My Goniopora looks like it is going to explode!

DHouse · Jul 2, 2023

This Goniopra has been in my tank for about 2 weeks and my reef tank has been well established for over a year. When I first got it, it took about two days to open up and it has been open now on a consistent basis, but this morning, I looked at it and it looks like it is going to explode. It is over inflated and about twice the size that it normally is. The only thing that has been added to the tank recently is amino acids and phyto. I did target feed all of my corals with Reef Roids yesterday evening. Here are two pics, the first was taken a few days ago and the second was taken today. My Parameters are as follows:

- Salinity - 1.025
- Temp - 77.8
- pH - 8.4
- Alkalinity 8.4 dKH
- Calcium 447 ppm
- Phosphates .05 ppm
- Magnesium 1475 ppm
- Nitrate - 14
- Ammonia - .00
- Nitrite - .00

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

HudsonReefer2.0 · Jul 2, 2023

The Mg May b lil elevated but all looks within tolerances. Mayb just osmotic action.

DHouse · Jul 2, 2023

HudsonReefer2.0 said:
The Mg May b lil elevated but all looks within tolerances. Mayb just osmotic action.

I have no idea why my magnesium is elevated. It is really crazy because I stopped adding Instant Ocean Reef Crystals and have been using the regular Instant Ocean which says it averages 1250 to 1350. I have no idea what is elevating my magnesium. I'll test again and possibly do another water change. Thanks for your input.

Alex.qld · Jul 2, 2023

This looks like a very happy Goniopora. Normal behaviour of the coral imho.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 2, 2023

looks quite good and mine will inflate when temp is warm, salinity gets high and after a water change

SueAbu · Jul 2, 2023

It looks like it's a happy camper, to me.

DHouse · Jul 2, 2023

DHouse said:
I have no idea why my magnesium is elevated. It is really crazy because I stopped adding Instant Ocean Reef Crystals and have been using the regular Instant Ocean which says it averages 1250 to 1350. I have no idea what is elevating my magnesium. I'll test again and possibly do another water change. Thanks for your input.

HudsonReefer2.0 said:
The Mg May b lil elevated but all looks within tolerances. Mayb just osmotic action.

Just tested my magnesium again twice and it read 1405 and 1407. I'm using the Hanna Marine Master Multiparameter Photometer. Obviously I did something wrong when I tested the other day. That's why I did it twice to make sure.

DHouse · Jul 2, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
looks quite good and mine will inflate when temp is warm, salinity gets high and after a water change

I did do a 14% water change on Friday. I retested my magnesium twice today and got 1405 and 1407. Thanks for your input vetteguy.

DHouse · Jul 2, 2023

SueAbu said:
It looks like it's a happy camper, to me.

Just haven't seen one inflated like that. They are some beautiful creatures. Thanks for your input SueAbu!

vetteguy53081 · Jul 2, 2023

DHouse said:
I did do a 14% water change on Friday. I retested my magnesium twice today and got 1405 and 1407. Thanks for your input vetteguy.

Your mag reading acceptable.

exnisstech · Jul 2, 2023

I wish mine looked like that

rogersb · Jul 2, 2023

Looks good. Mag is fine. Might be reacting to being fed. I haven't had one for years because it grew too big and started killed other corals, but I fed mine reef roids too.

DenverSaltyFarm · Jul 3, 2023

I have 14 different gonis in my tank and keep my mag 1500+ your mag is great where it is and by your photos you have a very happy Goni

Ryebreadiest · Jul 6, 2023

Some people including March at Fragbox swear by 1500+ mag. It almost certainly harms nothing and they feel it benefits certain LPS. Also gonis can be strange - I have several that just extend massively and others that are just shorter.

DHouse · Jul 7, 2023

Ryebreadiest said:
Some people including March at Fragbox swear by 1500+ mag. It almost certainly harms nothing and they feel it benefits certain LPS. Also gonis can be strange - I have several that just extend massively and others that are just shorter.

Thanks for the input! Makes me feel better since this is my first Goni! This is one of my favorites! They are definitely beautiful!