Description

🌸 Goniopora Coral – Description & Care Guide

🪸 Description

Goniopora, commonly called Flowerpot Coral, is a Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral known for its long, swaying tentacles and daisy-like polyps. It adds a dynamic, flowing movement to reef tanks and is available in many vivid color morphs.

Key Features:

• Polyp Shape: Long stalks with flower-like ends (resembles a bouquet)

• Colors: Green, red, pink, purple, blue, neon yellow, and metallic rainbow

• Growth Form: Encrusting to rounded dome-shaped colonies

• Behavior: Semi-aggressive; can extend long polyps that touch neighbors

• Common Names: Flowerpot Coral, Daisy Coral

🧪 Tank Requirements

💡 Lighting Tips

• Moderate to high lighting brings out vibrant colors.

• Acclimate slowly to prevent bleaching or polyp retraction.

• Intense blue-spectrum lighting enhances fluorescence in some morphs.

🌊 Flow Requirements

• Prefers gentle to moderate, indirect flow.

• Too much flow causes polyps to retract or become damaged.

• Enough flow should keep the polyps gently waving and debris-free.

🍽️ Feeding

Goniopora is photosynthetic but greatly benefits from regular feeding, which boosts health and polyp extension.

• Target Foods: Reef-Roids, Coral Frenzy, phytoplankton, amino acid blends, tiny meaty foods like rotifers

• Feeding Time: Lights-off or low-light periods

• Method: Target feed with a pipette/syringe near polyps

• Frequency: 2–3 times per week

🧼 Care & Placement

• Placement: Middle to bottom of tank, in low-flow areas with space for polyp expansion.

• Aggression: Semi-aggressive — long polyps can touch nearby corals.

• Fragging: Possible but delicate — use care due to thin, brittle skeleton and risk of infection.

⚠️ Common Issues

✅ Quick Summary

🔍 Types of Goniopora

• Classic Goniopora: Long, daisy-shaped polyps; needs more care

• Alveopora (similar species): Easier to keep, with only 12 tentacles per polyp (vs. 24 in Goniopora)

• Goniopora Stokesi: Most common but also the most sensitive

• Aussie Goniopora: Often hardier and more colorful

• “Rainbow” Goniopora: Highly sought after for intense coloration

🌿 Tips for Success

• Keep water parameters stable — Goniopora is sensitive to swings.

• Spot-feed routinely — helps longevity and polyp extension.

• Observe closely after introduction — move if polyps remain retracted for days.

• Don’t place near aggressive corals or high-flow powerheads.