I certainly can't claim to be knowledgeable on gonipora, but I've had an orangish-pink variety with purple centers (maybe G. planulata) since last September and it *appears* to be very healthy, although it's growing much slower than I'd like. From what I've read there is not a lot of success with goniopora but the common thinking among those succeeding is that they do best in unskimmed or lightly skimmed tanks (mine is unskimmed), and that food seems especially important. Since my tank is skimmerless there is a good amount of particulate matter, plus I make my own "coral food" based on Eric Borneman's recipe and feed the tank pretty heavy. Also, most of what I've read indicates that they do best when placed near the sandbed (presumeably that puts it closer to a lot of small zooplankton) but they still need moderately bright light (I have VHOs). Flow should be light to moderate so as not to tear the polyps and still allow for prey capture. There is also a feeling that iron supplementation is helpful, although I haven't tried it. My clownfish pair tried adopting it, but after knocking it over twice they decided instead to set up house in a xenia, and haven't bothered it since. Overall, they have a terrible reputation, but I suspect that tanks with efficient skimmers just aren't suitable. I hope that helps.
John
