Goniopora flower pot coral help

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Hi everyone, trying to figure out why my goniopora won't open up. Just very intermittently. Tried it in a brighter higher flow area, didn't like it. Moved it down to low flow and light, opened for a few days now closed up again. It's under XR15 pro lights at 40% intensity in LPS mode. Flow from MP40s. Water parameters are good except phosphate is high at .26. Seems to go up and down with feeding Red Sea AB coral food. I have mild diatoms in a 4.5 month old tank. Other corals seem to be doing fine. Should I try it on the sand bed or back of the tank by itself? Picture below show goniopora in right corner of the rock. Thanks for the help.

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Here's the picture

Pistondog · Jul 25, 2021

Lavey29 said:
Hi everyone, trying to figure out why my goniopora won't open up. Just very intermittently. Tried it in a brighter higher flow area, didn't like it. Moved it down to low flow and light, opened for a few days now closed up again. It's under XR15 pro lights at 40% intensity in LPS mode. Flow from MP40s. Water parameters are good except phosphate is high at .26. Seems to go up and down with feeding Red Sea AB coral food. I have mild diatoms in a 4.5 month old tank. Other corals seem to be doing fine. Should I try it on the sand bed or back of the tank by itself? Picture below show goniopora in right corner of the rock. Thanks for the help.

What do you mean seems to go up and down with feeding red sea ab...?

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Pistondog said:
What do you mean seems to go up and down with feeding red sea ab...?

I was feeding phytoplankton daily and red sea coral food 3x per week but reduced dosage due to the amount of corals in the tank. Phosphate jumped to .56. I reduced the coral food to once per week and phytoplankton to several times per week. I added chemipure blue to media cup in sump. Phosphate dropped to 0 but now after feeding again yesterday it is back to .26. I only have 2 fish and feed sparingly twice per day now. I'm trying to find the best method to maintain a consistent Phosphate level below .1. Maybe phosguard in the sump.

Pistondog · Jul 25, 2021

Had to stop red sea ab+ as it reduced polyp extension.
I like that you are dosing phyto. There's a video of a guy with fantastic gonis that feeds phytogold.

Bouncingsoul39 · Jul 25, 2021

maybe try doing a coral rx dip on it and rinse it really well to dislodge any algae or debris. i think something is on it that’s irritating it.

Garf · Jul 25, 2021

Mine had a funny turn which coincided with a warmer tank due to a rare event called “Hot” over here in the UK. I suppose your Temperatures are stable?

Suohhen · Jul 25, 2021

Moving corals can in itself cause what your seeing. It is just very obvious with lps when they are not 100% happy. The lights shouldn't be bothering it. Generally I find they are more often bothered by flow but they are also one of the corals that can take a long time to settle in and look good.

Cool tangs · Jul 25, 2021

Lowish light, they dont need heaps, low to med flow. Enough to give the polyps a mild ripple effect, ive had them in higher flow. But they dont extent as mich.

Essentially once you find that ideal, or close to ideal location leave it alone. They tend to de-extend and extend there polyps throughout the day I find. I wouldnt stress too much, even when i fish swims past they tend to retract the polyps.

This is just my experience. I whent through that stage of are my lights too high. Is my flow okay. Believe me I did mere harm then good. Where you have it should be fine.

I have mine placed on the lowest point of my rocks with low flow. Theu take time to adjust I found.

Goodluck, hope it finally comes out, they are such a beautiful coral!

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Pistondog said:
Had to stop red sea ab+ as it reduced polyp extension.
I like that you are dosing phyto. There's a video of a guy with fantastic gonis that feeds phytogold.

What do you use to feed now? I tried reef chili but that was a big phosphate bomb to.

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Cool tangs said:
Lowish light, they dont need heaps, low to med flow. Enough to give the polyps a mild ripple effect, ive had them in higher flow. But they dont extent as mich.

Essentially once you find that ideal, or close to ideal location leave it alone. They tend to de-extend and extend there polyps throughout the day I find. I wouldnt stress too much, even when i fish swims past they tend to retract the polyps.

This is just my experience. I whent through that stage of are my lights too high. Is my flow okay. Believe me I did mere harm then good. Where you have it should be fine.

I have mine placed on the lowest point of my rocks with low flow. Theu take time to adjust I found.

Goodluck, hope it finally comes out, they are such a beautiful coral!

It started out ok in the spot with low light and flow, seemed happy now 7 days closed up.

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Garf said:
Mine had a funny turn which coincided with a warmer tank due to a rare event called “Hot” over here in the UK. I suppose your Temperatures are stable?

No temp problems here.

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Bouncingsoul39 said:
maybe try doing a coral rx dip on it and rinse it really well to dislodge any algae or debris. i think something is on it that’s irritating it.

I can try this

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Would my phosphate fluctuations stress it but not the other corals?

Cool tangs · Jul 25, 2021

Lavey29 said:
It started out ok in the spot with low light and flow, seemed happy now 7 days closed up.

Im not sure about Redsea AB stuff, i only drop some soaked pallets onto my corals every so often to feed. I dont feed gonis though?

Possible swing, looks like its still holding colour. Maybe give it some time what else is in the AB+? Im a skeptic when dosing anything in the reef.

What was a change you made before those 7 days? Have you done a water change? I find sometimes when my corals dont look as good its overdue a water change i can be a bit lazy on that front

Pistondog · Jul 25, 2021

Lavey29 said:
What do you use to feed now? I tried reef chili but that was a big phosphate bomb to.

Live phytoplankton every other day and phytogold or acro power or marine snow on the other days

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Pistondog said:
Live phytoplankton every other day and phytogold or acro power or marine snow on the other days

What is your method for phosphate control?

Lavey29 · Jul 25, 2021

Cool tangs said:
Im not sure about Redsea AB stuff, i only drop some soaked pallets onto my corals every so often to feed. I dont feed gonis though?

Possible swing, looks like its still holding colour. Maybe give it some time what else is in the AB+? Im a skeptic when dosing anything in the reef.

What was a change you made before those 7 days? Have you done a water change? I find sometimes when my corals dont look as good its overdue a water change i can be a bit lazy on that front

Water change weekly. Had it middle tank area moderate flow and light but it closed up there after a few weeks so I put it in low flow low light area. RED SEA AB is a simple liquid food for broadcast feeding. I'm only using half the recommended dose. It does raise phosphate though. I don't have enough fish in the tank to fertilizer the corals after a Brooklynella outbreak. I could try the goniopora on the sandbed?