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Re: Condylactis passiflora, intra species contention?, and now Goniopora ID, feeding, sys.   7/13/07
Thanks very much for your enlightening response ;-)
Have actually spent literally years reading WetWebMedia FAQs and articles, was merely struggling a bit with this one, in any case have re-tackled the Alkalinity/Hardness/Ca issue and think I'm pretty much across the concepts (if I'm not , then I suspect I never will be). Have tested my water (PH 8.2, Salinity 1.025, Nitrates >60ppm, no
Nitrites or Ammonia, Temp 24C, Ca 340ppm, dKH 12.5), and doesn't seem too bad.
Regarding the possible Condy contention below , should I move one of them out if I can get the chance ( if they come out of the holes they have burrowed into to)?
<Yes, I would>
Confession Time: The background here is that a not so "funny thing happened the other day", Bear in mind , I haven't devoted a lot of time to the hobby over the last year, and my memory isn't so good, as a result I have made a rather disastrous mistake:
I was in the LFS to buy a Sarcophyton I have had my eye on for a few weeks, and while I was there they had a beautiful large Goniopora (WAIT!, WAIT! please, stay with me.....just a bit longer) and they only wanted $55 AUD for it . I said to the "Expert" in charge of their marine section "Isn't that the one that has the really dismal survival rate in captivity?", ." Oh no, says Expert, these are quite easy and this one has been doing really well " .
<Mmm, not so... this Genus IS the most used historically... but also has the survival value adverb you suggest>
I wander the shop some more with my two year old son distracting me heavily thinking "....or is that the other one beginning with" Go", gogi.., gopi..something...?, and suddenly remember "That's it! Gorgonian!, the Sea fan, it must be that one that I was thinking of that I decided never to own.
<Mmm, well, some of those/these hexacorals are not aquarium-hardy at all either...>
Bought said victim, took home
looked at notes/bookmarks again , placed head in hands and came to realisation that am probably developing Alzheimer's.
<I can't seem to remember...>
After sobbing a bit decided to do right thing and return it for a credit note, but ....LFS won't take it back, and don't have any friends that do Marine.
I feel like such an idiot! I only didn't mention this before because it's so embarrassing, Now I am stuck with it, and desperately don't want to be responsible for killing it, it is a beautifully healthy specimen. Have spent a full week of hours per day researching ways to keep it alive (hampered by the fact that I can't decide if it is a stokesi, columna or lobata (Even though I majored in Animal Ecology at Uni 17 years ago ...
<See my cursory review of "The World Trade in Coral" posted on WWM... species, even higher tax. ID's of Scleractinia are not easy>
like I said, my brain appears to have fallen out). It is Hemispherical Colony on a single coned shaped column (looks like they skeleton has basically grown out and up in a circular fashion), Polyps are long and brown with green tipped tentacles (attached pictures, - the leather is has now been moved away from the Goni and I will keep a close eye on the Condy's although they don't seem inclined to move again, clown hasn't approached it) What do you think it might be?
<Am looking... Columns too long for the first... tentacles not shaped like the second... I make this out to be the most common aquarium species, G. stokesi>
Now if you are still reading , here's my questions : I have a bag of Seachem Oolitic Aragonite , that I bought for several reasons , one because my Nitrates keep creeping too fast (about 20-40ppm per week in 100 litre tank)
<The high/er NO3 is actually of use, advised for this genus...>
to be explained by my tiny stock (two small/medium fish) and stingy feeding rates and frequent (weekly) water changes, that I suspect that the 3 year old crushed shell substrate may be harbouring to much bound organic matter (even though I vacuum it vigorously) so I want to replace it.
<I would NOT do this... but possibly add to...>
Two because I was originally thinking to use it to help stabilise Alkalinity and add Ca , and Three because I am hoping/Praying I can foster some microfauna to help feed the Goni (do these 3 arguments sound plausible?).
<Is, though a much larger system, and really a separate, tied-in refugium with DSB, lighting... is STRONGLY advised>
Given that the water parameters above don't seem too bad for Ca and KH considering that I have never measured or attempted to alter either in 3 years , should I leave the Aragonite out in case it messes with the balance? (no.. I can't fit a refugium to this tank (wife/children etc) ).
<I would leave in for the very organic component you mention...>
In terms of Feeding it , I am attempting a mix of Hikari rotifer, baby shrimp and algae glass scraping, and recently purchased some frozen blocks of Spirulina, octopus, mussel, and shrimp mush to try as well (having trouble getting Cyclop-eeze, do you think the freeze dried would be ok or should I only go for the frozen if I can get it?).
<All are suitable if small enough to fit into individual polyps... I would develop a routine of "covering" the colony temporarily, immersing the polyps with food... while having mechanical filtration suspended during these minutes... to assure each are fed...>
If I can impose on your patience just a little longer... some Goni questions that I have read conflicting arguments on :
1. Do they tolerate nitrate well or not, have read conflicting assertions, I am guessing my typical reading of around 40ppm may still be a bit high for it?
<This genus lives in quite "polluted" waters... including VERY high NO3 concentration>
2. Are baby shrimp small enough/suitable for it? (these look about the same size as a rotifer), should I try and culture some green water (phytoplankton) maybe?
<Mmm, don't eat phytoplankton to any appreciable degree... meaty food items need to be "mouth size"... or smaller>
3. Is it abnormal for it to close into a swollen ball for about 4 hours after the lights go out, it only seems to look really happy during the day ( have read they should be out day and night), it is only under 2 x 18W at the moment and seems quite happy and I am about to add 75W 6500K for it, do you think it might actually not like the brighter light ( it WAS under Halides in the shop)
<Not atypical behavior in both cases>
4. The LFS was feeding it JBL Koralle Fluid and claims it loves it, all the stock I can find on Melbourne shelves is out of date by a least 6 months!, most of the Red sea and Seachem alternatives I can find here all list about 0.0003mg/g of copper in them,
<Not to worry re this preservative trace>
(except for Red Sea Coral Trace that I can't get any specs on at all and Marine trace that just says the elements but no concentrations) and I am worried this may accumulate and hurt my feather dusters and corals, even though it isn't much, do you think Seachem Reef Trace(0.0003mg/g Cu) or Reef Plus(0.001Mg.g Cu) might be a good product for my Goni even with the copper?
<Yes... no worries. Some small amount of copper is actually necessary... a "micro-nutrient">
I have to keep this guy alive in this tank for around 10 months somehow until I can get my new 5 foot reef system up and running (house being built at the moment) with refugium, Thalassia etc.
<I'd move it last...>
I will keep researching , but would appreciate any pearls of wisdom you could impart (besides " Research before you buy" and."... keep reading" already know those ones ;-) )
Cheers,
Rama
<Heeee! BobF>