This is my first post ever and what do I bring to the table...a gonapora problem. The first three weeks were wonderful, the gonapora was looking magnificant, very healthy looking and I even moved him once to a better place in the tank and still doing great for several more weeks. I am pedantic about the water quality in my 90 gal tank. I have several fish as well as 2 shrimp, one a cleaner shrimp, the other a blood shrimp, neither one goes near it. I have compact flouresant lighting though. I plan to purchase metal halide lighting when I can afford it and maybe even a chiller to keep the temp stable. Anyhow, the darn thing has closed up and only seems to want to open only about 1/4 its full extension, there is no apperant slugh-off or discoloration of the membrane, no slime or die-back. I feed it only the best phytoplankton (PhycoPure) and try to keep the temp and calcium,as well as salinity and SG in the normal ranges. Can anyone help me understand this creature better, I would love to see it healthy again.
What happened to my Gonapora?
- Thread starter DrBones
- Start date
Gonopora is often very difficult to keep alive. A lot of people have problems with them closing up and not staying open. Water quality is often a large part of the problem. Check your nitrates and do a partial water change on the tank and see if that helps. Move the coral to the top of the tank in an area with moderate water flow. They do require high light and they don't like to be in an area where is there is constant fish activity. Also, make sure you are spot feeding the coral with zoo/phytoplankton. Good luck.
Yose
Premium Member
I have seen very few people who have been able to keep a Goniopora for a long period of time. I've never had one but I watched a friend's fade away in a predominantly sps system.
From my understanding, Goniopora live in shallow, nutrient rich environments. It's almost impossible to have a high nutrient content in captivity and still maintain water quality.
These animals should be left in the ocean. The only reason they're in stores is because there's demand for them from unexperienced reefers. They look cool but should be left in the wild. The best way to stop the sale of Goniopora is to inform people of how delicate they are. When people stop buying them, stores will stop carrying them.
From my understanding, Goniopora live in shallow, nutrient rich environments. It's almost impossible to have a high nutrient content in captivity and still maintain water quality.
These animals should be left in the ocean. The only reason they're in stores is because there's demand for them from unexperienced reefers. They look cool but should be left in the wild. The best way to stop the sale of Goniopora is to inform people of how delicate they are. When people stop buying them, stores will stop carrying them.
Gonapora
Gonapora
Thank you for your insights. I did a complete spectrum of tests on my water quality. Nitrates .01, Nitrites .05, Calcium 440, Salinity .31, SG .026, Phosphates .015, Ammonia 0, Alkalinity Normal, pH 8.2. I have the gonapora 1/4 from the top of the tank, moderate flow and no fish swim up that high...ever they like mid tank swimming. Today it is out about 25% but I'm sure in the evening it will go back in its shell (so to speak). If you or anyone else has any further insights I would be happy to hear them. Thanks again, I really like this forum.
May your tank live long and prosper!
Gonapora
Thank you for your insights. I did a complete spectrum of tests on my water quality. Nitrates .01, Nitrites .05, Calcium 440, Salinity .31, SG .026, Phosphates .015, Ammonia 0, Alkalinity Normal, pH 8.2. I have the gonapora 1/4 from the top of the tank, moderate flow and no fish swim up that high...ever they like mid tank swimming. Today it is out about 25% but I'm sure in the evening it will go back in its shell (so to speak). If you or anyone else has any further insights I would be happy to hear them. Thanks again, I really like this forum.
May your tank live long and prosper!
Re: Yose
Re: Yose
Hello Yose,
Yes I am in complete agreement with you about leaving them where they belong, I hate seeing anything in my tank slowly decline, I feel personally responsible to anything I place in my tank, and I have been kicking myself for ever taking on a gonapora. I typically only stock my tank with aquacultured corals and I honestly did not do the proper research before buying this animal. However now my job is to do the best I can for this animal and do everything in my meager power to save it. I appreciate any help and insight I can get. Thank you all so much for your help.
