Tips to get my next Red Cap Monti to scroll?

[Mono]

The good news is, my red cap monti is growing like a wild thing,

The bad news is however, it just grew into a big blob at the top and is growing out and encrusting my rockwork instead of plating out.

It is growing out a little over the the edge and starting to plate out but almost reluctantly. Most of its energy is going in the other direction.

So, I'm just curious are there any tips to getting it to scroll nicely and plate out over the rockwork?

Thanks.

 

[homer1475]

I break(frag) it when it starts to plate out to large, and it scrolls up on its own.

 

[Mono]

Yeah, that's what i wish mine looked like!

 

[homer1475]

Mine encrusted quite a bit before it started to plate out. The entire rock it sits on is encrusted monti. Mine is 5 years old now, think you just need to give it more time to start plating out.

Also, it's a very weak fighter in coral wars. So anything near it that can sting will win the war and make it receed. My puny stylo colony can keep it at bay. I have corals all around it, so it had no choice but to scroll up when things started growing in.

 

[homer1475]

FYI, be careful what you wish for! Mine has caused more than one coral death by simply outgrowing its neighbors and shading them till they died. I can see several corals in your pic that would be in its target.

 

[Mono]

FYI, be careful what you wish for! Mine has caused more than one coral death by simply outgrowing its neighbors and shading them till they died. I can see several corals in your pic that would be in its target.

Thanks for the tips. I can't remember how old mine is, so it must be about 2 years old.

 

[C. Eymann]

Mine encrusted quite a bit before it started to plate out. The entire rock it sits on is encrusted monti. Mine is 5 years old now, think you just need to give it more time to start plating out.

Also, it's a very weak fighter in coral wars. So anything near it that can sting will win the war and make it receed. My puny stylo colony can keep it at bay. I have corals all around it, so it had no choice but to scroll up when things started growing in.

From the pic you provided, your coral is not M. capricornis, your coral looks to have raised coenosteum ridges, which M. capricornis lack.

 

[Mono]

Any idea what it might be then?

 

[homer1475]

From the pic you provided, your coral is not M. capricornis, your coral looks to have raised coenosteum ridges, which M. capricornis lack.

Pretty sure you didn't mean to quote me on your reply? The op's may not be capricornis, but mine most certainly 100% is.

 

[James M]

Pretty sure you didn't mean to quote me on your reply? The op's may not be capricornis, but mine most certainly 100% is.

He’s definitely not quoting you

 

[C. Eymann]

My apologies, I was meaning to quote OP.

OP- Closer more detailed pics would be needed to start narrowing down a species, But I'm confident it's not M. capricornis.

 

[Mono]

Thanks. Guess I now know why it's not really scrolling. Just a red monti of some sort i guess.

 

[C. Eymann]

Some species do eventually scroll, but not as readily as M. capricornis,
Like I said w/o better pics its hard to tell, but I'd reference yours vs M.hodgsoni and M. foliosa

 

[Mono]

OK, just cleaned the glass and took two shots.

If you can identify, that would be great!

Thanks.

 

[DuckSlayer627]

My apologies, I was meaning to quote OP.

OP- Closer more detailed pics would be needed to start narrowing down a species, But I'm confident it's not M. capricornis.

+1 Not Capricornis. Check Divers Den they have 6 or 7 different types. You probably just have one of the encrusting ones.

 

[C. Eymann]

Yeah the irregular and rough coenosteum ridge pattern of yours looks to be very similar to M. hodgsoni.

That would be my best guess

http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/media/images/0732_D01_01.jpg

 

[Mono]

From blue zoo

At least it's sought after...

Description

One of the most sought after and nicest looking corals is the Orange Scrolling Montipora. Orange Scrolling Montipora Corals often grow in interesting shapes and whorls while attaching an encrusting base on rock. Orange Scrolling Montipora Corals are found in virtually every ocean in the world that has stony coral growth. If proper conditions are met it will grow quickly and is easy to propagate, or “frag” and make new colonies. Orange Scrolling Montipora Corals should be placed into well established, mature aquariums with good flow and intense halide lighting. These corals will lose color if there are nutrients present in the water making a Protein Skimmer an absolute “must have”.

 

[C. Eymann]

From blue zoo

At least it's sought after...

Description

One of the most sought after and nicest looking corals is the Orange Scrolling Montipora. Orange Scrolling Montipora Corals often grow in interesting shapes and whorls while attaching an encrusting base on rock. Orange Scrolling Montipora Corals are found in virtually every ocean in the world that has stony coral growth. If proper conditions are met it will grow quickly and is easy to propagate, or “frag” and make new colonies. Orange Scrolling Montipora Corals should be placed into well established, mature aquariums with good flow and intense halide lighting. These corals will lose color if there are nutrients present in the water making a Protein Skimmer an absolute “must have”.

While the last thing you look at is coloration when it comes to SPS ID, I'd say the blue zoo aquatics example of orange M. hodgsoni is a spitting image of your coral.

 

[Mono]

THanks for setting me straight.

 

[C. Eymann]

THanks for setting me straight.

No worries, like I mentioned in another thread misidentification is rampant in coral marketing. Like ORAs supernatural "cap" is actually M. hispida , another common one, Idaho grape "cap" is actually M. foliosa.