Suggested levels for Montipora species are:
- Calcium: 400 to 450 ppm (closer to 450). If the Monti does not have enough calcium, it will not grow.
- Alkalinity : 3.2 TO 4.5 MEQ/L (8 to 10 dKh - 10 is recommended)
- Phosphates: 0, zero. Phosphates are the worst of all and all corals hate them.
- Magnesium: 1350-1500. ...
- Strontium: 10
How do Montipora corals get their food?
Montipora corals have developed many different feeding strategies to be able to survive in the wild, especially in nutrient-poor waters. Their main feeding way is by the symbiosis with zooxanthellae algae, from which they get most of their nutrients.
What kind of water do Montipora like?
Montipora enjoys tank conditions with high water flow. They prefer fast-moving water with a bit of randomness to it. Be careful however not to point a water jet right at a coral. Too strong of flow in such a way could make the coral die-off right where that strong water hits it.
How do you care for a Montipora capricornis?
As with most other SPS corals, proper Montipora Capricornis care requires medium to high levels of light. While not requiring as much lighting as say, most acroporas, they still need more than basically every LPS or soft coral.
How can I improve the health of my Montipora coral?
Branching Montipora can quickly create a dense cluster of coral which can lessen water flow. This means that nutrients and gas exchange lessen, which can start to affect the overall health of the coral over time. This can be solved by adding more water flow or fragging the corals to increase water circulation once again.
Do you need to feed montipora coral?
It is proven that corals/SPS need to feed on zooplakton as well as the nutrition they receive through photosynthesis. The size of the food prey has to be small enough to be ingested by the small polyps of SPS.
How do I know if my Montipora is healthy?
You know when the montipora pieces start growing to plague proportions, including on the outer (non-wet) side of the tank. Holding color (or improvement in color), growth and a lack of rescission, lightening, browning and peeling. That's probably how I'd look at it - more or less the same as other SPS.
Should I dip Montipora?
When treating Montipora, you want to treat all of your Montipora, even if your other Montipora don't show any signs of nudibranch. After you dip your Montipora wait two days and dip them again. I would suggest waiting another two days and dipping them one more time (maybe even two more times) to be safe.
Where do you put Montipora?
In general, all varieties of Montipora coral can be placed in the middle or top of the tank. They need moderate to high light and moderate to high water flow.
How do you take care of Montipora?
Montipora require both clean water and consistent high levels of major ions to maintain their growth rate. They are not quite as temperamental as Acropora however suboptimal water chemistry can lead to undesirable changes in color or cause the polyps of the coral to retract for extended periods of time.
Are Montipora hard to keep?
Montipora corals are considered the easiest of the small polyp stony (SPS) corals to keep. They are considered the best SPS corals for beginners, and keeping SPS corals is very rewarding for experienced reef keepers too.
Do angelfish eat Montipora?
Sometimes they'll take a tip off Montipora digitata but usually they lose interest. On the positive side usually they will also control the or Tulip anemones. They make cool "popping" noises, too!
Why is my Monti bleaching?
Low nutrients or too much light.
What eats Montipora nudibranch?
The only types of fish that I have actually witnessed eating nudis of this kind are wrasses from the Thalassoma family and butterflys from the Chaetodon genus.
How fast do Montipora grow?
Clownfish. With good lighting and parameters it grows pretty quick, one of the faster growing sps species, I had a bit around 2inchs about 4 months ago and it's probably 5 times that size now and has a few layers forming.
Will Montipora grow on sand?
Yes you can place them on the sand bed.
Why is my Montipora turning white?
My montipora plates do this when the tank is lacking iodine. It might be worth adding some just in case the problem is coincidental with the new lights.
Why is my montipora turning white?
My montipora plates do this when the tank is lacking iodine. It might be worth adding some just in case the problem is coincidental with the new lights.
Why is my Monti bleaching?
Low nutrients or too much light.
How fast do Monti caps grow?
In 6 months, mine probably about tripled. It's funny cause you can predict when it is gonna go through a spurt. The rock it's on will turn white where it's growing. Plus the ends turn white when growing, atleast with my purple cap.
Does plating montipora have polyps?
Colonies of Montipora hodgsoni produces irregular thin plates. Polyps are very small, and the ridges are radial and irregular.
Do Montipora like strong flow?
Montipora appreciate strong flow, preferably with some randomness to it. There is such a thing as too much flow though. If you have a powerhead blowing right at the coral from short range, it may kill off some of the tissue at that point of contact. Another problem you might run into with vey strong flow is if you have a plating colony of Montipora. The shape of the colony can act like a parachute and lift off of the rocks if it gets hit by too much flow.
Can Montipora coral grow?
Successfully growing Montipora comes with the downside of the coral cutting down the flow significantly. As colonies get larger and larger, it is important as hobbyists to pay close attention to changing flow demands and consider adding more flow or pruning the colony to allow more space for water to flow through.
Do Montipora corals need water?
Montipora require both clean water and consistent high levels of major ions to maintain their growth rate. They are not quite as temperamental as Acropora however suboptimal water chemistry can lead to undesirable changes in color or cause the polyps of the coral to retract for extended periods of time.
Is Montipora easier to care for than Acropora?
Montipora also tend to be easier to care for than Acropora making them more appealing to beginner hobbyists looking to try SPS for the first time. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations.
What is a montipora?
Montipora is a genus of small polyp stony corals found in reefs throughout the world. They are one of the primary reef-building corals and are responsible for a large percentage of a reef's calcium carbonate structure.
What are the three chemical parameters that Montipora needs to build its stony skeleton?
