[clown shrimp]

what do you need to successfully keep plating montipora coral? besides the bright light.

[emccullough1]

I know like all SPS you need to have a mature tank ( at least a year old ) and you need good lighting Metal halide in most cases. Here is a link that may help you.

Acropora - Corals of the Genus Montipora

[Taras1]

Make sure your calcium levels are 450-500 and Alkalinity/Carbonate levels match. Metal Halide is good, but I've done well with T-5's. Placed the coral in the upper 1/3 of the tank.

[Jasonanatal]

Originally Posted by clown shrimp

what do you need to successfully keep plating montipora coral? besides the bright light.

Clown Shrimp in my personal opinion Monitpora Capricornis Plating Corals are some of the best SPS Starter Corals. Having an established tank (the longer the better) is a great step in the right direction to maintaining these species of Coral but but it is not a necessity. I have personally kept thriving Montipora Capricornis Corals in as little as one month. But please do not follow this as gospel since I have been in the hobby for quite some time and have tons of experience at maintaining Nano Reef Aquariums which require just that much more detail and caution then their larger counterparts. If I can provide you with a few recommendations toward their care process required for this species it would be the following.

1. Lighting: Although this particular species of Coral can survive under moderate lighting such as V.H.O. Lighting (Very High Output such as T5) you want your Coral to thrive. So as a recommendation Metal Halide Lighting is the way to go in my personal opinion. Just remember that there definitely is something as too much light so you have to be judicious when selecting the appropriate equipment for your lighting requirements. Take into considersation your overall Aquarium water volume, physical measurements such as depth and width, and also consider a chiller since Metal Halide Lighting has the associated affect of raising water temperatures especially in Nano Reef Aquariums.

2. Water Flow: No the key to success is definitely going to be strong to medium randomized flow. Montipora Capricornis Corals are extremely succeptable to display signs of Tissue Necrosis should a large piece of food or ditritus land on it and not be able to be removed by the passing current. This is also essential to allow nutrients to be passed over the polyps of the Coral from the water column. Even though the majority of their food source is going to come from the process of Photosynthesis and their relationship with the symbiotic algea within the Coral alittl extra feeding will never hurt. I personally use Cyclopeeze.

3.Water Parameters: Definitely maintaining your water parameters is something that I shouldn't have to remind you but for the sake of covering all our bases I'll go over that once again. Definitely make sure that your water temperature and other parameters such as Calcium, Phosphates and Alkalinity to name a few. As always the more prestine the water quality the better for all types of Corals. One major compenent to keep an eye one is Phosphates. If they are too high they will bond with the Calcium within the water and chemically lock the Calcium that that the Montirpora Capricornis and other SPS LPS Corals will not be able to percipitate Calcium which means no growth of extremely degraded growth.

Hope this helps if you need more information just let me know.

[pogodzib]

The basic needs above a typical "soft coral" tank is:

Strong lighting, with T5HO or MH ideal, but they can survive under VHO or PC if you once you know what you are doing.

Current across the top of the plate to prevent sediment buildup on top of the cap.

Natural/high levels of calcium and alkalinity.

That's about it. Monti Caps are a hardy coral and is IMO the best SPS coral to try keeping for any beginner.

[clown shrimp]

ok so i bought a monti pora cap with a 1 in radius 1 month ago, and now its radius is 3inches!!!! do they normally grow this fast? it is bright red with a purple rim, it looks sweet!

[Jasonanatal]

Originally Posted by pogodzib

The basic needs above a typical "soft coral" tank is:

Strong lighting, with T5HO or MH ideal, but they can survive under VHO or PC if you once you know what you are doing.

Current across the top of the plate to prevent sediment buildup on top of the cap.

Natural/high levels of calcium and alkalinity.

That's about it. Monti Caps are a hardy coral and is IMO the best SPS coral to try keeping for any beginner.

NORMALLY I WOULDN"T SAY ANYTHING BUT YOU HAVE TO ****ING KIDDING ME! WHEN THE HELL WAS MONITORING YOUR CALCIUM LEVELS ANYWHERE NEAR IMPORTANT FOR A SOFT CORAL TANK?

[e_baer]

Sorry, double post.

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by Jasonanatal

NORMALLY I WOULDN"T SAY ANYTHING BUT YOU HAVE TO ****ING KIDDING ME! WHEN THE HELL WAS MONITORING YOUR CALCIUM LEVELS ANYWHERE NEAR IMPORTANT FOR A SOFT CORAL TANK?

I think you need to read this:

Chemistry and the Aquarium

And this is from WWM:

Soft corals 10/16/05
Do I need to add calcium to a tank with soft corals like mushrooms and leathers, thanks, Ron
<Keeping calcium at 375-400ppm does help to maintain ph/dKH. I would use it. SeaChem's Reef Calcium (dry formula) does contain other trace elements such as strontium that will help the growth of soft corals. Weekly doses of an iodine supplement are beneficial also. James (Salty Dog)>
(SoftCrlSysFAQs)

[Alicamo]

Note that he says "above a soft coral tank" meaning everything above a soft coral tank needs calcium. Although, it is advisable in any type of reef tank to keep the calcium in the green.

[RyanG]

Originally Posted by Jasonanatal

NORMALLY I WOULDN"T SAY ANYTHING BUT YOU HAVE TO ****ING KIDDING ME! WHEN THE HELL WAS MONITORING YOUR CALCIUM LEVELS ANYWHERE NEAR IMPORTANT FOR A SOFT CORAL TANK?

Jason consider this your warning.
And I would advise you to read the TOS that you agreed to when using this site.

Another immature outburst like that towards a MOD that was trying to help will get you removed from this site.

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by Alicamo

Note that he says "above a soft coral tank" meaning everything above a soft coral tank needs calcium. Although, it is advisable in any type of reef tank to keep the calcium in the green.

Yes agreed that soft coral itself does not need calcium, at least not tons of it, but calcium and dkh go hand in hand, and for soft coral to thrive(note I say THRIVE) the dkh needs to be at the proper levels.

[Fishhead Junkie]

wow, this is like PEOPLE'S COURT....JUDGE WHOPPNER RYAN has spoken, where's RUSTY at? hehehehehehehe...i was reading all the posts...i am still confused.

steve

[NYreefNoob]

if you do normal water changes it will help to maintain you levels but in order to keep them up you need to dose. i myself prefer to use evs 2 part along with dosing magnesium. and as a sps keeper i highly doubt that a cap has grown that much in a month, lighting and flow are important also, can you keep sps without mh? yes i use too under 6 39w t5's do you get the color or growth the same ? no. this is from my opinion in having had both types of light's