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Montipora sp. Blueberry
What You See Is What You Get
The Montipora Family
Montipora is one of the most diverse species of SPS corals. A wide variety of shapes and colors is the reason for its extreme popularity in SPS-dominated aquariums as well as in mixed reef aquariums.
Regarding care, they can be sensitive to changes in water parameters in the aquarium, as well as require high water flow and intense light to achieve perfect health and coloration.
See below for more care tips for Montipora.
Location
Indo-Pacific - Montipora has a wide distribution and is commonly found around the Indo-Pacific islands, including Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef.
Lighting
Montipora loves light. Intense lighting is recommended to maintain the best coloration and health of the coral. Use strong lighting, such as a set of fluorescent bulbs sized for the aquarium or appropriate LEDs. Without adequate lighting, Montipora colors may begin to fade. Like other SPS corals, such as Acropora, Montipora corals can drastically change color depending on the type and spectrum of light provided. Expect some color changes when introducing Montipora into your system.
Low Light |
Low light is between 30 - 50 PAR per unit area |
Medium Light |
Medium light is between 50 - 150 PAR per unit area |
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Intense Light |
Intense light is above 150 PAR per unit area |
Water Flow
Medium or preferably high water flow is recommended for Montipora coral. Like most SPS corals, amateur aquarists have successfully kept Montipora in aquariums with high water flow.
Water flow helps move debris that may settle on top of the coral, as well as bringing vital nutrients to its polyps.
Feeding
Montipora relies heavily on the products of zooxanthellae, but to a lesser extent, it can feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton from the water column. We do not find it completely necessary to feed Montipora, but they can benefit from the presence of rotifers or phytoplankton.
Special Care
Montipora is a diverse genus of small polyp stony corals (SPS). There is a wide variety of shapes and colors depending on where they were collected. Under suitable conditions, they grow rapidly and exhibit wonderful coloration. They are much more resilient than Acropora as they do not bleach as quickly and are more resistant to coral diseases, while still maintaining stunning colors that any Reef Aquarium deserves. Be careful with the corals you place near Montipora. They do not have potent nematocysts and will lose most territorial battles.