Goniopora

Goniopora sp.

Care Level	Moderate
Lighting	Moderate
Water Flow	Low to moderate
Placement	Low rock or sand
Aggression	Semi-aggressive
Coloration	Green, pink, purple, rainbow "flowerpot" polyps

Overview

Goniopora (the “Flowerpot Coral”) extends a shimmering ball of long, daisy-like polyps that sway constantly in the current — mesmerizing and colorful. Once notoriously hard to keep, modern aquacultured and Australian Gonioporas are far more successful, and they are now a popular, rewarding LPS.

Care & Placement

Give moderate light and low-to-moderate flow. Place low on rock or on the sand. Stability is key — Goniopora dislike swings in parameters. Aquacultured/Australian specimens adapt far better than wild imports; a mature, stable tank helps.

Feeding

Photosynthetic and benefits greatly from feeding — target-feed fine foods (coral foods, phytoplankton, baby brine, amino acids) a couple of times a week to fuel the long polyps.

Propagation

Frag by cutting the encrusting base/skeleton; healthy colonies can be divided by experienced keepers.

Cautions

Historically difficult — buy aquacultured or Australian specimens, provide a stable mature tank, and feed regularly. Do not confuse with Alveopora (which has 12 tentacles per polyp vs Goniopora’s 24). Extends mild sweepers; give a little space.