Goniopora: advice, care and show-off!

[noy]

Just bought 2 goniopora's at the LFS.
A red Goniopora stutchburyi (I think)

IMG_5754

After 24 hours about 80% of the polyps extended (to some extent) - its opened up more than what the photo shows.

IMG_5761
closeup on the polyps

IMG_5764

The blue/lavender one (not sure what species)

IMG_5750

I'm getting some polyp extension but slowly.

IMG_5762

I would love to hear other's experiences (success or not) especially in terms of how long you had yours and the type of flow/food/water chemistry you had the coral in.

I've have one goniopora in my collection already. I must honestly say, except for squirting some reefroids at it, I don't do much for it. I had this one for over 1 year with very little growth but great coloration. When I originally got it, it was this drab brown colour.


IMG_5768

Mostly, post your photos of your gonioporas past and present!

 

[NeilFox]

I have three.

Here is one I really like about 6 mo's in my care.

 

[NeilFox]

Here he is with his pal.

I just got another little guy the other day. No Pics yet. I will post some later.

 

[noy]

those are nice big colonies. what do you do in terms of flow, feeding?

 

[NeilFox]

Thanks noy. They aren't as colorful as yours though! That red one is very nice!

I don't target feed them much to speak of. I use a commerialy available stuff called ARC marine food that the shrimp farmers around here use for hatchling shrimp. It is tiny pellets but I crush about half to a powder with a mortor and pestle. I have played around with my flow quite a bit so I have quite powerful diffused flow through the rockwork to keep detritus suspended. I also have 11 fish that I feed regularly. The lighting is quite high actualy. I moved them around quite a bit at first. They are under a 14k 150w MH + 4X T5. At first I had all blue but I added 1 cool white. The Goni's responded well to that. The pink coloured one is showng good growth and has recovered alot of tissue over a piece of damaged skeleton.

 

[NeilFox]

Here are the basic ingredients of the food I use. There is no wheat flour in it, bear with me I have to translate:

Powdered Sea Fish
Powdered Blood Clam (very juicy with alot of liquid type clam)
Powdered Clam
Roitifer
Something else I am not sure of
Spirulina
Vitimans and trace elements.

 

[FPSPOLICE]

http://imageshack.us/a/img17/6312/imagepqpi.jpg

my clowns hosted my Green FP

 

[noy]

how often are you feeding?

Also, do you have SPS? Any issues with the nutrients from feeding (if so)?

 

[NeilFox]

Hi noy.

I feed every day. Usually in the morning as I have a couple Chili corals. They also seem to enjoy this food and they have good PE at this time. No issues with nutrients so far. In the evening I stir up the sand this also illicits a feeding response. Every three days I siphon off any accumulated detritus.

 

[noy]

http://imageshack.us/a/img17/6312/imagepqpi.jpg

my clowns hosted my Green FP

you should post a video of that!

 

[noy]

Full polyp extension and single polyp shots


IMG_5914


IMG_5918


IMG_5915


IMG_5922

 

[Dave.H]

I have a green one. It fully opened when I first got it 4-11, after the first water change it closed up and stayed that way for weeks. I moved it to the end of the tank, placed it on a small rock with a very small pump above it. I spot fed it some oyster eggs today,and it started to open some. I hope it is finally getting happy.

 

[noy]

nice stuff. it looks like its fully extending its polyps so that's a good sign (pic 1,3).

 

[Dave.H]

Thanks noy, The first pic is when I first got it. The last one was from the other day. I am still trying to figure out what it likes.

 

[noy]

Noticed the polyp extension is substantial now and the nice fluorescent blue tips are really noticeable.


IMG_6011



IMG_6014

 

[reret10]

I picked up a tiny green one today. They are so sick!!

 

[noy]

I picked up a tiny green one today. They are so sick!!

post pics!

 

[kjboggs]

I've had this large green colony for 4 months and is doing awesome. Has grown quite a bit and almost takes up the end of my 55. I direct feet it at least once a week and it loves it. Mainly gonipower or oyster feast.

 

[psychocoralchopper]

here my little flower garden... unfortunately, the largest purple goni is starting to recede from the base. I think he may not be getting enough food an may have to try target feeding outside the tank...

 

[cbass488]

Added this guy a couple weeks ago, it's my 2nd coral and I absolutely love it. It was new stock day at the LFS store and everybody there was intrigued by it, so I snapped it up before I did my research (which I know is bad) but I loved it too. The owner of the LFS shop was pretty stoked about this one too, he said it's a cool strand that will develop lime green centres on the pink pollips.