Re: Yose
Hello Yose,
Yes I am in complete agreement with you about leaving them where they belong, I hate seeing anything in my tank slowly decline, I feel personally responsible to anything I place in my tank, and I have been kicking myself for ever taking on a gonapora. I typically only stock my tank with aquacultured corals and I honestly did not do the proper research before buying this animal. However now my job is to do the best I can for this animal and do everything in my meager power to save it. I appreciate any help and insight I can get. Thank you all so much for your help.
SaraB
Coral Killer
Yose - Love the Basenji Avatar! I have 2 little monsters myself.
DrBones - Being a newbie I had purchased a beautiful dark rose/red one without knowing how to keep it. I have had it in a high flow area and close to the top of the tank with bright lighting. I have only had it for 5 months, but it has grown and continues to look healthy. I too expect it to perish some day and agree that they should be left in the ocean where they will thrive, not die.
Sara
DrBones - Being a newbie I had purchased a beautiful dark rose/red one without knowing how to keep it. I have had it in a high flow area and close to the top of the tank with bright lighting. I have only had it for 5 months, but it has grown and continues to look healthy. I too expect it to perish some day and agree that they should be left in the ocean where they will thrive, not die.
Sara
orchidsnfish
New member
I have had a green goni for about 4 months and it has shown no signs of decline at all (knock on wood). I knew what I was getting into when I bought it. I feed it daily with cyclopeeze (sp?) and it seems to love it. Eats and then 10 minutes later is opened up ready for more. For the record, I do not in any way consider my 4 months as a success. Just what has worked thus far. It is not in direct MH lighting but is still in a high light area. Flow is medium. This one even has two clowns hosting in it and it doesn't seem to mind at all.
Angela
Angela
kbmdale
In Memoriam
Check out this site: JENnKerry's ReefCraze They have had a lot of success with keeping this creature. And some great insight on their website. Hope this helps.
Here's a nice article:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/aafeature2/view
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/aafeature2/view
John Kelly
Goniopora Aficionado
Re: What happened to my Gonapora?
What color is it?
Did it all of the sudden appear retracted or did it retract over the period of a few days?
What color is it?
Swanwillow
goby girl
edit-thinking of a different coral!!! oops.
and nitrites are just as bad if not worse than ammonia-a .5 is NOT good for a coral, and I'd advocate a good sized water change to get this down.
what is your ammonia at? if your nitrates are `only` at 1, and your nitrites are at .5, is your tank done cycling? how old IS your tank?
and nitrites are just as bad if not worse than ammonia-a .5 is NOT good for a coral, and I'd advocate a good sized water change to get this down.
what is your ammonia at? if your nitrates are `only` at 1, and your nitrites are at .5, is your tank done cycling? how old IS your tank?
hawaiianwargod
Active member
The longest I kept my goniopora is about 18 months and suddenly deteriorate. INHO, it is one of the hardest to keep.
I think one thread I came across here on RC that she mentioned she kept hers for awhile now and even reproduced in her tank.
I think one thread I came across here on RC that she mentioned she kept hers for awhile now and even reproduced in her tank.
Its open!
Its open!
Hello everyone,
Well I really appreciate all of the feedback I have recieved reguarding my dilemma with my gonipora and I have taken every suggestion and implemented them. I am happy to announce that my gonipora has come out full bloom and looking as healthy as when I first purchased him. I put him 3/4 up from the bottom of the tank and increased the flow. I also increased the temperature to 80 degrees F and spot fed it PhycoPure phytoplankton. However it closes up whenever a blue leg hermit goes poking around it but it has opened right back up after being disturbed. Here is a picture of it now. Thank you everyone for your help.
Its open!
Hello everyone,
Well I really appreciate all of the feedback I have recieved reguarding my dilemma with my gonipora and I have taken every suggestion and implemented them. I am happy to announce that my gonipora has come out full bloom and looking as healthy as when I first purchased him. I put him 3/4 up from the bottom of the tank and increased the flow. I also increased the temperature to 80 degrees F and spot fed it PhycoPure phytoplankton. However it closes up whenever a blue leg hermit goes poking around it but it has opened right back up after being disturbed. Here is a picture of it now. Thank you everyone for your help.
Lpsfanatic338
New member
Dr bones it is called Goniopora, not Gonapora or Gonipora
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