Goniastrea (Honeycomb, Brain Star, Moon, or Closed Brain)

[michael.]

Goniastrea
Care level: 3 Moderate
Temperature: 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Specific gravity: 1.023 to 1.025.
pH: 8.10 to 8.40.
Illumination: Moderate.
Water flow in the aquarium: Moderate.
Marine aquarium habit & habitat: Give ample space to Brain Star Goniastrea Coral in your aquarium so that it can spread itself fully. The Goniastrea species is nocturnal in its habit and extends its tentacles at night.
Feeding & Nutrition: Brain Star Goniastrea Coral derives its nutrition mainly through photosynthesis which is performed by zooxanthellae, a photosynthetic alga, living symbiotically within the coral tissues of the Goniastrea species.
Brain Star Goniastrea Coral is also Carnivorous in its feeding habits and when open, filter feeds a few times per week. It basically eats acellular marine invertebrates, meaty bits, zooplankton and phytoplankton. The tentacles of Brain Star Goniastrea Coral have stinging cells, nematocysts, at their tip. At night, the tentacles wave in the water current and secrete mucus. The food particles stick to this mucus on the tentacles and get paralyzed. The food then, along with the mucus, reaches the mouth of Brain Star Goniastrea Coral.
The following are the Goniastrea species:
australensis (photos above)
edwardsi
deformis
minuta
pectinada
peresi
minuta
thecata

Goniastrea Australensis
Underwater, it may be difficult to distinguish from Platygyra lamellina, but skeletons are readily distinguished by their well developed columella centres and paliform lobes.
Also looks very similar to some Favia, it's often mistakenly sold as "Favia"
Other names include Brain Star, Honeycomb, Wreath, Moon, or Closed Brain Coral.
It has a calcareous skeleton and is massively round or dome-shaped with a honeycomb appearance.
It is a hardy, semi-aggressive coral that will extend sweeper tentacles at night, and therefore, needs to be provided with ample space between itself and other corals in the reef aquarium. It requires a high light level and strong water movement within the aquarium, along with the addition of calcium, strontium, and trace elements to the water.
It will benefit from additional food in the form of micro-plankton or brine shrimp fed in the evening when its tentacles are visible.
Here's a video link below of a goniastrea at hungry time.
Goniastrea Australensis zooplankton feed
Family: Faviidae
Polyp Size: LPS - Large polyp stony
Range: South Pacific, Indo-Pacific
Color Form: Brown, Cream, Green, Pink, Yellow
Ideal Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Strong
Light: High
Dominance: Semi-aggressive
Placement: All levels
Care Level: 3 Moderate



Here's a larger colony