Goniopora
Goniopora (also known as flower-pot corals) — they’re beautiful and rewarding, but require attentive care.
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1. General overview
Goniopora is a genus of colonial stony corals (family Poritidae) found in the Indo-Pacific.
They get their common names (“flower-pot”, “daisy” coral) from the long polyp tentacles that wave in the current.
Historically they were considered difficult for hobbyists, though with current knowledge and feeding practices they’re more achievable.
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2. Tank environment & placement
Lighting: Moderate light is often best. For example: around 75-125 PAR is recommended in one guide. Some sources suggest they can tolerate a fairly wide range, but avoid blasting very high light suddenly.
Water flow: Low to moderate flow is ideal — enough to move the tentacles gently, but avoid strong direct jets which can damage the polyps.
Placement: Usually best on stable rockwork or near the bottom to mid-levels of the tank, not perched in high flow areas. Some hobbyists place them off the sand, anchored on rock.
Space: Provide some room around them. Their long tentacles can sting nearby corals (they can be semi‐aggressive) so maintain space.
Water quality & stability: These corals appreciate stable parameters — sudden swings in alkalinity, magnesium or temperature can stress them.
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3. Water parameters & chemistry
Here are recommended baseline parameters:
Temperature: Typical reef range (e.g., ~24-27°C)
Salinity: Standard marine (~35 ppt)
Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium: Ensure good levels (since skeletal growth is required)
One hobbyist noted: “They do NOT handle sudden changes in alk/mg very well at all” when acclimating Goniopora.
Nutrients: While you want good water quality (low nitrates/phosphates), keep in mind that Goniopora benefit from feeding (see below) which raises the importance of good filtration and maintenance.
Trace Elements: Some forum discussions suggest elements like manganese may have importance for long-term health of Goniopora.
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4. Feeding & nutrition
Feeding is a big part of long‐term success with Goniopora:
Though they have symbiotic zooxanthellae (so they receive energy from light), they also benefit significantly from direct feeding.
Feed small particulate foods: e.g., plankton, liquid coral foods, nano-foods. Some hobbyists use targeted feeding (via syringe or pipette) or broadcast feeding.
Frequency: Some reports suggest feeding 1-2 times per week can make a difference.
Turn off skimmer/filtration briefly during feeding so food remains available. (From forum experience)
Ensure the food is of the correct size/quality so the polyps can capture it. Many failures are due to under-feeding rather than lighting or flow alone.
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5. Common issues & troubleshooting
Tissue recession / bleaching: Could be from too much light, too strong flow, or sudden parameter changes. If polyps retract and don’t extend, check placement & flow.
Poor growth / fading colour: Often due to insufficient feeding or inappropriate flow/lighting. Some hobbyists report slow growth (e.g., a few polyp increase over years) if care is minimal.
Chemical warfare / neighbouring corals: Because the long tentacles can reach out, Goniopora may sting or be stung by neighbouring corals — give clearance.
Acclimation period: Many hobbyists note a longer acclimation period (weeks to a couple of months) before the coral looks fully relaxed and healthy.
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6. Propagation & growth
Goniopora can be fragged (cut into smaller pieces) but they grow slowly compared to some faster LPS corals. One forum user: “I typically see growth rates of a few polyp frag to a skeleton the size of a tennis ball in about 2.5 years.”
Ensure the frag is placed in a location with correct flow/lighting and get feeding right.
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7. Summary of ideal care for Goniopora
Parameter Recommendation
Lighting Moderate (~75-125 PAR) but species dependent
Water Flow Low to moderate, random gentle flow
Placement Bottom to mid-rockwork, stable surface
Feeding 1-2 times per week typical, targeted or broadcast
Water Chemistry Stable Ca/Alk/Mg, trace elements, good filtration
Space around coral Give clearance from other corals
Acclimation & patience Expect slower growth, longer adjustment
