Are goniopora really that hard?

[astraekid]

Hi everyone, I'm on my first reef tank and I'm putting the finishing touches on the coral selection. The tank is 8 months old and I've been keeping alveopora and euphyllia so I was wondering if gonis are really that hard? I saw some rainbow ones and I really really really want one, I made a spot for it on my sandbed, but everyone is saying they're super finicky and hit or miss. If I feed it and dose amino acids like twice a week and keep my nitrates 5-10 and get an aquacultured one what are the chances I'll have luck? I've attached a picture of my tank so feel free to give feedback on placement or whatever. Tysm!

 

[BristleWormHater]

I'd give it a shot, but start with one that s cheaper than a rainbow.

 

[liddojunior]

If you can keep a hammer. Your goniopora and Alveopora will live.

Just go for real aquacultured gonis or
alveo they are literally bulletproof.

Get the wintergreen Alveopora from tidal gardens. And one of the goni. Alveopora is more hardy. And the frags from TG will be healthier than any that you can get elsewhere.

 

[Hairyteeth]

I will say I’ve just bought recently from TG, (30-35 frags) their frags are some of the healthiest and nicely sized frags I’ve ever gotten

 

[astraekid]

I'd give it a shot, but start with one that s cheaper than a rainbow.

but then I'll be stuck with a coral I don't want and it's only like $20-40 cheaper than the rainbow...

 

[LPS Bum]

Gonis aren't overly difficult if your parameters are rock solid. They don't need a lot of light (placement in the lower to middle of the tank), and they appreciate moderate flow that makes their tentacles wave gently in the current. Go with an aquacultered specimen rather than a wild one. They are much hardier.

 

[Goaway]

Buy aquacultured, not maricultured. The ones raised and fragged in tanks have much higher survival rates

 

[zbrusko]

I’ve been dosing a small amount of manganese weekly, as my ICP test came back undetectable and I have read that is vital for their long teem health. Anyone have experience with that?

 

[FernBluffReef]

I currently have four gonis. I find the rainbow a canary in the coal mine. If flow changes (cleaning gyres) or nutrients get too low - nitrates lower than 5ppm then it goes in its shell and sulks until I correct the condition. Other than that doesn’t seem to be a problematic coral.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I've been successful so far. When they close, I do this dip w/ AquaForest or RedSea amino acids and they usually open back up.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...a-issues-need-your-help-and-feedback.1104835/

 

[zbrusko]

I currently have four gonis. I find the rainbow a canary in the coal mine. If flow changes (cleaning gyres) or nutrients get too low - nitrates lower than 5ppm then it goes in its shell and sulks until I correct the condition. Other than that doesn’t seem to be a problematic coral

Mine is greenish yellow, now idea what type. But my nitrates have been very low, <1 for a couple weeks & it has never looked better.

 

[edsbeaker]

Mine is greenish yellow, now idea what type. But my nitrates have been very low, <1 for a couple weeks & it has never looked better.

For now!!! Corals decline over time, not necessarily overnight. Nitrate is food for corals and gonis don’t like to be starved.

 

[edsbeaker]

but then I'll be stuck with a coral I don't want and it's only like $20-40 cheaper than the rainbow...

You’ll most likely be able to trade it in towards the new one. I think there is a bigger difference in the prices between a basic Goni and the one you ultimately want.

 

[zbrusko]

For now!!! Corals decline over time, not necessarily overnight. Nitrate is food for corals and gonis don’t like to be starved.

Measured 2.4 today. I can dose if I need to. Perhaps I’ll target 5-10.

 

[Tamberav]

but then I'll be stuck with a coral I don't want and it's only like $20-40 cheaper than the rainbow...

The aquacultured red and green ones on here have been bulletproof for me, only $45

https://www.premierreefsmn.com/shop/lps

Don't buy a maricultured rainbow one for your first one.

Also, with that whiter lighting and the magic filters some shops use... the rainbow one may not actually look so great in your tank. I don't know what one you are considering but I would ask for a white light pic.

At least the hardy red one still looks red under white lighting.

 

[astraekid]

The aquacultured red and green ones on here have been bulletproof for me, only $45

https://www.premierreefsmn.com/shop/lps

Don't buy a maricultured rainbow one for your first one.

Also, with that whiter lighting and the magic filters some shops use... the rainbow one may not actually look so great in your tank. I don't know what one you are considering but I would ask for a white light pic.

At least the hardy red one still looks red under white lighting.

I have blue lights, I just don't have a filter that lets me take good pictures with it on haha...

 

[astraekid]

You’ll most likely be able to trade it in towards the new one. I think there is a bigger difference in the prices between a basic Goni and the one you ultimately want.

I don't have a saltwater shop in my town, I won't be able to trade it in. I found some cool ones for like $60 at reef exclusive who I've had a good experience with in the past, and I can't find a basic goni for much less than that.

 

[Pistondog]

Get the goni you want, but the ora red is easiet ime. Dont feed or change anything else, except maybe dose manganese daily.
All gonis are different. You might have 6 successes then the hard goni has problems.

 

[edsbeaker]

I don't have a saltwater shop in my town, I won't be able to trade it in. I found some cool ones for like $60 at reef exclusive who I've had a good experience with in the past, and I can't find a basic goni for much less than that.

That’s actually not too bad!

 

[VintageReefer]

I’ve been dosing a small amount of manganese weekly, as my ICP test came back undetectable and I have read that is vital for their long teem health. Anyone have experience with that?

Same for me. I did rough calculation yielding .3 ml daily dosage and decided to do .4ml daily due to large amount of Goni. after over a month, icp came back undetectable.

Manganese is used up very fast especially if you have macro algae. Which I do. Plus 30 Goni.

Once consumed you are out for the day/night

I ended up needing 4x the calculated dose to maintain some form of measurable manganese at all times.

Increase until it’s detectable