good placement for goniopora?

[Lynnmw1208]

I got this goniopora yesterday and I was wondering if it would be better on the sand or if this position is ok. I might have to fiddle around with the powerheads today to see if I can redirect some flow away from it but the polyps were extended about an hour after I put it in the tank.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-odDyZV1zZno/TiylNmJWkaI/AAAAAAAAFwI/m0Qb1UGpqGQ/s800/DSC_0894.JPG

[Lynnmw1208]

I took some more pics today. I moved my powerhead on the left side of the tank to point a bit more up and that made all the difference! What a beautiful coral to photograph! I couldn't resist!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-06wnBm9OqRA/Ti3IxH0_sPI/AAAAAAAAFxA/LKyXa38gBHw/s800/DSC_0911.JPG

with flash
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tW99wnYFR94/Ti3Ix-USAXI/AAAAAAAAFxE/i4QkzK-075c/s800/DSC_0916.JPG

nice close-up
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WuT8Y9WVjyE/Ti3Iyx0BPOI/AAAAAAAAFxI/w1a5uOBW7OE/s800/DSC_0920.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-O5DTFPUdBw4/Ti3Iz8h_q5I/AAAAAAAAFxM/mwMH-9U_2Ls/s800/DSC_0922.JPG

here's a video of the flow now. It's more of a random flow and all the polyps seem to not mind it.
http://youtu.be/apbougQY0R8

[Jimmy Wright]

Wow that's pretty. Did it have a name other than goni?

[Lynnmw1208]

I'm not sure on the exact species of goniopora. I looked at this article, but I still can't tell http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/aafeature2

I know they are difficult but I am willing to try as everything has been going great in my tank so far! People said I couldn't have a green mandarin as my first fish and I proved them wrong :)

[sancho153]

ive got a goni and was wondering the same thing! I have mine down in the sand but the LFS I bought it at had it glued to a small rock.

[Lynnmw1208]

ive got a goni and was wondering the same thing! I have mine down in the sand but the LFS I bought it at had it glued to a small rock.

I don't think mine is on a rock or plug at all, looks like all skeleton. It seems happy where I put it so I am going to leave it for now. I have heard some prefer the sand, so we'll see. I'll just be happy if it lives!

[curlykid]

hey Lynn! that's a sick looking goni! Haven't seen a nice one like that in a long time, also, it's recommended that if you have a skimmer, feed your fish very heavily and feed the goniopora very heavily, because the skimmer takes up most of the nutrients that gonies use. So get it on a good feeding regimen and it should be a chubby wittle coral! Also, it's recommended that you do water changes weekly because Goniopora need a lot of trace elements only introduced through salt.

[dlterry85]

keep it clear of all corals, those things are killers.

[Lynnmw1208]

hey Lynn! that's a sick looking goni! Haven't seen a nice one like that in a long time, also, it's recommended that if you have a skimmer, feed your fish very heavily and feed the goniopora very heavily, because the skimmer takes up most of the nutrients that gonies use. So get it on a good feeding regimen and it should be a chubby wittle coral! Also, it's recommended that you do water changes weekly because Goniopora need a lot of trace elements only introduced through salt.
Thanks! I found out today that it gives a great feeding response to frozen baby brine shrimp. I tried cyclops yesterday and got nothing. So at least it's willing to feed!! I keep my tank pretty nutrient rich so I should be ok. I don't use filter socks, only GFO, carbon and cheato. My skimmer pulls some nice gunk but it's not top of the line. I will keep in mine the trace elements with water changes! hopefully it will like red sea coral pro salt as this stuff comes directly from saltwater :)

keep it clear of all corals, those things are killers.
Thanks for the heads up! It's pretty far away from everything.

Would it continue to grow out on the sand bed? I don't know much about the growth of these corals but I assume that they do not encrust rocks.

[neoalchemist74]

I keep my red goni above the half way mark, its triplled in size in a little over a year, But I think the real key is that its right where I feed my fish so it gets a daily feeding of shreeded Rods food and mysis.