Moon or Flowerpot

[lauromon]

I baught this coral yesterday, tagged "moon", thinking it would be compatible in my 56 Watt, 10 gallon Nano-cube. Upon further investigation, I realized I might have a Flowerpot or Cauliflower Gonipiora which apparently don't have a great survival rate (especially in my tank!). But in my copy of "Marin Reef Aquarium Handbook", by Dr. J. Goldstein, I found an image titled "moon", which does resemble the coral as in the Favia family.

 

Agh, what it is to be such a novice! Please let me know what you think so that I can hopefully go back and switch this guy for a star polyp which I know would be fine in my nano. Thanks!

 

Attached is the picture of the coral in question:

[lauromon]

Here is the picture I found in the book:

[bowfront26]

that's a flowerpot

[lauromon]

Do you think the image from the book is a mistake?

 

Does anyone think it would be best to exchange or should I give it a shot?

[Travis]

I like the colors, play your cards right and see what happends.

[lauromon]

It is a reather brilliant green! THis certainly is a learning experience and I hope I can make it prosper.

[Travis]

Do some resurch, and see what are the best ways to care for the coral.

[crunk]

he can't figure out how to care for the coral if he doesn't know what it is, i think it looks like the picture in the book

[lauromon]

well, I really think that it is a gonipiora but am confused about the picture that I found in the book. It looks happy right now, but since I don't have halide, I don't know if I have enough light for it to make it. As mentioned above, I have 2x28 watt 50/50 (is that what is stock in the nano-cube?)

[hubblebubble]

that looks like gonipora to me, i have one also, had to split cuz it was taking up my whole tank

[lauromon]

How long have you had yours, hubblebubble? What conditions is it under? Do you feed?

[redparrotbubbles85]

i thought that you had to feed gonipora's and that they were non-photosynthetic.can someone please clarify this.

[bobioden]

I think it is a flowerpot also. Here is some info on them.

Note - each polyp has 24 tentacles

 

Flowerpot

 

Here is the Moon Coral

 

Moon Coral

[SaltyDawg]

Goniopora = FLOWER POT!!!! They are one in the same. called two things.

Alvela pora is the more hardy species in this family ( which youdo not have) They are recommended for experts only and are SUPER HARD to care for. I hate to be the one to bring this up but it wont live for more than two years in a home aquarium with a team of marine biologist helping you. WE dont know what they eat or what they like. They are prety much a mystery as for its food needs and its over all care in the hobby. You will find plenty of edjucated guess'es and theory's but no specifics.

[lauromon]

I realize that Flowerpot and Cauliflower coral are goniopora. I guess the question was more about the confusion of the second "moon" picture that was in my book. I should try to contact the publisher mabe.

 

Well, I guess have a challenge set for myself now! I think I'll stick to mushrooms, star polys and zoos.

 

Thanks for you help everyone.

[chrisisthereefer]

its a goniopora, i think youd just be better off taking it back and telling them it was mis marked and you cant take car eof it properly, and get your money back,another coral, or store credit. you seem to be a newer reefer also, so i don tthink itll live (no pun intended).

 

-Chris

[SaltyDawg]

Uh yeah!!! That pic and description is bs. BTW cauliflower coral isnt the same as goniopora either

[lauromon]

Well, managed to take back the poor little souls and traded for something else.

[SaltyDawg]

Excellent. So what did ya get?

[lauromon]

Well, nothing too exciting. A bunch of mushroom coral. But they are really spikey. Figured they would do well in my little low-light tank. I look forwards to finding some zoos though!

 

I am glad that the LFS so willingly took back the flowerpot!