My goni is not happy. What can I do?

[janakaybravo]

I have a beautiful red flower pot coral (goniopora) that I've had two years. It's grown, always been healthy and extended. Two days ago it sucked all its tentacles in and has not come back out. I have an sps dominated tank and all my other corals and anemone and lps are fine. My levels are the same and nothing's bothering it that I can tell. I haven't added anything new to the tank and the goni is sitting where's it's always been. What could be wrong? Anyone can help?

 

[italia]

Gonis in my knowledge have been hard to keep in captivity over LONG periods of time. 2 yrs is very good!

So u said nothing has bothered it, moved it, levels are all the same and in check..

what about water temps? sure they might be in the "safe" zone but what about temp fluxuation from night and day? what temps does your tank drop at night and peak at day?

what is ur water change schedule? how often?
do you target feed the goni regularaly?

 

[janakaybravo]

The red gonis are easier to keep than the green ones. My temp stays pretty constant, controlled by AC3, usually stays within 1 degree, 80 or so all the time. I am due for a water change, but I change a lot of water. I have a 120, and I change 40 gallons out every two-three weeks for my sps. I have raised it up and examined it and I don't see anything. Maybe a Lugol's dip for a few days or would this kill it? Also the goni gets fed Liquid life cyclopeze pretty regular.

Thanks.

 

[italia]

I could be wrong but I don't think gonis will do well on a lugols dip. let me find out on that and get back with you. fresh water dip will be okay but I'd hold off on that since it's already showing some sign of stress.

if at all possible put it somewhere a little lower in the tank just slightly. continue with the spot feeding regurally..

OH! U posted "maybe a lugols dip for a few days"
not sure if this is a mistype or my misunderstanding but what do you mean for a few day?

 

[janakaybravo]

Sorry, I meant like 10 minutes a day for a few days. It's already on the sand where it's been for all this time. I guess I'll try to direct some flow over it and get my water changed and maybe that will help.

 

[italia]

not too much flow. Gonis from personal expeience will easliy RTN
If you do decide to dip, I would dip one day and chill for 2 days before dipping again.

 

[kindafun]

My goni has had periods of several days when it has retracted then came out fine as could be. I've had it for about 3 years now. I don't understand the thing very well but when I see stuff like that I don't get alarmed anymore because it has always come back out again later.

 

[janakaybravo]

Oh, good, I have hope. I changed my water and the only thing a little off is the salinity was a little high. But it's still retracted and it's been three days. It hasn't done this before for this long, but maybe it's just something they do. Thank you.

 

[b_vanfossen]

I had a red goni that did the same thing. Sometimes it would retract for a few days then come back out like nothing happened.
I'd give it a week unless you see white skeleton where tissue used to be.

Good Luck!
Brian

 

[chinoxl3]

jana, how is your goni doing? I have a red goni that is doing the same thing. It's been two days already. I think I upset it since I added baking soda to raise the alk a tad.

 

[janakaybravo]

Well, it's been more than a week now and I don't know what to do. My levels are okay except for nitrates are staying about a 10. My sps don't seem to mind. I added a doser (I dose two-part) and now the ph is not fluctuating like it used to. This goni used to extend two inches and has grown a lot since I got it, but I don't know what to do. It never retracts unless I accidentally handle it, but something is definitely wrong. Any ideas would be appreciated. How long can they stay retracted and recover?

 

[chinoxl3]

Does it look like it's wasting away or receding?

Also post your problem at goniopora.org and maybe john kelly might be able to help you.

 

[janakaybravo]

I will. Thanks for the link. I had forgotten about that link. It has a few white spots where it didn't before so seems to be declining but still have hope.

 

[janakaybravo]

Good news to report! After refreshing my mind on that site and looking at the pictures, I realized that my goni was starving. I was under the impression that red gonis can live without spot feeding. I don't think that's true although I've had mine for two years. Now I have been target feeding every day with Liquid Life cyclopeze and the goni is starting to stick its tentacles out. That is a great site for info on goni keeping. Thanks for all the help.

 

[ricks]

Here is a picture of our red. I have never spot feed any coral in my system. This one started out as a 1" frag and over 5 years has grown to over the size of a basketball..

Happy Reefing

 

[janakaybravo]

I saw your other thread and your goni looks great. It could be some other issue in my tank, but I have noticed a comeback since starting to spot feed it. Mine looks to be the same kind as yours. I do have a lot of sps that is growing and happy and clams/anemones/lps. I try not to overfeed my tank because my tank is only a 120 and everything is growing so much.

Nice looking tank.