The Goniopora is a beautiful coral to look at, and are one of the most prolific contributors to the world?s coral reefs. The strains of Goniopora have many such beautiful numbers of corals. They grow really fast if bred in captivity as compared to the wild colonies. The Goniopora needs moderate light and intermittent water flow. They are semi aggressive and need to be kept away from neighbor corals in the aquarium. You will often see clown fish around these corals, as these fishes seek shelter in these corals. The Goniopora has long, elegant polyps that are indisputably stunning and makes the animal a centerpiece in any aquarium.
It generally feeds on flowing tiny zoo planktons and thus keeps the aquarium clean and clear. The Goniopora belongs to the group known as Cnidaria in which they have mouth that opens up into one big cavity which acts as a digestive system, where the food is broken down into nutrients and then sent back through the mouth or secreted into the surrounding water. Most Cnidarans has tentacles which can show stinging behavior which can be used as defensive system. The Goniopora does not have excretory system and therefore expels out the waste food into the water. Some corals lack tentacles and instead cover themselves with a thin layer of mucus and use that to collect bacteria and plankton as food. The quality of water should be maintained with 8.1- 8.4 pH, 72-78 degree Fahrenheit for the Goniopora?s continued health.
Gonios, a.k.a. Flower Pot Corals, are a very cool looking coral that have a hard round skeleton surrounded by tissue that expands quite amazingly into long flower-like tentacles. They are usually bright green in color.The size of this item is when fully open under metal halide bulbs.Corals are part of a biological group known as Cnidaria. Most Cnidaria have a mouth, or mouths, that opens into one big body cavity. Due to the lack of a true digestive system, this cavity acts in its place and after the food is broken down the nutrients are then sent through the rest of the body as food. There is also no excretory system; therefore the waste is sent back through the mouth or secreted into the surrounding water.Tentacles of varying size will usually surround the mouth of Cnidaria. Most Cnidaria have tentacles with stinging cells that can shoot tiny poison darts into their prey or can even be used as a defense mechanism. Some corals lack tentacles and instead cover themselves with a thin layer of mucus and use that to collect bacteria and plankton as food. Some corals even use both of these methods. Cnidaria can either be an individual animal or members of a complex colony. These "Colony Corals" share the food and nutrients taken in by each individual.Corals have tiny living organisms that actually live in their tissue. These are called zooxanthellae and they are the reason why such strong lighting is needed in the saltwater aquarium. These algae-like creatures provide the coral with oxygen and other nutrients that are produced during photosynthesis. During this process, the zooxanthellae take up carbon dioxide and provide nutrients to the coral.Corals can use two different types of defense mechanisms. One of which is a sweeper tentacle wherein the coral reaches its tentacles out to try to damage another coral with nematocysts. The other is when the coral releases a minute amount of toxin into the water to poison another coral within certain proximity. Most "Hard Corals" should not be placed within reach of another coral.
