Goniopora Hardy?

[ThisCityIsDead]

Hey guys, I just purchased a Goniopora. The LFS guy said it wasn't difficult to maintain. They require medium light and medium/flow. I placed mine in the middle of the tank.

So, I was just told on here that it is tricky to maintain... Can you guys explain? What are your experiences maybe..?

I only have this coral and a GSP.

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

Oh. Here's a picture of it now. And I almost forgot. Why is the bottom of the coral white/tan... Is it bleaching?

 

[Webmanny]

I can tell that I have two of them and they are hard to get started on your tank, but once they set, they are pretty hardy. Meaning that you have to take your time acclimating them. In my opinion, over two hours. A very slow acclimation. The first one I got was from Bluezooaquatics and they are the ones that recommended a very slow acclimation process. That was 8 months ago and mine is still very healthy and growing new polyps.

Here is what I have learned from mine so far:

"¢ They don't like a super clean water environment
"¢ Every month or so, blow them with a turkey baster or something along those lines (Not too strong, just enough to get some of the accumulated crap on them)
"¢ You don't need to spot feed them, but it helps. I feed mine about once a month and they have grown about an inch since I got it.
"¢ From what I have read online, most people can't keep them alive past a year. In my humble opinion, I think this is because detritus accumulates on them and they rot.
"¢ Mine prefer the sand bed, but they don't like touching the sand. Therefore, I have them on a small almost flat rock and they are happy.


Best wishes with yours and I hope yours makes it and lasts a very long time. I love these and their cousins the Alveopora.

Here is one of mine and the Alveopora I have:
Goniopora(The lighter green area up front is new growth. It normally opens a bit later than everything else):

Alveopora:

 

[Nina51]

OP, have you seen your goni with it's polyps extended? to me, that picture looks like a goni skeleton.

 

[Webmanny]

Sorry, I missed the picture. I would agree with Nina. If this is totally white and stays that way for a day or more, I would say it didn't make it past the acclimation process.

How long did you acclimate it for and what process did you use? I know some LFS that tell you to do things one way or the other, but some don't really know how delicate this coral is.

Zoas and some LPS corals are far more forgiving than this one during acclimation and that is what they base their recommendations on, which is not correct.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

I tried Goni once. I fed it every other day and the polyps grew larger and the mouths on them grew larger. It did well for months. I thought I was Super Queen of Reef Land since they are known to be tricky. But right around a year the polyps started getting smaller and refusing to eat. The colony got smaller and shorter and finally died. After a year of success, I have no idea what happened or why it went so wrong. I swore never to try another Goni.
Pity because they are gorgeous.

Ant success stories out there? (Ie 5+ years)

 

[OrionN]

There are a large variety of Goniopora out there. There are some that are hardier than other. All in all they will all do better with feeding and usually do better with tank with deep sand bed and with diverse microfauna.

Here is a very good article on Goniopora from one of the expert aquarist and well know expert in Goniopora

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/aafeature2

 

[albano]

Does look dead... IMO/E wild caught goni is very hard to maintain...if you really want to try it, get an aquacultured piece from ORA or ReefGen

 

[Tweaked]

Does look dead... IMO/E wild caught goni is very hard to maintain...if you really want to try it, get an aquacultured piece from ORA or ReefGen

+1000. Do not buy direct from the sea IMO. I have all of Reefgens available Gonis, something like 5, and Ora's red Goni. All doing very well.

 

[drtrash]

where can you order reefgen from?Thought ORA was only was only game. Thinking of adding one but have had bad luck in the past

 

[OrionN]

You can have your LFS order one for you. If you live near Corpus Christi I got several I can sell you

 

[albano]

where can you order reefgen from?

They are available from live aquaria...usually available on Divers Den(aquacultured coral section)

 

[drtrash]

Wondering what the pink Goni from reefgen looks like in tank?

 

[Tweaked]

The pink is amazing! Unique also carries Justin's stuff. Justin just announced a group buy for our club as he is a CT native and comes to our stores quite often. Reefgens corals are amazing and all aquacultured!

 

[Webmanny]

where can you order reefgen from?Thought ORA was only was only game. Thinking of adding one but have had bad luck in the past

I got mine from Bluezooaquatics and my experience with them was great. I suggest you try your LFS first as it will save you some time and money, plus you are supporting the local economy.

 

[m0nkie]

I can tell that I have two of them and they are hard to get started on your tank, but once they set, they are pretty hardy. Meaning that you have to take your time acclimating them. In my opinion, over two hours. A very slow acclimation.

wow... I must have been lucky.. I got a lime yellow Goniopora about 2 months ago. Thought it was just like any other coral.. floated it for 15min.. dipped it.. and dropped it in the tank. It looks beautiful fully open. I feed mine coral food x2 a week

 

[drtrash]

placed and order with unique corals, not sure if its a reefgen goni, yellow flame

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

Uhm, I don't understand why people are saying it's dead. It isn't. . It has been spreading its tentacles since day 2. Just like every coral I've gotten, it hid its polyps for a day then took them out. The only coral that hasn't done this has been the toadstool leather. That one was fine minutes after I placed it in. Anyhow, update in the Goni/flower pot: as far as I know it's doing great. It sticks its polyps out mostly during the night/low lighting. Yup...

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

But how long have people been able to keep their Goniopora alive? Is there anyone who can claim 5 years? Even 2 years?

 

[ecksreef]

Green goniopora going on 6 months. After a few months it started to not come out and then I started spot feeding with coral frenzy. Now it is fully extended 24/7. It's on the right. I took this pic when I woke up and noticed the rbta divided.