puzzled by gonipora disintegration

[Aquarist007]

I purchased two goniporia as shown in the picture below.
After about a month the polyps are pealing right off the corraline structure beneath.
I have never seen this before--instead of dying off its like the polyps are just being scaped off

Any ideas why this is happening? could it be too much flow--I have a korilia 4 pointing at the substrate but high up--28 inches and it isn't disturbing the sand bed

the green one isn't as bad and the polyps are extended but the purple one is tighter then a door knob and most off it has disappeared.

 

[NewWorldWater]

According to Borneman's book, that's just the normal routine for these in aquaria and noone knows, for sure, why.

 

[ElDiabloPollo]

Yes, Gonipora only last about 1 year after they have been removed from the wild. If you like the look of Gonipora, try Alveopora they are alot more hardy.

 

[Racing1]

goniopora can be kept successfully for more than a year. They require feeding often and medium high water flow.. Med to high light also. I feed mine cyclopeeze and baby brine shrimp in the evening when just actinics are on....

 

[justincognito]

This happens from time to time with new imports. Often it is commensal bacteria, or sponges and stuff that lived in the skeleton die in shpment and cause a necrosis in the skeleton where soft tissue and hard tissue meet.
High Phosphates and low alkilinity and iron will make this worse.
Feeding is a must, but don't leave excess food on the coral or it will cause local death.