Goniopora are an enigmatic coral that has captured the fancy of many a reef hobbyist. It has quickly become one of my favorite corals to collect. They are a beautiful large polyp stony coral that come in a wide variety of colors and have that namesake flower-like appearance that adds a flowing aesthetic to the reef tank.
It has not always been roses for this coral. For a long time Goniopora were considered an impossible coral to keep. There were even discussions online about it being unethical to keep importing them because of their poor survivability. The problem with their mortality rate was that it was deceptive. Gonioporas would not immediately die.
A Goniopora fresh from the wild would show up at the local fish store looking absolutely glorious. It’s got intense coloration, the polyps are nicely extended, and maybe it’s even hosting a clownfish making it an irresistible purchase for an unsuspecting hobbyist. The coral will remain healthy until about the 3 to 6 month mark. At that point things take a turn for the worse and the colony suddenly refuses to open up. From there what looks like an infection takes hold and practically overnight the coral dies leaving behind a white skeleton. 
The reef keeping hobby has progressed significantly since that time and now more and more hobbyists are having success with these corals. In this article we will take a look at some of these developments in hopes that your next Goniopora will flourish.
 
With our new powder food source we have today, Goniopora are much easier to care for.  Make sure you have a good Powder Food Source to keep these animals happy.