Goniopora Pandoraensis

[John Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7504744#post7504744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lechee12
wow that goni grew pretty big ina a few weeks, nice job and score

Thanks!

Actually, the changes during the first 3 or 4 weeks are mostly from the coral becoming acclimated to the environment (water chemistry, water flow, light intensity, feeding). I don't think there is really much new growth during that time. The growth comes once the coral has had time to adjust itself to it's new spot (respiration, inflation/ extension, zooxanthellae density, food).

 

[John Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7505156#post7505156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RandyO
Nice work John.

Thanks Randy!

 

[John Kelly]

A little over 6 months after purchase :

 

[salt newbie01]

Wow John what an improvement!! That is one happy looking goni!! Did you move it in the tank? How about a full tank shot? You do have a knack/gift for keeping goni's happy.

 

[John Kelly]

Hi Patrick,

The pandoraensis has been relatively "easy" to care for and remains happy most of the time. It doesn't seem to be bothered by much or go through a series of odd behaviours like the "Green" Goniopora. I did move it about an inch to the right so that the anemone wouldn't use it as a leaning post. That won't last long though.

My camera is good at taking close ups, but isn't real great at distance (2.1 megapixel). The tank is a 75g and I'm currently experimenting with different lighting on the Gonios. One side is 14k and the other is 10k.

Anyone need a large Sebae anemone?

 

[Herpervet]

Hi,

Very impressive success with your goni's. I'm sure all of us would like to hear some of your methods.

I have one that looked like it was on it's way out then after being moved and heavy phytofeast feeding it did very well.

Now I havn't fed phyto in a couple of months (ran out and kept procrastinating the order) and it again looks like crap.

I started up the phyto again so it will be interesting to see if it makes a comeback.

BUT I really want to know YOUR methods including skimming etc.

 

[John Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7927794#post7927794 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Herpervet
BUT I really want to know YOUR methods including skimming etc.

A lot of what I have done and learned has been posted on Goniopora.org

About my filtration: I am currently doing a filtration experiment on my main goni tank (75g). The water flows into a sump through two good-sized media bags filled with carbon, then through a 5 micron cloth filter, then through a carbon pad, and then into the main sump chamber. In the main chamber is a large DIY venturi skimmer w/mag 7 pump and a phosphate reactor with 250ml of rowaphos. The water that comes out of the skimmer goes through two more carbon pads and dumps back into the main chamber. The water leaving the main chamber goes through a poly filter, then through another carbon pad, and then through another poly filter. After that, it returns to the tank. I've been running this since early May and change out the carbon/carbon filters every 2-3 weeks. I have to change out the carbon a little bit at a time because adding excessive carbon all at once seems to irritate the "Green" Goniopora for a few days afterward. Also, I intermittently run ozone and change 5 gallons of water a week. There was a 25w UV filter running, but I ran out of room for it and had to take it out for now.

The sump (29g) is made to be kind of like a big flow-through canister filter with a skimmer and a phosphate reactor in the middle of it. It is unlit, barebottom, and contains no macro-algae, but I do have some "cooked" live rock in it. It seems to be very effective at keeping the water "CLEAN" . After I installed it, several of my corals slightly bleached (lost zooxanthellae) from the change in the clarity of the water. Also, it must have shocked the system pretty good because two days afterwards a heavy bacterial bloom killed all 5 of my fish. So now there is no need to feed the tank, other than the corals, and no fish to pollute the water.

 

[John Kelly]

8 months. Still growing strong . The tissue on all three of the heads has grown quite a bit in length and width. The top head is becoming a lot more wide; like maybe it is going to form a new branch. That would be neat!

 

[Don Lino]

beautiful...

 

[nebraskareef]

Awesome success story!

 

[grisha]

i like how this thread follows one coral in progress , awesome job

 

[John Kelly]

Thanks everyone.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8298146#post8298146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by grisha
i like how this thread follows one coral in progress , awesome job

I thought this particular goniopora looked unique compared to the other commonly recognized goniopora that form more of a mound shape. In the photos, there is a purple one (G. tenuidens) in the background and a small green one (G. stokesi) on the right side.

 

[Doni]

As awlays, very nice goniopora keeping John!

 

[Herpervet]

Any updated pic's John?

What in your best estimation is the most important factor that will help goniopora and alveolapora capture the food. i.e. I have target fed cyclopeez and various other concoctions of oyster/clam puree etc and the polyps don't seem to be very efficient at capturing the stuff. Any more tips?

 

[John Kelly]

Hi Herpervet,

I've been meaning to update this thread with another pic. At the moment, I'm lucky to even have any corals and fish at all. Our city has been flattened by a huge ice storm over the past three days and we are one of a few scattered houses in a large area that didn't lose power (yet).

If the coral is not in the best health, then the tentacles may be really short, like nubs, and that can make it real difficult for the coral to hold food; the purple ones especially since they already have short tentacles. It will still get some food, but it is best to target as many mouths as possible. If the coral is in decent health and has tentacles, then placing it in an area of slower water flow or turning the pumps off while feeding will help it to hold food.

 

[Herpervet]

yeesh. I hope your luck holds with the power.

Thanks for the tip. The new corals I have do seem to be eating some of the otohime diet in the 200 micron size.(reed mariculture larval diet from japan) and I have the smallest gp diets on the way.

I'll try turning off the pumps while feeding.

cheers,

Pete

 

[John Kelly]

Here's the latest update. Picture was taken this morning. In 2 weeks, I will have had it for 1 year. Both Goniopora behind it are 1 1/2 years.

Sorry the glass is messy , I need to do some housekeeping. Also, the anemone is really going to have to go soon. I am constantly having to poke it with the target feeder to keep it off of the goni.

 

[John Kelly]

1 YEAR!!!

1 YEAR!!!

Here are some 1 year comparison photos:

Feb. 06 Retracted

Feb. 07 Retracted

Feb. 06 Extended

Feb. 07 Extended

We had a really bad ice storm here at the end of January and was without power for 1 1/2 days (no heat). I hastily moved all of my Goniopora to a different location and used that time to renovate the tank. The anemone has gone to a better home (not dead ) and the pandoraensis has been moved to a spot where it can now spread out more. The water flow is hitting it opposite from what it was before, but the lighting is about the same. It is still a little hesitant to come out and extend fully. You can see where it developed acrospheres on the tips of the tentacles from battling the anemone. The top branch is actually quite wide and back in October I posted that it looked like it was forming a new branch. It is. I have a photo somewhere, but just can't find it at the moment.

 

[Tu Ku]

awesome

 

[John Kelly]

13 months.....

The enlarged acrospheres it developed from being next to the anemone have returned to normal size.