I've always had luck with gonis. I run higher nutrients in my tank, so I think that may play a role in the success. I acclimate gonis just like all my other corals: I don't. I dip em and stick em in the tank.
I've found that gonis will do better if elevated off the sand bed. So make sure to mount them on a rock.
That pink one in the pic is larger than a softball. Started a few years ago as about 6 tiny arms.
IMO, not all gonis can touch. It appears that the red ones may have a stronger sting, as I've had that pink one melt a white goni by touching.
Medium flow. Medium light. You can see that black Clown living in it. Doesn't bother it one bit.
In this pic: Pink goni, cotton candy goni, white/green goni, red goni and a really hard to describe one that actually is an alveopora (I think).