What's going on with my Goniopora?

jdloftness · Apr 7, 2020

I've had this Goniopora for about two months. It was doing well for the first 5-6 weeks, but has looked pretty much like this for 2-3 weeks: coming out a little more early in the day. My salinity is 1.026, PH 8.2, Amonia and Nitrites 0, Natrates 20-40, Phosphates 0.12, Calcium around 450, and Magnesium around 1400.

I've had my alkalinity around 8, but raised it all the way to 11 too, but neither range seems to change the appearance of my Goni. My water temp is about 79 degrees.

Any thoughts or suggestions? (P.S. I have fish, but have never seen any of them nip at it)

Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef · Apr 7, 2020

No photo attached. Nitrates are way to high. need to be below 10.

Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef · Apr 7, 2020

Wrath said:
No photo attached. Nitrates are way to high. need to be below 10.

Sorry photo just came through.

Ultra Aquatics · Apr 7, 2020

It’s not happy for sure. Could be your nitrate, but I would suspect either alk swing or some other factor. One of my Gonis (ORA Red) I consider my “yellow canary” so to speak. When something is wrong it is the first to tell me. Even after I fix the problem it could take a week or more before it opens back up. Any stainless hose clamps in the water or pump magnets exposed?

Brasileiro561 · Apr 7, 2020

If Phosphate comes below 0.10 It would make everybody happy too. Raising the alk won’t help any. It’s all about stability. If it’s still opening a little in the morning I would leave it alone to get used to whatever the change was. Mine likes good flow and sits at 100par

Reefer45C · Apr 7, 2020

I got a nice piece of hot pink goni in my tank, I will always giggle saying that, and i run my tank 10-12 nitrates and .08-.10 PO4 always keep alk around 8.8-9.3 depending on what time I test based on lighting schedule CA 420. I keep it in moderate flow but a spot where it gets a lot of changing flow, lower in the tank... So I would say lower PAR ( I dont have a PAR meter to give exact numbers) But i have new heads growing almost weekly and shes happy. Ill try to get a picture... Just snaped a picture lights are turning off so shes smaller, but she gets some good extension.