Goniopora : Your Tricks n Tips

[LeLutinBanni]

I just start you use those products yesterday :

Kent : Koralle VM

Seachem : Reef Plus

Seachem : Reef Phytoplankton

I juste want to give him the extra Iron that gonio need and my blue goni seem to react to phyto and coral frenzy

 

[shred5]

I just start you use those products yesterday :

Seachem : Reef Plus

I just started using this too... I was dosing iodine, iron, amino acids and magnesium separate to my goni tank and this has them all plus vitamin c.. So far very positive results.

Also instead of adding separate foods like rotifers, cyclopeeze, oyster eggs, bbs etc. I have started using Rods coral food since it has everything in I was mixing up or feed separately, again positive results. It just makes things easier and saves money buying so many different foods. . I really thought it would not work because certain gonis reacted different too different foods and size of foods. I still like to feed live rotifers when I can but I need to set up a new culture.

mariner2005 how is the goni doing?

 

[Korrine]

Test your alkalinity levels. Mine react bad to lower alkalinity. Pretty tolerate of lower calcium but not alkalinity.

A phosphate level of 0 is impossible. It requires a good test kit that reads low enough like a hach or merck which are expensive. Most hobby test kits do not real low enough. Test kits only read orthophosphate. Also you will get lower readings because the algae is consuming the phosphate. Testing the tank for phosphate is pretty much useless, you have algae you have a phosphate issue except with dino's.

You can get a Hannah Checker for $50 now. From what I've read, they test really close to the expensive ones. I have one and like it. Shortly after I first set up my tank I had .24, I think. I employed GFO in a BRS reactor and it has been 0 since. I did change my gfo w/out checking the phosphate, though. I don't have an algae problem, but when it starts creeping up I will change the gfo again.

Thanks for the thread everyone! I was pondering a goni and this is a good read

 

[shred5]

Thanks for the thread everyone! I was pondering a goni and this is a good read

I would recommend the ora red if this would be your first. They are much easier to keep and not as sensitive as other gonis. Also make sure it is healthy when you get it and not bleached. They can be really hard to bring back if not healthy.

Remember most goiniopora will require extra care than most other corals. Honestly I almost treat my goniopora the same way I would treat a azoo (nps) tank. Most will require feedings and it may take a few different foods till you find one the goni will accept. Sometimes it comes down to particle size.

 

[Korrine]

Thanks! I may get one eventually. I'd also like sun coral. I'm just researching how I want the layout of my tank right now

 

[shred5]

Another thing I would like to add is I use a carbon source on my goni tank to help increase bacteria populations. I also add bacteria to boost populations occasionally. I think some goniopora if not all can feed on bacteria as a food source.

I think in the past the hole idea of goniopora surviving in dirty tanks partially came from the fact dirty tanks can support higher populations of bacteria and also plankton.

I do not add the carbon in higher doses like you would to create the Ultra Low Nutrient System but enough to help boost bacteria population.. I believe this helps some species of goniopora.