Goniopora are very tough to keep. Although they are photosynthetic, they don't do well without being target fed daily. They are found in turbid (mild current) and very nutrient rich waters. Go to that site that Powder Blue gave you and learn as much as you can. Due to the fact that they require constant target feeding, Goniopora are usually starving by the time they get to the consumer.
From what I have learned about Goniopora is that they are highly prone to Brown Jelly infection, and you are going to need to be very careful when handling it so you don't damage the tissue. Any tissue damage will most likely result in an infection, and because they are usually in poor health, they can not ward off the infection even if you give them daily Iodine dips for a month+.
I picked up one that is rather rare, and it did contract an infection. I've been working with it the last couple weeks to try and get it healed up. Luckily, I knew what I was taking on when I bought it a couple months ago, and it was in good health so it's been able to ward off the infection. Despite some tissue loss, it appears to be healing and doing okay.
You need to get on that website and read read read read. Don't be afraid to ask John Kelley questions on his forums, he's very nice and willing to work with anyone that comes on there.
For now, do not place it in the sandbed until you find out if it is a free living specimen or not. If it isn't, then the sandbed will cause tissue damage. I'm not sure if PC will be enough light or not, but I do know that they are fairly light sensitive to MH. This also depends on their colour though.
Hope that helps... please go to
www.goniopora.org!!!!
