Need Advice on the Goniopora and Gorgonian

[Cassii]

Hey all,

This isn't an emergency or anything, and it may be quite normal, but my goniopora is still a bit shy after 1.5 weeks in the tank. Just wondering if this is normal and what I can do to make it more comfortable.


Water parameters
The ammonia and nitrate levels are zero, with little fluctuation. We do regular water changes every 1 to two weeks. The salinity levels and everything are normal, too--basically, our water is pristine. We have the in home test kits and we've gotten the same results reguarly. The temperature is 80 degrees.


System parameters
It's a 55 gallon tank with a filtration system designed for a 70ish gallon, and that's a canister filter. We have a skimmer, but I don't know what brand name as it was given us by a friend and I hadn't thought to ask at the time. We have an acitinic light and a 20k, but I don't know the specifics on that, either. It's a crushed coral bottom, and the live rock is about 50 to 60ish pounds. We had more, but it was getting way too crowded so we transferred it to the 90. It's been set up for approximately 6-7months beyond cycling.


Inhabitant listing
Both the goniopora and gorgonian are relatively new--just over one week. They looked healthy and vibrant at the store, and they had the same lighting set up we do. Oh, and if it makes a difference, both are purple.

In the aquarium we have one falso hawkfish, one purple firefish, and 3 perculas. Two micro starfish, 3 feather dusters (and one little guy who looks just like our bigger ones attached to the clove polyp!), a clove polyp, a pipe organ coral, 1 ricordea, 1 red mushroom rock and various individual mushrooms spread around the tank, as well as a purple mushroom rock. We have a single hermit crab who hangs out on one rock and one rock only, and an emerald crab who runs around and likes to sit oon top of our clove polyps (grr...). We also have one tiger spot starfish, and I can't remember if he's brittle or serpent.


It isn't that he's not coming out at all, it's that only parts of him will come out at a time, and even then not too far out--half way at best. So earlier he had the bottom portion half way out, the right side 1/4 out, and the rest looked like they wanted to come out but hadn't gotten too far in the process. I don't knoe if it's normal or something is bothering him. Nothing goes near him but the firefish, and that's only because he's next to her bolt hole, but even then she doesn't irritate him or anything, just swims by at night. (she's not exactly shy)

The gorgonian seems to want to come out during th day rather than at night, which doesn't bother me, but...is it normal? Everything I've read says it's nocturnal. The green hair algea keeps trying to grow on it, but I've managed to remove all of that. he's now in direct water flow so if it does get him, it'll quickly get blown off of him. but is there any way to stop that?

Also, forgive the quality of the pictures, I only have my phone camera, xD. And I realize that everybody else is in hiding, too, but that's due to the fact that we just did a water change...and a rock decided to fall. Didn't hurt anyone, or even come close, but the hands in the aqarium moving around sent everyone into hiding, *grr*

Thanks in advance!

*Cassii

[DaveK]

As for the goniopora, return it to your LFS. While it's no longer considered impossible to keep, it's still considered extremely difficult, In addition, your clowns will likely want to host in it bothering it still further.

As for the gorgonian, you have a chance with that. It looks like you have one that does require light, so it's out in the daytime. However your photo makes it tough to tell for sure.

Since you didn't post exactly what sort of lighting you have, it's not possible to tell if you have enough. However, considering that it's only 2 bulbs, I would suspect the lighting is far less than what you'd want for corals.

[Cassii]

Well...that isn't going to happen--they won't take them back. Do you knoe of anything else I can do to help him out? The perculas have taken up residence...in the mushroom corals, xD.

[funkpolice]

gonis are a very hard coral to keep in an aquarium. If you do a google search I'm sure you'll come up with some do's and don'ts. some gorgonians are almost impossible to keep as well. Many are non photosynthetic and need an almost continuous food supply of a precise size and delivery. Some are photosynthetic and easier to keep alive assuming you have adequate lighting. Best of luck,
bill

[jgking21]

Do you have more that one fish store in your area? I would stay away from them, it appears they are more worried about selling stuff and not the health of the animals. I've never heard of fish stores not taking stuff for at least store credit! I'd give you picture of my goniopora, but it is not a bleached decoration!

[Cassii]

Unfortunately, this is the only store in the area, and even then it's a 30 minute drive to get there. (I live in the mountains, xD) which is why, unfortunately, I've resorted to solely online purchases.

Thanks for the advice concerning the corals--I'll see if can't make them happy. I've done a decent bit of research, but nothing I've ried yet has worked to bring them fully out. Guess we'll see

[yvr]

Gonipora's are not the easiest corals to keep. I have had good success keeping specimens in area with relatively high water flow and have had two in my tank for 2 years. I have one in a very strong current area and it looks very healthy compared to another specimen that I got at the same time and have in a lower flow area. I did have a tissue receding problem with them early on and did a couple of Lugol dips which cleared things up.

[Cassii]

Surprisingly enough, my goniopora is doing exceptionally well--thriving even. She is in moderate water flow, mid level, and moderate light. When something touches her, she sucks her polyps back in, but they come back out within a few minutes, and she looks beautiful when she's all the way out. Something I have found to help, though, is to leave the actinic lighting on throuhgout the night. When I do, she does much better all throuhgout the next day. And it seems to help the other corals as well.

Thanks for all your help!

[funkpolice]

your corals need a lighting cycle. You can't have 24 hr lighting, it's going to cause problems.
bill

[Cassii]

I was doing something like 12-16 hours of both lights, and the rest total darkness. I guess one of us forgot to turn the actinic lighting off one night, but the next morning, the goniopora was happy as hell. It was the first time we had seen her completely out. We considered it a fluke, so we turned the lights off that night and the next morning she was back in hiding. So once more we left the light on overnight, and once more she was out and happy again.

what problems will the acitinc lighting cause if it's left on 24/7 (besides a gargantuan electric bill)?