Goniopora - not doing well

[mwbeach]

Would love some advice on what to do here.

Turning white in some areas. Black in some areas. Not opening well anymore.

What should I do?

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

Parameters of your water?
Was this gonipora like this just today or has it been a couple of days of it dying off?
Ohh man that looks very bad if we don't find out soon this may be the end of this flowerpot!!
Do you notice any specs on the coral like a parasite?
What type of light are you using?
Was it full when you first got it?
Please test ASAP and look closely on the coral to see if you notice any type of parasite?

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

These corals get most of their nutrients from proper lighting but still need Trace elements like calcium,strongthium,and they do eat Planktons-zoo/Phyto this coral needs moderate flow!!

 

[mwbeach]

Thanks. I'll run parameters again tomorrow. Been looking s little worse for the past week. I will look really closet tomorrow at it. It was full and nice when I got it about 5 months ago.

Can you dip these? Would it be worth it? I have the seachem coral dip.

 

[mwbeach]

My lighting changed a month ago. I had 2 T5s , now have 4. I don't have a way to test calcium. I'll pick up a test in the am.

 

[mwbeach]

Last time I checked water was on Monday

Nitrate - 0
Nitrite 0
PH 8.0
Alk 4 (low I know)
Ammonia - 0
Salinity 1.0235

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

First get your water tested and post.
And when you added the new lighting did you notice the polyps not extending fully? Because adding new lights will stress corals if the 2 new Bulbs were turned on with out slowly introducing the lighting by turning the lights on for two hours a day for two weeks then progressing the lengths of time the new lights stay on for!!
Did you dose anything to your system?
Check your salinity? To see if it's getting high? (High meening 1.028-30)

 

[mwbeach]

I'll test again tomorrow. Salinity is stable at 1.023-1.024

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

First get your water tested and post.
And when you added the new lighting did you notice the polyps not extending fully? Because adding new lights will stress corals if the 2 new Bulbs were turned on with out slowly introducing the lighting by turning the lights on for two hours a day for two weeks then progressing the lengths of time the new lights stay on for!!
Did you dose anything to your system?
Check your salinity? To see if it's getting high? (High meening 1.028-30)

 

[mwbeach]

Polyps were fully extended even when lights changed

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

IMO try and keep you salinity at 1.024-1.026

Here's a chart so that you get an idea of what perameters are best on a reef aquarium
One thing I don't agree on that's on this chart is ammonia it shouldn't be readable with your test kit!!

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

As for temp I have my reef at 77degrees F and my chiller regulates the temp to keep it at 76F-77F
Hope that helps? and other reefers will jump in and help find out WHY??

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

Ok if polyps were fully extended that excludes that the coral was affected by the new lighting!!
So now focus on perameters?
Then feed the coral some Planktons in the day time as the polyps are fully extended but be sure to target feed it and all pumps are off to give it time to feed on some nutrients!!

 

[moulton712]

It most likely has to do with poor water conditions. Your water is dirty and probably has detritus buildup. I'm not bashing, I've been through the same thing myself. I wanted my lps to grow more so I fed more over the corse of months, I got growth but certain lps didn't like it. 3 gonis and favias. Luckily I have a few tanks running and saved most of them.

 

[Eienna]

The Care and Propagation of Goniopora by Justin Credabel - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

What kind of skimmer you running (is it pulling nasty gunk) and do you blast your rocks every time before a water change?
If not I can already say that you may have poor water quality as stated above but
Just for incase there is excess nutrients in your tank take a turkey baster or a small pump to all your rocks and blast behind the rockwork to stir up the settled ditritus and 10%water change and see if your goniopora reacts to this cleaner water? Keep us posted?

 

[mwbeach]

I am using a HOB rated for 65 gallons. It it pulling stuff. I do blast the rocks and do a 15% water change weekly. I have a Diamond Goby that keeps the sand pure white.

Here are the tank parameters

Salinity - 1.025
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 1
Phosphate - .5
Ammonia - 0
Alkalinity - 5
Calcium - 340
Temp - 77.5

 

[Z06-Hec]

I have 3, wont consider myself an expert, but...
my 2 green ones have both gotten infections and were dying off at one time or another...
I tried doing a lugols dip and it didnt help.
I also tried a Peroxide dip and that did help.
Google Peroxide dip....
Basically what i did was take a small tuppaware, put some tank water in it, a little, maybe to cover the Goni depending on how much water you can fit and then put peroxide over it, alot. but i used the household 3% peroxide. I think google will tell you 7% peroxide.
so basically 1 part water 2 parts peroxide for my 3%.
It has worked each time i have used it.
By worked i mean they are living months after the fact of infection and extending and looking happy.

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

First work on lowering your phosphates to .3 or less!! (Are you using an RO/DI filter?) phosphate may be coming from your water source? Not bad just that level was my tap water level when I tested my tap water!!
And work on raising alk to 7-11dkh!! 7dkh at 125ppm 11dkh 200ppm and Calcium to 420 as this coral relies on calcium and other trace elements for growth and health
If your alk is low than ph should be fluctuating and may be the cause for this Ganiopora to die off?? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong??

 

[Reefkeepr1986]

Here's a pic of a healthy Ganiopora I used to have in my old reef!!