COTM: Aug 2008 Montipora

Discussion in 'Coral of the Month' started by schackmel, Aug 7, 2008.

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  1. schackmel

    schackmel Giant Squid

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    (picture courtesy of baugherb)
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    Scientific Classsification
    Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Cnidaria
    Class: Anthozoa
    Order: Scleractinia
    Family: Acroporidae
    Genus: Montipora

    Monti are SPS corals that are generally found in the Indo-Pacific regions of Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. They most commonly thrive in the shallow reef enviroments that have bright sunlight and moderate wave motions. Often times, small fishes are found perched upon the ridges of these corals. My lawnmower blenny loves to sleep in my monti!

    There are at least 80 known types of montipora that can be found. Often times it can be very difficult to distingush between the various types of montipora, or even differentiate a monti from porites. However, montipora usually has a smaller corallites and does not have the “jewel” appearance as the porites does. The monti can take various shapes and can be found as laminar, faliacious, encrusting and branching types. They come in a wide range of color, from brown, yellow, orange, green to purple. Monti corals are colonies of polyps which are very small with maximum size of about 2mm across. The polyps share tissue and a nerve net. These polyps give the coral a velvety appearance. The polyps can withdraw into the coral in response to movement or disturbances around the coral.

    Montipora relies heavily on the products of their zooxanthella, which are a symbiotic algea that lives within the coral cells and produces energy for the coral through the process of photosynthesis. The monti may also feed on phytoplankton and similarly sized microfauna that is found in the water column.

    These corals generally do very well in the aquarium setting. They can adapt to a wide range of light, however they do perfer medium to high light. Depending on where the piece was found, some will do better under 10K light, while the Superman piece requires a 20K light for survival. So some research will be necessary prior to purchasing.

    Montiporas are usually more hardier then acros, as they are more stress and disease resistant and are not especially susceptible to coral bleaching. However, placement of montipora must be carefully considered in the home aquarium. Montipora lack strong nematocysts, so any corals that are placed near them will more then likely kill them if there is a territorial war.

    It is classified as a medium coral to keep, requiring a medium to high flow of water. They do best if placed on a hard surface, such as rocks. They are more tolerant of less then perfect water conditions, but they still would perfer stability. Many types of monti can grow rather fast, and prefer a Ca of 420, dKh 8-10, ph 8.1-8.4, temp 72-78, SG 1.023-1.025.

    They are rather easy to frag, by using sharp bone cutters (though care must be used as not to cause it to crumble), a dremmel, or simply breaking a piece off and glueing it to another rock.

    Many of the same predators that can attack other corals can also attack montipora. Butterfly fishs, puffers and other non-reef safe fish should be avoided. One parasite that can quickly destroy an entire colony fast is the montipora eating nudibranch. They can kill an entire colony in a matter of a day or two, and are asexual….so they can lay eggs without another nudibranch in the system. And once they have destroyed the monti, they will go into the system and look for any other source of food.

    Treatment of this parasite can be very tricky, as these can grow rather fast reaching maturity in under a week. Eggs must be moved manually. There is some question about the effectiveness of use of iodine and while freshwater dips are effective in killing the adult nudibranch, it can be very stressful for the coral. There has been some success in using Levamisole as a treatment for this. Levamisole is a worm treatment that has been used in animals.

    While many feel that Montipora are a rather bland coral, they are one of my favorite corals. Just to give you an idea of how fast they can grow, the picture I have included of my big monti cup, is a frag of a larger monti cup. The LFS sold a man a rather small piece of a frag a year ago, and it grew so fast that he brought in a section of it that had 3 large cups on it. I asked them to frag me the smallest of the cups….I have had it for a week and I swear it has grown already!




    Montipora and the Trouble With Taxonomy http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/1196/1196_3.html

    Montipora Coral Small Polyp Stonies For A Reef Fish Tank http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/389391/montipora_coral_small_polyp_stonies.html?cat=53

    Montipora Eating Nudibranchs http://www.mycomas.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=92

    Montipora: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montipora
     
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  3. SmittyCoco

    SmittyCoco Fire Shrimp

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    Thanks for taking the time to post and share schackmel ! ;D I am rather found of Monti's myself. Nice job.
     
  4. scenario1313

    scenario1313 Tassled File Fish

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    Very nice and great information on them.
     
  5. omard

    omard Gnarly Old Codfish

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    WhooHoo...good job!

    [​IMG]

    (Karma+)
     
  6. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Nice schack!!!!! :clapping::beer::clapping::beer::clapping::beer::clapping::beer::clapping::beer:
     
  7. schackmel

    schackmel Giant Squid

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    well, I love you all so much that I have allowed my coral to get attacked by Monti eating nudibranch for demonstration purposes!!!
    I am so frustrated with myself right now. I had the cup one for a little over a week now, and when I bought it, I was concentrating so much on attaching it to the rock and not breaking it that I did not FW dip it. Everything was going fantastic until this morning. The little extra growths that was on the cup broke off and I noticed a small white area where they were. That was this morning. I though that was due to the growth....
    I have been in my office now for about 6-7 hours, not paying attention, walked out there and looked in my tank and was shocked to see how fast the destruction was on the coral! I have taken the coral out and FW dipped it and found a couple little things that I think are nudies. I dont see any eggs on the piece right now!
    I am speaking with a good friend who also recommends prazi-pro which I will also be doing!

    But here is the before and after pictures....hopefully the coral will be saved...
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    this is before..the white is actually just sand that my sandsifter kept placing there

    [​IMG][​IMG]after. This morning there was maybe a dime size spot in the middle.

    Per my previous post, this pest can destroy an entire large colony in a matter of a day or two
     
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  9. SmittyCoco

    SmittyCoco Fire Shrimp

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    For godsakes man get it off the sand !!! Hurry !!! Go, Go, Go !!!
     
  10. baugherb

    baugherb Giant Squid

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    Awesome article.....
     
  11. schackmel

    schackmel Giant Squid

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    it is actually on a rock...it is off the sand...I will go and find a place that is higher of the sand but none of it is touching really!
     
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  12. 1st time

    1st time Purple Spiny Lobster

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    Great info--so sorry about your nudi attack, hope you kill all those things---