IdAHo GrAPE MOntIPoRa quEstIOn?

[Hawain_Rob]

Picked up a frag a few weeks back. My question is what kind of lighting and water flow do they need?

 

[JFrar]

i would think its going to be pretty standard and up the same alley as most other sps, and the type of lights and flow you have would determine a little of where you would place it. just a general statement, my 2 cents

 

[redfishbluefish]

I think Montipora is pretty forgiving. I originally placed mine high in the tank, and in medium to high flow. Since then, pieces breaking off from my fat arms have landed all over the tank.....in all kinds of flow and light...and are all doing just fine.

Because of this, I think Montipora makes a good beginners SPS.....unlike others corals that are extremely picky to flow and light.


And FYI, I'm all LED lighting....and my monti grows like a weed.

 

[JFrar]

same here with all LED and awesome monti growth,

 

[Hawain_Rob]

Mines looking pale :/

 

[JFrar]

do you have other SPS that your successful with ?? also, do you test at least your main levels, alk/calc/mag ? and what are they ?

 

[redfishbluefish]

+1 to JFrar above, and what lights are you running, and what are your nitrate and phosphate numbers?

 

[Hawain_Rob]

Ok so I just did the test I have
Salifert alk test 8.6
Api calcium test 400
I have a 20 gallon long tank with an aquamars light that's mounted 14 inches from the tank. I have 2 aquaclear 50 filters. One with a bag of purigen a bag of carbon. The other has a sponge to trap bigger particles and I just but a little bit of gfo I had. I also have a skimmer in the tank that's rated for a 30 gallon tank. Don't know my phosphates.

 

[reefndude]

Mine has always done good no matter where it is.

 

[redfishbluefish]

A Mars Aqua on a 20 gallon.....I'm hoping you have that cranked way back. If not, that pale look could be from too much light.

 

[Hawain_Rob]

I've been trying to figure out the lighting intensity myself. So do you guys think I should crank it down all the way,both whites and blues?

 

[mcarroll]

I've been trying to figure out the lighting intensity myself. So do you guys think I should crank it down all the way,both whites and blues?

Quit guessing and get an inexpensive lux meter. Anything between about 30,000 and 80,000 lux is great.

How often do you test and dose for alk and calcium?

 

[Oscaror]

Im SoRrY bUt CoUlD yOu PlEaSe NoT tYpE lIkE tHiS iT's HaRd To ReAd

 

[Hawain_Rob]

I don't test that often. Before today..been a few months since I did. Im really bad at making sure I do. After being a member on this forum I've learned that testing is KEY. Do you think the number I got today from test are ok?

Quit guessing and get an inexpensive lux meter. Anything between about 30,000 and 80,000 lux is great.

How often do you test and dose for alk and calcium?

 

[JFrar]

test seem ok, but if you don't test often and there is a fluctuation going on that your missing that could be it. you should at least be testing your alk often. another thing you have going on is a small tank so your more prone to having your levels get out of whack.

But this is just a recommendation, it might not be your fix to this problem, just a step in the right direction

 

[jlanger]

Idaho Grape Montipora is a very resilient coral that does well in varied lighting and flow.

My reef tank used to be dominated by montipora corals and I had pieces located in every possible condition; high flow/low flow, high light/low light.
The coral will grow into different forms based on these locations. You can see in the picture that there are three Idaho Grape Montipora was growing in three different forms in one tank.



The lower left colony was growing into a cup form; center of tank with random flow.
The lower center colony was encrusting as it received very little flow.
The lower right colony was plating due to high flow from one direction.

As for coloration... the higher I placed the frags (closer to the lighting) the frags were a lighter purple.
Those placed lower (farther from the lights) were a dark purple.

If you have multiple montipora frags growing, watch your alkalinity levels. Montipora corals seem to suck the alkalinity right out of the water. I was dosing four ounces of a soda ash solution per day when my tank was montipora dominant. When I removed the large colonies, the dosing was reduced in half!

 

[Hawain_Rob]

Idaho Grape Montipora is a very resilient coral that does well in varied lighting and flow.

My reef tank used to be dominated by montipora corals and I had pieces located in every possible condition; high flow/low flow, high light/low light.
The coral will grow into different forms based on these locations. You can see in the picture that there are three Idaho Grape Montipora was growing in three different forms in one tank.



The lower left colony was growing into a cup form; center of tank with random flow.
The lower center colony was encrusting as it received very little flow.
The lower right colony was plating due to high flow from one direction.

As for coloration... the higher I placed the frags (closer to the lighting) the frags were a lighter purple.
Those placed lower (farther from the lights) were a dark purple.

If you have multiple montipora frags growing, watch your alkalinity levels. Montipora corals seem to suck the alkalinity right out of the water. I was dosing four ounces of a soda ash solution per day when my tank was montipora dominant. When I removed the large colonies, the dosing was reduced in half![/QUOTE

Thanks a lot that was super useful
As were all the other replies . And you're right on the small tank it's harder to keep water stable. If I could start all over, I would start with a bigger tank.