long time Goniapora struggling

[marc nichols]

I've had a pink Goniapora on our reef for 5 or so years and it had thrived very well, encrusting many times it's initial size and expanding as much as 3.5 inches. In recent months, it has receded, paled and is clearly not doing well. Water parameters are unchanged as far as I can determine. Two possibilities come to mind: a new skimmer about a year ago and a hosting pair of mated Perculas. PO4 loads are unchanged and the coral seemed unaffected by the clowns for a year or so.

I started Elos aminoacids 6 weeks ago with no discernable change with this specimen.

Any other thoughts from tenured reefers? What is the latest theory for feeding these guys?

 

[hypostatic]

Got any pics?

Hey I would try to get the water back to how it was a year ago. A bit dirtier probably. I'd recommend halting the skimmer use for a bit, or at least lowering the frequency.

Also Ive heard that dosing iron can help bring back gonis that have started to decline, especially helping to color bleached gonis back up:
http://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/169622/iron-and-flowerpots-goniopora

As far as feeding these guys, it's actually pretty important. They seem to only be partially photosynthetic, and they really do need some food to survive in the long term. Gonis eat phytoplankton and really small zooplankton, so I'd probably wager that the skimmer had something to do with removing those from the water column and starving your goni. Here's a really good article on the subject:
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen20.html

 

[albano]

My vote goes to the hosting clowns...IMO/E they can slowly destroy LPS

 

[hypostatic]

My vote goes to the hosting clowns...IMO/E they can slowly destroy LPS

Oh, yeah, if the clowns are hosting in them that's also a no-no

 

[marc nichols]

Great advice. Yes, probably over skimmed based on lack of sponges and my 100% eradication of Valona. Will try ZooP to the mix, spot feed and look at Iron.

Clowns....here to stay I'm afraid but they didn't seem to significantly bother the Gonio for a few years.

Thanks

 

[marc nichols]

Hmmm, read the articles. So many reports based on "several or 6 months success" and then drawing some conclusion. This system has been running for about 8 years and the Gonio has been in it and health for about 4 years, declining recently. I would have great difficulty telling people what keeps these things alive, and similarly other inmates. Even after all this time, I've come to realize just how little I know. Keeping a reef system is like trying to play God. Few of us are up to that.

Anyway, proceeding as discussed which seems a sensible strategy all things concerned.

TKS