Exposed skeleton on goniopora colony

[KonradTO]

Hi all,
I recently got myself a beautiful goniopora colony. It is always open and "fluffy" and seems also reacting to feeding. I noticed that there is some exposed skeleton when it closes up at night. It seems populated by sponges and other stuff. Do you think it will keep receding or I can leave it like this without fragging? I don't have the proper tools and it seems quite difficult to frag. Moreover it is a beautiful colony I don't want to risk it if it is not totally necessary.

 

[KonradTO]

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

Pictures under white light would make it much easier for people to help you out.

 

[KonradTO]

Pictures under white light would make it much easier for people to help you out.

Sure.

 

[KonradTO]

It does not seem like it's receding for now..

 

[Mikedawg]

I would leave it alone and enjoy the diversity unless you see sponges "taking over"

 

[KonradTO]

I would leave it alone and enjoy the diversity unless you see sponges "taking over"

Yes that was my idea as well. I am a bit worried because I watched a video, I think on yt, saying that goniopora colonies from the wild are much less likely to survive than frags because the skeleton gets colonised by all sort of stuff which slowly kills the colony. But for now I am not observing anything visible, in case I will update and ask for help here.

 

[TheNewGuy321]

I would frag it

 

[joefishtank]

Yes that was my idea as well. I am a bit worried because I watched a video, I think on yt, saying that goniopora colonies from the wild are much less likely to survive than frags because the skeleton gets colonised by all sort of stuff which slowly kills the colony. But for now I am not observing anything visible, in case I will update and ask for help here.

I bought a fresh goni frag and it was doing ok in my tank. It looked healthy and was starting to grow new polyps. Dinos started growing on the skeleton and it start to recede. I started wiping the algae off at night with a napkin dipped in hydrogen peroxide and its starting to grow new polyps again.

If I were you I would clean all the exposed skeleton with hydrogen peroxide just to start off and see where it goes from there. The black stuff covering it might be hurting it and preventing new growth.

 

[KonradTO]

Just a short update. The goni keeps receding unfortunately. It's quite a big colony but its on its own so I can take it out for treatment. Any suggestion?

 

[CoralB]

Just a short update. The goni keeps receding unfortunately. It's quite a big colony but its on its own so I can take it out for treatment. Any suggestion?

How did it turn out for you ?? I’m curious as to whether you took it out and cut out the bad areas or fragged it and if you were successful in keeping it from completely failing / dying off

 

[KonradTO]

How did it turn out for you ?? I’m curious as to whether you took it out and cut out the bad areas or fragged it and if you were successful in keeping it from completely failing / dying off

In the end I fragged it in small bits where it was still looking "clean". It didn't make it though, it slowly faded until the last bit died. Such a shame, was a beautiful colony

 

[CoralB]

In the end I fragged it in small bits where it was still looking "clean". It didn't make it though, it slowly faded until the last bit died. Such a shame, was a beautiful colony

Sorry to hear that .