Green Goniopora
Known for its needs of a very experienced reef keeper to maintain its health, Green Goniopora can be a beautiful addition to a marine reef aquarium if cared for properly. Also known as Flower Pot Coral, Ball Coral, Daisy Coral and Sunflower Coral, Green Goniopora are a Large Stony Polyp Coral (LPS) with very thin and delicate tissue that can rip or tear easily.
Caring For Green Goniopora
Turbid lagoons in shallow water on coral rubble or soft substrates is where most Green Goniopora seem to thrive. With its habitat preferences one would think that this is a hardy coral, but unfortunately they are quite delicate. Additions of iron and manganese to the water surrounding Green Goniopora may contribute greatly to its overall health, although many factors are important to its care.
Green Goniopora Appearance
Colonies of Green Goniopora are usually branching, columnar or massive, but may be encrusting. Corallites have thick but porous walls and calices are filled with compacted septa and columellae. Green Goniopora coral polyps have 24 tentacles, and different species usually have polyps of different shapes and colors. Polyps are usually long and flashy and tentacles are normally extended day and night. It is also referred to as Flower Pot, Ball, Daisy or Sunflower Coral, and is various shades of green in color.
Feeding Green Goniopora
While some choose to not feed their Green Goniopora at all (relying on photosynthesis), others have achieved success in feeding phytoplankton and other small particle commercial foods and brine shrimp. Some hobbyists have had success feeding these corals fine particle foods such as oyster eggs and cyclopeeze. It is well known in the coral hobby community that feeding Green Goniopora coral is more of a trial and error adventure.
Tank Lighting For Green Goniopora
Tank conditions need to be "perfect" in order for Green Goniopora to thrive. Proper lighting is crucial to keeping this coral in a tank. Even turning the lights out for 24 hours can have an adverse affect on this type of coral. Green Goniopora will retreat fully into their skeleton and often die if not lighted properly.
Overall Green Goniopora Experience
In general, care and propagation of Green Goniopora coral should be left to the more experienced reef keepers. They are traditionally difficult to feed and properly keep in an aquarium setting, although there are many success stories as more people gain knowledge about keeping Goniopora.
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