Oblivionis
Member
The purple montipora and the sunset montipora are getting close to each other. What will happen when they come in contact with each other? Should I just let them or do I need to try to separate them? Any help is appreciated.
Montipora growth question
- Thread starter Oblivionis
- Start date
They will start compete with each other for space, light and flow at some point and one of them will win this fight in the long run. This doesn't necessarly mean they will engage in direct chemical warfare but one may stop growing in that direction while the other changes direction upwards blocking light for the other. They may also directly fight with each other resulting in localised bleaching of one species.
Solution is also simple create a frag of both monti's from these facing sides before this happens and they have new growing space. Alternative is watch/enjoy the fight and see what the result is, it isn't always bad. I have a staghorn that is 'surrounded' by a Monti capricornis that came growing from below it and 'encapsulated' the single base stem of the Acropora (with an inch of space between them). It now seems to be growing out of the Monti giving a nice contrast in color between them as well. Just means I have to 'frag' certain parts of the Montipora from time to time to prevent it from 'encapsulating' more of the Acropora.
In this case I would not wait and see given the similar growth types and just create frags from these sides.
Solution is also simple create a frag of both monti's from these facing sides before this happens and they have new growing space. Alternative is watch/enjoy the fight and see what the result is, it isn't always bad. I have a staghorn that is 'surrounded' by a Monti capricornis that came growing from below it and 'encapsulated' the single base stem of the Acropora (with an inch of space between them). It now seems to be growing out of the Monti giving a nice contrast in color between them as well. Just means I have to 'frag' certain parts of the Montipora from time to time to prevent it from 'encapsulating' more of the Acropora.
In this case I would not wait and see given the similar growth types and just create frags from these sides.
MammothReefer
Active member
They will kill each other and try to grow over. Sunset monti is very aggressive. I have to keep fragging mine back i'm like pruining it where I want it to go I guess. . I thought maybe my superma monti could hold a line against it.. but it lost.
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JMa4290
New member
That is def not a sunset.. I think they will be fine I bought a frag two years ago that had four different color montis on it.. now it's huge and all the colors spiral and intertwine with one another..
it's beautiful.. with purple and green yours isgonna look amazing! I would just leave it be..
it's beautiful.. with purple and green yours isgonna look amazing! I would just leave it be..
Oblivionis
Member
Thanks everybody for your input. I really like both of them and don't want to risk loosing one so I put a piece of ceramic tile between them and when they overgrow it I'll remove it and let it grow in a different area of the tank. This way I'm not risking my original colonies but still will find out what happens when they meet.
Oblivionis
Member
It was sold to me as a sunset. What do you think it is?
Oblivionis
Member
I have to correct myself. That's a morning star monti on the right.
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