There are three major chemical parameters that are needed by Montipora to build its stony skeleton. These parameters are Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium. Starting first with Calcium. Calcium is one of the major ions in saltwater in the ocean.
What is the relationship between Montipora and Dinoflagellates?
Like many corals, Montipora has a special symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellates called zooxanthellae that live inside its tissue. The dinoflagellates carry out the actual photosynthesis. The coral animal derives nutrients off of the byproducts of the dinoflagellates' photosynthetic process.
Is Montipora overkill?
They may be overkill for the hardier species of Montipora while the more delicate specimens may require additional TLC to keep them healthy. It's easier to jump right into talking about care requirements like lighting, flow, and water chemistry but first and foremost, Montipora like consistent parameters.
Can Montipora coral flow?
There is such a thing as too much flow though. If you have a powerhead blowing right at the coral from short-range, it may kill off some of the tissue at that point of contact. Another problem you might run into with very strong flow is if you have a plating colony of Montipora. The shape of the colony can act like a parachute and lift off of the rocks if it gets hit by too much flow.
Can Montipora overgrow an aquarium?
The care requirements for Montipora vary to some degree because of their diversity. Some species are hardy and fast-growing to the point that they can overgrow an aquarium such as the ubiquitous orange plating Capricornus. Other varieties are slower growing and more sensitive to tank conditions like the Palawanesis.
Do Montipora corals need feeding?
Montipora and SPS corals, in general, do not seem like the type of coral that would require feeding. They do not put on dramatic feeding displays like some large polyp stony (LPS) corals, and even under close macro photography, they don't seem to appreciate targeted feeding.
How do Montipora corals survive?
Their main feeding way is by the symbiosis with zooxanthellae algae, from which they get most of their nutrients.
What is the difference between Montipora capricornus and Montipora digitata?
Montipora digitata, the image above , is a branching species that is similar in size and shape to the also very popular Acropora species. Montipora capricornus, on the other hand, is a species that grows as flat plates, like in the image below.
What is a montipora coral?
Montipora corals are hardy beginner SPS corals that are available in a variety of shapes and colors–so you are bound to find one that creates exactly the look you are looking for.
Do Montiporas grow in shallow water?
They managed to adapt to a wide range of habitats, from turbid lagoons to oceanic reefs and shallow areas, and from the reef crest down to really deep waters. Montiporas can grow fairly large and do best when given plenty of room to grow.
Can you add montipora to a new tank?
While many montipora species are considered to be beginner SPS species, that doesn’t mean you should add them to a brand new tank. SPS corals, even the most tolerant of the group require stability in water parameters and would do best if added to a tank that has been allowed to mature for at least a few months or more.
What do Montipora corals need?
Montipora needs to have living conditions with clean water, proper alkalinity, and consistent mineral content , such as calcium and magnesium. This can be quite a challenge. As corals grow, they intake more minerals. Amounts of chemicals, lighting, and flow needed when your coral is young will be drastically different from when they have grown for some time. Over time you may have to change care tactics to keep up with the changing needs of the coral.
What is the best way to grow Montipora coral?
Water Chemistry. Good water quality means to have clean water and proper chemical balances. High levels of ions are important for Montipora’s growth. Incorrect levels of chemicals in the water can lead to undesirable color changes in your coral.
What is a montipora?
Montipora Capricornis, also known as Plating Montipora or Monti Cap, is an SPS coral staple of the reef keeping hobby. Known for its general tendency to form flat plate shaped formations, thereby giving it its name, it is one of the most iconic calcifying corals, and while it doesn't usually generate the crazy rainbow colors ...
How to take care of a plating montipora?
High flow is the name of the game to properly take care of plating montipora. This coral is very well known to collect debris if there is not enough flow, which can subsequently rot and cause damage to the flesh of the plating montipora. In addition, higher flow brings more nutrients to this coral for it to consume. Unless you're creating a literal whirlpool inside your reef tank (or ripping it off the rockwork), it is basically impossible to have too much flow for this coral.
How much light do Montipora Capricornis need?
As with most other SPS corals, proper Montipora Capricornis care requires medium to high levels of light. While not requiring as much lighting as say, most acroporas, they still need more than basically every LPS or soft coral. Of course, lighting is relative, the lower in the tank the coral sits, the less light will penetrate the water. But at the same time, if you do not have strong enough lights, it doesn't matter how close you place this coral to the surface.
Why do montiporas spiral upwards?
When plating Montiporas are unable to find enough light, they are known to spiral upwards in a cone shape in an attempt to get closer to the light source. They can also fade a bit and lose that vibrant color that we're all looking for.
Do Montipora Capricornis grow sideways?
Unlike stick corals, Montipora Capricor nis grow sideways instead of upwards, although this coral will angle upward if they meet resistance.
Can you frag Montipora Capricornis?
Try to make it a clean cut, and if the edges look at all rough, it may be worth doing a short iodine dip to try to avoid infection. Plating Montipora Capricornis is a very fast growing SPS coral, so you should be able to frag this coral on somewhat regular occasion.
How hot should Montipora undata be?
In order to avoid overheating of coral specimen, ensure that the water in your tank or aquarium does not exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature should be observed when you are using metal halide lamps or other lamps whose operation temperature is very high. It is important you note that the coral skeleton can absorb heat, therefore, if the water temperature is too high the coral skeleton will end up being warmer than the ambient water temperature.
Why is it important to acclimate Montipora?
Montipora Undata Care requires you to take the acclimation of the coral seriously. This is because the shipping process of the animals imposes a lot of stress on them . Proper acclimation is, therefore, important to ensure the coral quickly adapts to its new habitat.
