lighting for montipora

thowell64 · 04/15/2007, 06:41 PM

I was looking at the possibility of placing a small piece of montipora foveolata into my tank and was wondering if anyone had any experience that I may draw from. My tank is approx 65 gallons tank with a depth of 20". I am currently using 2 coralife PC fixtures and have had great success with everything I have put in thus far. I was hoping for some input as the piece I am looking at is not inexpensive. thanks in advance

dpearly88 · 04/15/2007, 07:04 PM

I've heard of people growing montipora caps and digs under PCs, so maybe. You might be better off to buy a small frag first and see what happens.

What's the total wattage of these PCs?

Avi · 04/15/2007, 09:13 PM

I have grown some montipora under PCs...but it was cap. I don't know if the montipora foveolata requires more intense lighting. I had the M. cap up high under the PCs...like maybe 5-inches below. And, when I did have the PCs, I had a lot of them. Actually saw impressive growth. But, make sure your water quality is as close to perfect as you can get it.

thowell64 · 04/16/2007, 11:39 AM

thanks, the water quality is always great so I do not see that as an issue. I have 400W of lighting with the dual PCs. The frag would be placed in about the middle of the tank.

Frick-n-Frags · 04/16/2007, 01:59 PM

I'm sure it will live if you have other SPS cooking merrily along.

You might just get some different final coloration from the advertised MH pic with your flours and water chem.

For instance,

, I got a pair of cap-like Montis at a frag swap 3 weeks ago. #1) pale green, pale purple edge, blue polyps under the MH (yes sweet) same coral I put a "frag of the frag" in the VHO tank: pale pinkish-greenish color, magenta polyps (ghetto LE - yes still sweet !)

#2 tan colored with deep purple polyps and purple edge (yes sweet

) under MH , this one got made for me at the swap and came with a few extra chips, which 3 of also went in the VHO.
these have turned pinkish-tan with magenta polyps

In fact, those 2 plate montis look very similar in the VHO tank.
maybe it is like browned out Acros that also all look the same

anyway, there is a story of different light, same water changing the color of the same coral.

HolyScoly · 04/16/2007, 09:18 PM

i have an orange monti cap that i bought as a 2 inch frag i have it under 2 250 watt SE MH 14ks and in 6 months has grown to 4 1/2 inches. while doing a routine matanence i broke off a 1 inch frag by mistake and gave it to my friend wich he has 2 96 watt pc in a 39 gallon in 2 months its maintaned itself not grown much and has gone from orange to a light brown. now to your question yes u may keep it but is it going to thrive ???? maybe maybe not

drummereef · 04/16/2007, 09:55 PM

Now that this is turning into a monti cap thead... This orange cap is in my tank under pc lighting. So there.

barbra · 04/16/2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
Now that this is turning into a monti cap thead... This orange cap is in my tank under pc lighting. So there.

That's a beauty. Nice job.

drummereef · 04/16/2007, 10:03 PM

Thanks, barbra! It's grown considerably since I got it. Here's a shot of the original frag added October 2006.

Avi · 04/17/2007, 08:56 AM

Very fine growth there, drummer. I had growth similar to that under the PCs, though my monti cap was green.

Here's a photo of it....

all that raised growth on the outer perimeter of it is what it had while under the PCs for about 4-months.

I say "was," by the way, because my skimmer failed once when I was on a two-week vacation and some adventitious micro-algae overcame it very quickly....that's why I emphasize that water quality has to be so high for them.

How many inches is it from that coral to the bottom of the lights?

drummereef · 04/17/2007, 10:08 AM

Beautiful!

kingnai · 04/17/2007, 04:27 PM

WOW nice CAPS

04/15/2007, 09:13 PM	#3
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I have grown some montipora under PCs...but it was cap. I don't know if the montipora foveolata requires more intense lighting. I had the M. cap up high under the PCs...like maybe 5-inches below. And, when I did have the PCs, I had a lot of them. Actually saw impressive growth. But, make sure your water quality is as close to perfect as you can get it. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

04/16/2007, 01:59 PM	#5
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	I'm sure it will live if you have other SPS cooking merrily along. You might just get some different final coloration from the advertised MH pic with your flours and water chem. For instance, , I got a pair of cap-like Montis at a frag swap 3 weeks ago. #1) pale green, pale purple edge, blue polyps under the MH (yes sweet) same coral I put a "frag of the frag" in the VHO tank: pale pinkish-greenish color, magenta polyps (ghetto LE - yes still sweet !) #2 tan colored with deep purple polyps and purple edge (yes sweet ) under MH , this one got made for me at the swap and came with a few extra chips, which 3 of also went in the VHO. these have turned pinkish-tan with magenta polyps In fact, those 2 plate montis look very similar in the VHO tank. maybe it is like browned out Acros that also all look the same anyway, there is a story of different light, same water changing the color of the same coral. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

04/16/2007, 09:55 PM	#7
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Now that this is turning into a monti cap thead... This orange cap is in my tank under pc lighting. So there. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/16/2007, 10:03 PM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Thanks, barbra! It's grown considerably since I got it. Here's a shot of the original frag added October 2006. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/17/2007, 08:56 AM	#10
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Very fine growth there, drummer. I had growth similar to that under the PCs, though my monti cap was green. Here's a photo of it.... all that raised growth on the outer perimeter of it is what it had while under the PCs for about 4-months. I say "was," by the way, because my skimmer failed once when I was on a two-week vacation and some adventitious micro-algae overcame it very quickly....that's why I emphasize that water quality has to be so high for them. How many inches is it from that coral to the bottom of the lights? __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR Last edited by Avi; 04/17/2007 at 09:03 AM.

04/15/2007, 06:41 PM	#1
thowell64 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: osprey, florida Posts: 246	lighting for montipora I was looking at the possibility of placing a small piece of montipora foveolata into my tank and was wondering if anyone had any experience that I may draw from. My tank is approx 65 gallons tank with a depth of 20". I am currently using 2 coralife PC fixtures and have had great success with everything I have put in thus far. I was hoping for some input as the piece I am looking at is not inexpensive. thanks in advance

04/15/2007, 07:04 PM	#2
dpearly88 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 159	I've heard of people growing montipora caps and digs under PCs, so maybe. You might be better off to buy a small frag first and see what happens. What's the total wattage of these PCs?

04/16/2007, 11:39 AM	#4
thowell64 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: osprey, florida Posts: 246	thanks, the water quality is always great so I do not see that as an issue. I have 400W of lighting with the dual PCs. The frag would be placed in about the middle of the tank.

04/16/2007, 09:18 PM	#6
HolyScoly Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: miami Posts: 155	i have an orange monti cap that i bought as a 2 inch frag i have it under 2 250 watt SE MH 14ks and in 6 months has grown to 4 1/2 inches. while doing a routine matanence i broke off a 1 inch frag by mistake and gave it to my friend wich he has 2 96 watt pc in a 39 gallon in 2 months its maintaned itself not grown much and has gone from orange to a light brown. now to your question yes u may keep it but is it going to thrive ???? maybe maybe not

04/17/2007, 10:08 AM	#11
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Beautiful! __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/17/2007, 04:27 PM	#12
kingnai Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dunnellon, FL Posts: 1,464	WOW nice CAPS __________________ Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value. Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them. Current Tank Info: 92 AGA Corner