Help! New Goniopora is dying!

[Oninova]

Hello all,

I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction to save a new Goniopora frag I got about 6 days ago. On the first couple of days the polyps were extending and it seemed happy. Now it's completely withdrawn and polyps look like they are peeling off! The flesh looks super pale where it's lost polyps. It's on a rock near the bottom of the tank and not in direct flow.

The coral was dipped in CoralRX when I got it as well, so I'm not sure if it needs another dip or what.

My DT is about 3 months old, cycled already with rock from last tank which was 3 years old.
It's a Waterbox MarineX90.3, the tank section is about 60 gallons. I have 2 AI prime 16hds that are running the BRS AB+ light schedule at about 58% intensity (it's in acclimation mode moving to 100% over 30 days.

Nothing else in the tank looks bad, just the Goniopora.

My parameters are:
pH: 8.1
Mag: 1260
Calc: 500
Alk: 9.2
Ammonia: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 2.5
PO4: 0.05
Temp: ~77.5F
Salinity: 1.025 SG


I would really appreciate any advice to save this!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

How is the flow in your tank? Do you have anything that could be bothering it?

@Reefing_addiction You have quite a few gonis right?

 

[Oninova]

How is the flow in your tank? Do you have anything that could be bothering it?

@Reefing_addiction You have quite a few gonis right?

Flow is lacking to be honest, other then the returns only one powerhead on the other end of the tank, and it's 850 gph. It's not hitting it directly, but it is under the path of the flow.

No, this is my first goni.

 

[N11morales]

I would raise up your magnesium. Your mag is on the low side. I would slowly raise it up to at least 1350. Do you have any other LPS coral?

 

[Oninova]

I would raise up your magnesium. Your mag is on the low side. I would slowly raise it up to at least 1350. Do you have any other LPS coral?

Yah I plan to raise it up, my salifert test kit was 4 months expired and I didn't notice. New Hanna magnesium tester comes in tomorrow. I have a Favia, Hammer, and Candy Cane. They all look happy.

 

[Jimbo662]

You can also start dosing manganese for gonis. I dose AF Lab Manganum daily and all of mine stay happy. Maybe also increase your PO4. I keep mine between .15 and .2

​

 

[N11morales]

Yah I plan to raise it up, my salifert test kit was 4 months expired and I didn't notice. New Hanna magnesium tester comes in tomorrow. I have a Favia, Hammer, and Candy Cane. They all look happy.

I would raise it up as soon as you can. Don't rush it, but my LPS started to slowly die when my magnesium was that low. Once I raised my magnesium over 1350 is when my LPS started to come back.

 

[Oninova]

You can also start dosing manganese for gonis. I dose AF Lab Manganum daily and all of mine stay happy. Maybe also increase your PO4. I keep mine between .15 and .2

​

Thanks for the tips! Do you think the goni will have a chance to survive while I wait for the manganum to ship?

 

[Jimbo662]

Thanks for the tips! Do you think the goni will have a chance to survive while I wait for the manganum to ship?

It's hard to say...all depends on the exact reason for it's issues.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Hello all,

I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction to save a new Goniopora frag I got about 6 days ago. On the first couple of days the polyps were extending and it seemed happy. Now it's completely withdrawn and polyps look like they are peeling off! The flesh looks super pale where it's lost polyps. It's on a rock near the bottom of the tank and not in direct flow.

The coral was dipped in CoralRX when I got it as well, so I'm not sure if it needs another dip or what.

My DT is about 3 months old, cycled already with rock from last tank which was 3 years old.
It's a Waterbox MarineX90.3, the tank section is about 60 gallons. I have 2 AI prime 16hds that are running the BRS AB+ light schedule at about 58% intensity (it's in acclimation mode moving to 100% over 30 days.

Nothing else in the tank looks bad, just the Goniopora.

My parameters are:
pH: 8.1
Mag: 1260
Calc: 500
Alk: 9.2
Ammonia: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 2.5
PO4: 0.05
Temp: ~77.5F
Salinity: 1.025 SG


I would really appreciate any advice to save this!

Did you dip before adding to your tank?
What did you dip it in?

Do you have iodine?


I would move it to the sand bed. It looks like it may be getting too much flow.

Do you know what am your par is at that spot?

I would also dip in iodine for 10min before placing back in tank

 

[Reefing_addiction]

How is the flow in your tank? Do you have anything that could be bothering it?

@Reefing_addiction You have quite a few gonis right?

I have 1 or 50 I think I need to go count

Unfortunately some gonis just don’t make it no matter how hard we try

 

[Oninova]

Did you dip before adding to your tank?
What did you dip it in?

Do you have iodine?


I would move it to the sand bed. It looks like it may be getting too much flow.

Do you know what am your par is at that spot?

I would also dip in iodine for 10min before placing back in tank

I dipped it in CoralRX before placing it in my DT. I bought some lugols on Amazon and that should be here tomorrow. I'll move it to the sand bed tonight and dip it tomorrow when the lugols gets here. I figured with only one powerhead, other then the returns, I would be fine. The power head is at the opposite side of the tank about midway up. I'll try to find a spot with less flow when placing it in the sand.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Goni corner

I also dose manganese

I’ve always dosed it

I’ve had gonis that have started to come back from the dead recently …one was down to 1 polyp not extending and then all of the sudden I had extension

Not sure why

My tank is 5 yrs old I dose AF lab component pro plus my own solution of manganese

I recently removed filter socks because I can’t keep my nitrates up

 

[Reefing_addiction]

I dipped it in CoralRX before placing it in my DT. I bought some lugols on Amazon and that should be here tomorrow. I'll move it to the sand bed tonight and dip it tomorrow when the lugols gets here. I figured with only one powerhead, other than the returns, I would be fine. The power head is at the opposite side of the tank about midway up. I'll try to find a spot with less flow when placing it in the sand.

Povidine-iodine is what I use…the store bought stuff…much cheaper works the same

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Also how do you check salinity?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

2 primes on a 60 gallon at 50% is the issue IMO. Turn them up to 100% and maybe even move the goni higher to get more light. Those lights are underpowered for a 60 gallon. I would also increase the flow.

 

[Jimbo662]

Another thing...do you know if this was a frag from a wild goni or if it was aquacultured? Wild gonis tend to have a low survival rate from what everyone says.

 

[Oninova]

Also how do you check salinity?

I use a Salinity Refractometer that I got from my LFS years ago.

 

[Oninova]

2 primes on a 60 gallon at 50% is the issue IMO. Turn them up to 100% and maybe even move the goni higher to get more light. Those lights are underpowered for a 60 gallon. I would also increase the flow.

I thought this might be a problem but wasn't sure. I have them going to 100% over 30 days (using AI's acclimation mode) since I just got new coral and didn't want to tick off my coral I've had for months.

 

[stE25wy14]

I use a Salinity Refractometer that I got from my LFS years ago.

did u ever calibrate it?