Lemon Mouth Goni

About this coral

Lemon Mouth Goni is a named Goniopora, also called a flowerpot coral. It is an LPS coral with beautiful, flowing polyps that sway in the current. This listing does not confirm the exact species, colors or origin, so the care notes below are general guidance for the Goniopora group. Goniopora used to be known as very hard to keep. Many kinds now do well over the long term when they get suitable light, flow and steady feeding. That makes the Lemon Mouth Goni a good choice for reef keepers who already have a stable system and can spend time on regular care.

Features:

• Flowerpot coral with long, flowing polyps that move gently in the current
• Hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and gets energy from photosynthesis
• Does best with occasional spot feeding of very fine foods, because Goniopora have very small mouths
• Phytoplankton and zooplankton fed a couple of times a week are good choices
• Give it random, indirect flow that makes the polyps sway without flattening them or making them pull in
• Too much light can cause bleaching, while too little light and underfeeding can cause browning and slow decline
• If you change the lighting, raise the intensity slowly over one to two weeks

Specifications:

• Coral type: LPS, Goniopora (flowerpot coral)
• Care level: Needs a stable, established system
• Lighting: Moderate, indirect, about 50 to 150 PAR
• Water flow: Moderate, random, indirect
• Diet: Photosynthetic, plus fine phytoplankton and zooplankton foods
• Temperature: 75 to 80°F (24 to 27°C)
• pH: 8.1 to 8.4
• Salinity: 1.023 to 1.026 specific gravity
• Alkalinity: 8 to 11 dKH
• Calcium: 400 to 450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250 to 1350 ppm
• Nitrate: Under 10 ppm