Monit Cap Growing Stems

[NSady1]

I've done a few quick google searches and browsed some of the threads here, but I haven't really found my answer. I have a beautiful green Monti Cap that has started flourishing lately. I have a tank that was moved after being set up for 5 years. In the move the Monti Cap was broken apart. I have situated about 3 live rock together that had the Monti on it. It has since grown back together and is starting to spread out nicely! (My Chromis love sleeping under some of the newly formed shelves).

Over time, it has sprouted some thin vertical stems. Some have reached about 2-3 inches in height. I'm just curious as to what they are and what it means for the growth. So far it is not showing any signs of growing in an upward angle and curving like some of the great pictures I have seen. (by curving I mean growing sort of like flower petals) I have pictures I can upload at a later time.

Thanks for the help!

 

[markalot]

Depends on the species but if you look at the fact sheet for Montipora capricornus at coral.aims

http://coral.aims.gov.au/factsheet.jsp?speciesCode=0268

You can see that sometimes it will form columns. Pretty darn cool!

 

[organism]

Very cool, sounds similar to the Leng Sy cap growth.

 

[NSady1]

Good. I'm glad it isn't anything out of the ordinary. I took some pics last night. I'll get them uploaded to this thread as soon as I can so y'all can see them!

 

[Customride0105]

Post the pics I want see if it looks like mine

 

[Reefvet]

Monti Cap will grow columns, or more commonly high ridges, in high flow/current areas of the reef. It sounds like you may placed the frags nearer powerheads or returns after moving your tank.

 

[kevin_e]

It might be growing up and around a tube worm.

 

[MondoBongo]

my red M. capricornis does the exact same thing. typically they are the same color as the coral itself, save the tip of tube where the growth edge is, which is white.

i haven't noticed my purple monti doing this yet, but it is on the other side of the tank in a completely different flow pattern.

 

[NSady1]

Here are those pictures I promised!

 

[plyle02]

I believe them to be encrusting over an old vermited snail, I have the same thing happening with my Red Planet, actually a good thing to kill them.

 

[plyle02]

I could be wrong though, the second pic is different than that of which I am experiencing, just a thought...
Regards,

 

[joshky]

Peculiar growth pattern for sure, interested in more theories.

 

[Spslvr]

I believe them to be encrusting over an old vermited snail, I have the same thing happening with my Red Planet, actually a good thing to kill them.

+1 if you dont like them snap them off

 

[Reefvet]

I believe them to be encrusting over an old vermited snail, I have the same thing happening with my Red Planet, actually a good thing to kill them.

I would agree on both points. Columnar growth is much thicker and looks nothing like that.

Vermetids are bad for your stony corals. Best to remove them.

 

[MondoBongo]

The ones I have in my tank have started off thin like those, but over time grown thicker. Definitely not covering up vertimeds here.

 

[71xlch]

I have an acropora that has one branch like that. Odd but doesn't seem to matter. I figured it was a snail to.

 

[AdamNC]

They are vermetid snails, I have a few growing under my Red Encrusting Monti Cap. Doesn't seem to bother it, but if it appears to bother yours, just snap them off. They may grown back if you don't crush them with a fine point pick. Won't hurt your Monti, it will just grow over now new hole.

 

[Reefvet]

The ones I have in my tank have started off thin like those, but over time grown thicker. Definitely not covering up vertimeds here.

Any pictures you can share ?

Columnar growth is uncommon even on a reef. I've never seen it in a tank.

 

[MondoBongo]

Yes. I'll try. I took a few yesterday but it's hard to distinguish in a picture. I'll see if I can get any better ones today though.

 

[kevin_e]

That s without question, imo, the monti growing around a tube worm. Typical in my experience.