Can anyone identify this? Montipora?

[Kaludar]

Got this from the LFS, can anyone tell me specifically what it is? Also im curious if it will encrust on reefsaver rock, since the rock is so porous, does it have to have a flat surface to encrust?

Anyone have any photos of a coral similar to this encrusted on reefsaver rock or similar? That would be awesome to see

 

[C. Eymann]

Definitely a monti, not sure on species, maybe a nodosa?

 

[DSC reef]

Looks like montipora monasteriata, mystic sunset montipora

 

[C. Eymann]

Huh, I thought M. monasteriata had raised tuberculae (bumps)?

Superman, rainbow, poker star were all misidentified as danae initially but they are all monasteriata.

 

[Kaludar]

Will this type of coral encrust on porous rock? If i glue the whole plug onto one of my rocks will it eventually cover the whole plug and transfer onto the rock?

 

[C. Eymann]

Will this type of coral encrust on porous rock? If i glue the whole plug onto one of my rocks will it eventually cover the whole plug and transfer onto the rock?

Indeed it will !

 

[C. Eymann]

This is M. monasteriata?




Which vendor/ coral dealer said it was M. monasteriata?

Who's naming these things lol?

 

[Kaludar]

Another question, if i place this frag too close to other corals, will it encrust over the top of them and potentially kill them? Say it was place to close to a zoanthid frag for example?

 

[C. Eymann]

Another question, if i place this frag too close to other corals, will it encrust over the top of them and potentially kill them? Say it was place to close to a zoanthid frag for example?

Zoanthid would win the battle IMO,

One trick people will do sometimes with entrusting SPS is- after they glue the coral frag down to the main rock work, they will glue small pieces of rubble around the coral (reborn works great for this) that way after it spreads onto the rubble pieces they can be popped off with ease to make new frags and to help cull the encrustment/spread of the mother colony.

 

[Kaludar]

Thats a great idea, thanks!

 

[fcmatt]

If you are not careful this type of monti grows like a weed and becomes a pest. I suggest placing it on an island rock if it can get enough light at the bottom. I tend to avoid them now days but will freely admit I have a single frag in my tank. In the past I have had them cover large surfaces of rock and I did not care for it over time. My plans are to place it on a smaller rock on the sand and if one day I am bored of it I can just take the rock to the lfs and trade it in for more rock minus the coral.

 

[C. Eymann]

^^^ Good advice

I dont really follow the current designer names too closely, but if its anything like the Zoa game where 90% of the "cherry pickle grape bomb palys" arent even actual palythoa, I have very little confidence in SPS designer names being accurate species.


I'm still thinking this is M. nodosa, or maybe M. mollis
OPs coral is just too smooth to be M.monasteriata IMO

 

[PigFarmer]

lol current custy names its either the mystic sunset or reverse superman monti

 

[C. Eymann]

lol current custy names its either the mystic sunset or reverse superman monti

Vivid is calling it M. tuberculosa -wrong IMO as M. tuberculosa has raised tuberculae.

LA is calling it M. monasteriata- wrong IMO- same reason as above

The hidden reef is calling it M. mollis, which I do agree with. -little to no raised tuberculae


What a mess!

 

[Kaludar]

The names can be very confusing. As a side note I've just really started looking at online aquaculture vendors, and I'm pretty blown away by the colors on some of these frags, the Acans in particular...also the prices are pretty steep. Look at this thing though...amazing.

 

[DSC reef]

Vivid is calling it M. tuberculosa -wrong IMO as M. tuberculosa has raised tuberculae.

LA is calling it M. monasteriata- wrong IMO- same reason as above

The hidden reef is calling it M. mollis, which I do agree with. -little to no raised tuberculae


What a mess!

It is what it is, I don't name them. It seems like you take it personal if someone thinks a coral is different than what you say. Were all just trying to help and none of us are "always" right. It's a hobby man.

 

[C. Eymann]

It is what it is, I don't name them. It seems like you take it personal if someone thinks a coral is different than what you say. Were all just trying to help and none of us are "always" right. It's a hobby man.

I think my written words are being misinterpreted, not upset, and my above statement was not directed at you, more so directed at the big name retailers. I have a love hate relationship with designer names, they have helped the hobby grow quite a bit, something I am all for!
I believe they can do a disservice through misidentification though, here is why,
Any OG SPS freak remembers how finicky tubbs superman(m. monasteriata)could be, its colors seemed to wash out if any changes of lighting was made, same with params.

Montipora that has raised tuberculae/ large coenstrum ridges typically likes a good amount of flow too little can be a problem, where species with a smoother coenstrum like venosa, digitata, nodosa are fine with lower flow.

I apologize if I came off as a jerk, not my intention at all, more so expressing a concern with the industry/trade.


That's all, Cheers *