Grafted Montipora

bsstover · Nov 21, 2015

So I made my own attempt at grafting 3 montipora together: Red, Green, and purple Cap. Instead of the good demarcation that is usually seen with WWC grafted caps, mine almost all blended together. At first it was like the red completely overcame the other two, then as it started to grow out, started to demonstrate green polyps, and now it has almost a marbling appearance. Any one else have experience with this? (sorry for poor picture quality, I'm still learning).

joshkirkland83 · Nov 21, 2015

Still looks cool.

twon8 · Nov 21, 2015

Nomadic1 · Nov 21, 2015

Can you describe your grafting process?

reefhobby · Nov 21, 2015

Yeah can you please?

AdamNC · Nov 21, 2015

I'm trying this now but with a green and red. Seems atm the red is growing quicker and starting to over take the green. I think they were placed on the same plug about a month ago.

bsstover · Nov 21, 2015

The process, at least what I have done is rather simple. Simply taking two (or three in my case) pieces of montipora and gluing them right next to one another on a plug. I also have some others that I glued back to back and stood straight up so both sides got light... that is the one that I have pictured above. Pretty simple really... then just patience.

twon8 · Nov 21, 2015

You just need two montis of different colors but the same species, then put the frags on the same plug and wait

Nomadic1 · Nov 21, 2015

twon8 said:
You just need two montis of different colors but the same species, then put the frags on the same plug and wait

That's correct, but, how exactly does one identify a coral down to the species level just by sight? Verron says that is impossible without microscopic ID of the dead coral skeleton.

It seems that it's just dumb luck to get two of the exact species.

twon8 · Nov 21, 2015

You put them next to each other and if they dont sting then they are good candidates

Reef13 · Nov 23, 2015

Here's a pic of mine, sorry it's not up close, it's about 3/4 inch round I bought st my lfs, I have it wedged between my red Monti as bd a rock, do far no burning or isdyes, curious ad to how it will look in a few months.. it's towards the back of my tank..

bsstover · Nov 23, 2015

I have also done this with purple and red, they just don't contrast as much as green and red.

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1448305572.394929.jpg

JFrar · Nov 23, 2015

Ive been meaning to try this... all 3 of my caps are getting to large and i've been just bringing frags to the LFS...i gotta try me this...maybe tonight lol

bsstover · Nov 23, 2015

JFrar said:
Ive been meaning to try this... all 3 of my caps are getting to large and i've been just bringing frags to the LFS...i gotta try me this...maybe tonight lol

That's what got me trying it! Getting too big to control.

Reef13 · Nov 23, 2015

I've seen a post in the past regarding this, and what they did was glue alternating colors onto a frag plug.. They were alternating between green and red, not sure if it was a specific red or green though.. You have to find the right pair that will grow together and not either burn or grow opposite ways.. try getting a few 1/2" chips of various ones and experiment.. I was lucky that my lfs had this one in stock!! Once it grows out, I will def frag it

Motorcitycorals · Nov 23, 2015

I have wanted to try this forever. Post up some pics as they progress. Very cool.
Joel

nport19 · Nov 23, 2015

How do you guys get yours to grow so quickly. I have two different frags that are on the small side and they seem to be taking forever to grow. I have a had one for over 5 months and it's just showing a little growth.

bsstover · Nov 23, 2015

Maintain proper levels and blast them with light, at least that's what I do.

Reef13 · Nov 23, 2015

nport19 said:
How do you guys get yours to grow so quickly. I have two different frags that are on the small side and they seem to be taking forever to grow. I have a had one for over 5 months and it's just showing a little growth.

What kind of lights do you have? how high up are they? My red cap is 3/4 the way up in my biocube under an AI Prime LED and grows like crazy.. It also did great under ecoxotic panorama pros.. keep your alk and calc in check also..

twon8 · Nov 23, 2015

I've got a bright green and a purple encrusting monti that I plan to try this with as they are touching each other with no warfare, bottom right of this pic