red Goniopora question   4/2/12
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Greetings WWM crew,
I've been having a problem with my established red ORA Goniopora,
<... misplaced. And you haven't searched, read ahead of writing us. Do so:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/poritidhlthfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Follow directions or go elsewhere. Bob Fenner>>
 which has not opened in about ten days.  It's been thriving in my 90 gallon reef tank for about 15 months, growing from  the size of a golf ball (when closed) to tennis ball size now.  It has not been moved, T5 lighting hasn't changed (bulbs around 6 months old), I'm still using the same salt mix (salinity) and my own RO/DI water.  Everything else in the tank looks great; all fish are happy and eating well, and all other corals are wide open and growing quickly (including a green Goniopora that's been in the tank for about 6 months).  I did recently add a small yellow mimic tang and pencil wrasse, but I've never seen either mess with the red goni and they were together for about 2 weeks before the coral closed up shop.  Also, the red goni shows no signs of tissue degeneration: the polyps aren't pulled in super tight, but are not extending at all.  For the first few days I thought that maybe it just wasn't hungry, but now am starting to worry.
All the tank parameters look good, except that the ph has been a little low, 7.9-8.1 (which is typical in my aquarium).  Readings are as follows: sg 1.026; calcium 420, alkalinity 13.4 dKH, ammonia and nitrite 0, phosphates .36ppm (also typical in my tank).  I run carbon and phosphate reactors (using SeaChem matrix carbon and Brightwell extrax Phos), and switched out all media a few days ago.  Also, I have extra carbon and poly filter pads between sump chambers that all tank water passes through.  I regularly supplement with coral color, vitamin C and Iodine.  I have not checked Magnesium or Iodine lately but will tonight.  Also have plentiful macro algae and copepods in refugium lit with T5's This tank receives weekly 10-15% water changes, and the critters inside get a varied diet of frozen, pellet, and (targeted) liquid foods daily (with the return off for about 45 minutes).
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  This coral is the star of my tank and would be a devastating loss.  2 pictures attached, 1 close-up of goni, 1 full tank
Thanks much for your ever invaluable assistance,
Eric

Goniopora update, Fe saves   4/14/12
Greetings Crew
<Eric>
I emailed about ten days ago about a declining red ORA Goniopora that had stopped opening for over two weeks.  Bob chastised me for sending in pictures that were larger than allowed,
<Sounds about right>
and referred me to the FAQ pages; however, the only info I found there indicated that I should not have the animal in the rockwork but in the sand bed (I have two in my tank, both about 4 inches off the sand on rock ledges, that have been doing great for 6 months (a green one), and 15 months (a red one)).
I moved the red one to the sand, and while its condition did not improve, several of the polyps along the base of the coral died.  Thus, I moved it back to its earlier spot.  I recently bought the Coral Color Pro kits which provide a test for Iron, and which showed that my iron had indeed reached a very low level.  I upped it with the coral color C product, and voila, within 24 hours the Goniopora began to open up, and in 72 hours it had returned to its normal, healthy condition.
<Ahh!>
I hope this information can help others who have declining Goni's, so thought I would share.
<I thank you>
As always, much appreciation for your site and helpful assistance.
Eric
<Cheers, BobF>