Looking for help with goniopora

[ScottandAlisa]

About 3.5 weeks ago I got this green goniopora (pretty sure it’s short stem) from my LFS. In the past week it hasn’t been opening up very much. Was wondering if anyone had some advice on anything I should do...

water params:
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 2.5 ppm
Salinity: 1.025
Last water change was 2 weeks ago, took a little too much water out and didn’t have enough saltwater so I had to replace some with just RO. Been topping off with salt water every 3rd day to slowly raise salinity. (Could this be the sole reason?)

It’s located in a pretty low flow area because the first spot I put it in seemed too high of flow. The polyps were extended but being pushed so hard they were lying against the skeleton.
All the other coral seem to be doing fine except for a tiny rock flower anemone that I got in the mail 4 days ago. I know gonis are pretty finicky but if there’s a chance to help it out before it gets worse then Id do whatever.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

About 3.5 weeks ago I got this green goniopora (pretty sure it’s short stem) from my LFS. In the past week it hasn’t been opening up very much. Was wondering if anyone had some advice on anything I should do...

water params:
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 2.5 ppm
Salinity: 1.025
Last water change was 2 weeks ago, took a little too much water out and didn’t have enough saltwater so I had to replace some with just RO. Been topping off with salt water every 3rd day to slowly raise salinity. (Could this be the sole reason?)

It’s located in a pretty low flow area because the first spot I put it in seemed too high of flow. The polyps were extended but being pushed so hard they were lying against the skeleton.
All the other coral seem to be doing fine except for a tiny rock flower anemone that I got in the mail 4 days ago. I know gonis are pretty finicky but if there’s a chance to help it out before it gets worse then Id do whatever.

Mine likes a good amount of flow. I have two different gonis. My zombie eye is far more finicky than my green one

 

[ScottandAlisa]

Mine likes a good amount of flow. I have two different gonis. My zombie eye is far more finicky than my green one

Ok. Maybe I should move it again.... I’ll probably need to add more rock to the display so that I can have areas with varied flow. Right now it’s either no flow or high flow... not many areas with moderate.
Thanks!!

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Ok. Maybe I should move it again.... I’ll probably need to add more rock to the display so that I can have areas with varied flow. Right now it’s either no flow or high flow... not many areas with moderate.
Thanks!!

Mine gets moderate variable flow and is very happy. Never constantly being blasted in one direction

 

[ScottandAlisa]

Mine gets moderate variable flow and is very happy. Never constantly being blasted in one direction

Thanks for the pic! Is the lighting moderate as well?

 

[Backreefing]

Goniopora is impossible to keep long term in my experience ,it goes like this ...
You buy it it looks great for 8-12 months and all the warnings you here seen of no value and without merit.
Then you come home from work one day and it’s not expanding completely so what ?
Well from that point it just keeps getting worse for about 4-6 months. Until it’s gone . And the thing looked like it staved to death ???
I had a one orange and yellow it lasted 18 months until it failed .
Keep in mind I’m backreefing I’ve been out for 15 years so maybe it changed but ......

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Thanks for the pic! Is the lighting moderate as well?

I'd say medium at most

Its about the same level my blastos and Duncan are

 

[ScottandAlisa]

I'd say medium at most

Its about the same level my blastos and Duncan are

Is your Duncan and goni I close enough to touch? I’m thinking about moving it to a spot close to my own Duncan but worried about competition

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Is your Duncan and goni I close enough to touch? I’m thinking about moving it to a spot close to my own Duncan but worried about competition

Not quite but they would be at some point but I've read other threads that say they don't bother each other

 

[ScottandAlisa]

Not quite but they would be at some point but I've read other threads that say they don't bother each other

Hmm... that may be the best option then. Thank you so much for answering all my questions!!

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I have two gonis. The green has always done great. The other has been a little more finicky. It recently has been retracted.

I moved it right next to the green and it started extending almost right away. Amazing what a few inches difference made