Flower Pot and Cup coral issues!!

The Grizz · #1 09-09-2010, 01:50 AM

So I have 2 flower pot's, 1 is red and the other is purple and a cup coral. When I first got them they all extended out and looked amazing but now the only time they seem to extend is when the light's go out and the moon light led's come on.

Any one have any ideas of what might be happening or what I should try to bring them around? They are not dead as I can see the polyp's ( if that is what they are called) in the hole's but they don't want to come out and play.

This is what they looked like for a few month's after I got them:

Can't seem to find a pic of the cup.

naesco · #2 09-09-2010, 02:00 AM

Sorry Grizz but your flowerpots or goniopora are slowly dying.
They have no chance of living in reefers tanks and that is why they should not be imported or sold.
The experts who are experimenting with their needs have had some success with tanks supercharged with phytoplankton to the point that the water has a constant very distinct green tinge to it.

If you want to you could set up another tank along the same idea.
If you just purchased them return them to the lfs that sold them to you for a full credit. They know the drill on this species.

The Grizz · #3 09-09-2010, 02:14 AM

Well if they are slowly dieing it sure taking long enough. They have been like this for the last 2 month and I have had then for about 6 month.

I have seen them in other tanks as well, in which they were there for years. I have heard and read all about there track record and beginning to agree that they should be left in the ocean but the are so nice.

apexifd · #4 09-09-2010, 02:36 AM

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/aafeature2

looks like they are possible to keep in a close system. I have mine for 2 months now. colour fade when it was under power compact in the bio cube. but, with it move into the 75g with 150watt MH... colour starts to come back and it polyp extension is great now as well.

The Grizz · #5 09-09-2010, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apexifd

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/aafeature2

looks like they are possible to keep in a close system. I have mine for 2 months now. colour fade when it was under power compact in the bio cube. but, with it move into the 75g with 150watt MH... colour starts to come back and it polyp extension is great now as well.

This is a strange, I was just reading the exact same article. Do you target feed yours? Got a pic?

daniella3d · #6 09-09-2010, 03:02 AM

Are you feeding them? Goniopora especialy need feeding and alveopora as well. Try feeding the tank some ReefRoid as this food was developed for goniopora. Also some cyclopeeze might be good. Mine never really accepted this food so I keep putting the ReefRoid every day, just a little bit to feed them.

I stop the skimmer for an hour and feed it to the tank.

Also I have read that Zeovit amino acid is a good product to prevent goniopora and alveopora from shrinking to nothing. Mine have been going well for 7 months now, even growing. They really extend a few inches when the metal halide goes on.

Gonioporas and alveoporas cannot really thrive in a low nutriment system.

Phytoplankton? who said they eat phyto? Reefroid is zooplankton and I read pretty much everywhere they eat zooplankton from the water.

I have red that Fauna Marin is now developing a specialized food for them, not sure if that is ready or not. ReefRoid is the way to go but also Faune Marin Ultraseafan and UltraMIn could be helpful.

naesco · #7 09-09-2010, 03:05 AM

Grizz don't get excited.
The article was written over five years ago by a guy that works at a fish store called feathers and fins.

Tried to find the article on using a green phytoplankton tank but can't find it yet.

naesco · #8 09-09-2010, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daniella3d

Are you feeding them? Goniopora especialy need feeding and alveopora as well. Try feeding the tank some ReefRoid as this food was developed for goniopora. Also some cyclopeeze might be good. Mine never really accepted this food so I keep putting the ReefRoid every day, just a little bit to feed them.

I stop the skimmer for an hour and feed it to the tank.

Also I have read that Zeovit amino acid is a good product to prevent goniopora and alveopora from shrinking to nothing. Mine have been going well for 7 months now, even growing. They really extend a few inches when the metal halide goes on.

Gonioporas and alveoporas cannot really thrive in a low nutriment system.

Phytoplankton? who said they eat phyto? Reefroid is zooplankton and I read pretty much everywhere they eat zooplankton from the water.

I have red that Fauna Marin is now developing a specialized food for them, not sure if that is ready or not. ReefRoid is the way to go but also Faune Marin Ultraseafan and UltraMIn could be helpful.

#Phytoplankton? who said they eat phyto?#

just Eric Borneman

There are no recent developments in understanding the needs of Goniopora although certainly one day an expert who is studying their needs will find something that can give them a fighting chance at survival. And certainly a few coral food manufacturers will make dishonest claims about their product.
But in the meantime, IMO, they should not be imported, should not be sold(reputable fish stores do not bring them in) or purchased.

The Grizz · #9 09-09-2010, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

reputable fish stores do not bring them in

I have seen them at many of our LFS here and ALL the shop I go to are very reputable.

When mine were doing well I was using Coral Snow and Amino Acids as well as Phytoplankton and Phytoplankton Concentrate on alternate days but had to stop due to the old mighty dollar. Might have to try and swing it and get some more to see if they improve. If not it wont hurt any thing else in the tank.

daniella3d · #10 09-09-2010, 03:51 AM

I don't know if those are "dishonest" claims but mine has even grown a few new heads. Extention is great with MH light and it's not shrinking.

Time will tell if it will continue to do well, if I can keep it healthy for more than a year.

There must have been at least some studies done on them since Reefroid was developed for these corals.

http://polyplab.com/reefroids.html

"Reef-roids is a mixture of naturally occurring marine planktons including a specific species of zooplankton that is unique to our product."

In any case, if one has such coral, it is best to give it all the chances and give it proper food, what ever this is that we have available.

I have started zeovit amino acid 2 weeks ago for better color in my sps, but it's too soon to juge the effect on the flower pot.

And this is interesting:

John Kelly on Goniopora
Founder of Goniopora.org discusses this little understood animal

"Unfortunately, Eric Borneman, in his book Aquarium Corals, tended to emphasize the possibility of phytoplankton over zooplankton as a potential food source for Goniopora. Since then, hobbyists have been purchasing and dumping phytoplankton into their reefs only to have their Goniopora end up slowly starving to death."

"The best feeding regimen is to mix and mash a number of small foods together in an attempt to replicate a zooplankton-like meal. There are plenty of commercially available foods that can be used to create a mix such as Cyclopeeze, DT’s Oyster Eggs, Coral Frenzy, GP Diets, raw sea foods, frozen brine and mysis shrimp, frozen rotifers, and many more."

http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=353

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

#Phytoplankton? who said they eat phyto?#

just Eric Borneman

There are no recent developments in understanding the needs of Goniopora although certainly one day an expert who is studying their needs will find something that can give them a fighting chance at survival. And certainly a few coral food manufacturers will make dishonest claims about their product.
But in the meantime, IMO, they should not be imported, should not be sold(reputable fish stores do not bring them in) or purchased.