gonoporia coral question

[krazekajin]

I have a gonoporia that I bought before I realized that it was the dreaded hard to take care of flowerpot coral.
Anyway, it is in my 29 gallon directly under a 175W MH 20,000K and 2 65w Atintic blue PCs.
I had to move the coral about a week ago because my BTA was touching it. Anyway, it has not fully extended yet. It still looks healthy, but it seems to stay closed for most hte the time.
What can I do. Could it be getting too much light? I don't think it is getting too much water flow, I konw that could keep it from extending.
I use a turkey baster and gently release DTs phyloplankton over its tenticles about every other day.

 

[lion_crazz]

Do you have a large amount of copepods in your tank? The only person that I have personally known who was able to keep goniopora alive for more than a year, closer to 2 years, had a huge supply of copepods in the tank. Also, it may be getting too much light depending upon where you have it placed in the tank.

 

[krazekajin]

I have not found any copepods yet. Lots of little worms, but no pods.
It is about 14 inches under my 175 watt light. Do you think I could move it down about 8 inches to the bottom of my tank? It would still be directly under my 175w MH but it would be on the substrate?
Where do these corals naturally grow/

 

[lion_crazz]

It depends on the coral if it will grow, but I would probably say to move it down if it is not opening. It may be getting blasted with too much light.

 

[shnabbles]

There was a study done on another site where a lady was keeping several different kinds of goniopora for over 2 years... (study continues) she was using MH lighting, and oyster eggs mixed with cyclopeeze to feed her gonioporas... you of corse will need pristine water quality

 

[krazekajin]

how much light does a gonoporia need? Water Flow?

 

[krazekajin]

And why won't it extend. i ahve been feeding rotifers to is for three days, haven't touched it in over a week. it just stays closed or barely open, but it still looks good color wise.
Will a goniporia stay closed because of too much light?

 

[john kelly]

Originally Posted by KrazeKajin
Will a goniporia stay closed because of too much light?
Yes, definitely.
Moderate and indirect water flow too.

 

[krazekajin]

I am beginning to believe that my gonoporia is getting too much light. I came into my office today and only my atcinitic (whatever) lights were on and the polyps were extended more than they have been in two weeks. They still were not long, but at least I saw them finally. I am going to move it to a less lighted area.

 

[krazekajin]

my polyps are extending YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They still aren't more than a quarter of an inch, but it is more than I saw for the last two weeks. I moved it even more out of the MH light path and it seems to be doing great.
My question is . . . . I thought these were high light lovers. why do they say they need MH if they don't seem to come out under MH.
My lighting set up is a 36in fixture with 2 X 65 Aticitics PC and 1 175watt MH in the middle.

 

[john kelly]

Originally Posted by KrazeKajin
my polyps are extending YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They still aren't more than a quarter of an inch, but it is more than I saw for the last two weeks. I moved it even more out of the MH light path and it seems to be doing great.
My question is . . . . I thought these were high light lovers. why do they say they need MH if they don't seem to come out under MH.
My lighting set up is a 36in fixture with 2 X 65 Aticitics PC and 1 175watt MH in the middle.
That is good news.
"They" say Goniopora need MH because "They" don't know any better. Actually, some species of goniopora can take higher light intensity than others; but most of the common ones seem to be more toward moderate light level species......or at least bottom of the tank if under MH.
Properly acclimating goniopora to the lighting when first introduced into the tank makes a world of difference. I always use some type of shading (aluminum foil or fiberglass door mesh material) between the top of the water surface and my lighting in order to cast a shadow on the coral. I set it up so that it can be slowly removed or rolled back over the period of a couple of days to expose the coral a little bit at a time If I give them too much light they react instantly.