http://www.goniopora.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=12&pos=7

thanks for taking time to post the picture and help me out. i really don't want to lose it. although, i fear the inevitable.
Click to expand...
Your welcome. I hope that whatever is causing the problem stops and that your coral heals without a brown jelly incident. Don't be suprised though if a few more polyps recede before the coral starts to show signs of healing.

how long have you had yours?
Click to expand...
The one in the picture I have had for 4 months. It is a low light barebottom tank w/ skimmer experiment. It was a picture of health until the amphipods started munching on it. My calcium slipped down on me (320), which is why I asked you about your calcium levels, but I also think part of the problem is the growth form of the coral itself.
 
it's still doing ok. i don't think it's receeding any further. i keep meaning to take a picture when i first turn on the lights so i can show you but i always forget. :) as i mentioned before, i did move it up close to the lights but i'm not happy with it's placement but i'm at a loss as where ELSE to put it.

*going to look to see if i can take a picture to show you*
 
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