Montipora invading!

M

MrKris

New member
Hi,

I got a montipora a year ago and haven't really paid much attention to it, but now it seems to be going through a growth spurt. The thing seems to be growing a lot faster than it used to grow and now I don't know what to do with it... At this rate I know it will take over the whole rock. I always assumed that eventually it would branch off or "lift off" from the rock. It was originally a frag and then it started drooping down from the frag and taking over the rock.

I am interested to know whether this coral would encrust another coral ( i heard they do, but would like to verify).

Thanks!

Will attach picture later
 
2lwwqig.jpg
 
Encrusting montis are very invasive. There are only a few corals they will not fight, most of the are LPS. Pretty much all of your SPS are going to fight and lose if they are in the way. I kept my encrusters in check with putty. Make a thick line around where you want it to stay and remove the putty every month (the monti obviously will grow over the putty) this will also give you frags.
 
I used to pull the putty out with the coral on it and I would take it to swaps. Then I replaced the putty and the game would take place all over again. Mine looked a lot like your species, it wasn't a branching species, neither is yours. Your acro on the right side will be dead in months, over run by this monti.
 
Meh that acro on the right i broke it by accident lol and then puttied it to the rock.

What im scared about is how far will it go....

and is it possible for me to put the putty ontop of the thing? like cover it with the putty (I know this would probably kill it but it would probably stop it from moving any farther and force it to go on the putty? And how would u remove the putty? just rip it out or something?
 
It's going to keep going until it reaches the sand or something that is more invasive. You could put the putty over the top, but that will kill that spot and the monti will grow on to that as well. Just make a ring around the coral, allowing to be as big as you want it to be. I made the pieces of putty in two inch strips and put it right on top of edge of the coral.
 
by putty I assume you dont mean the coral epoxy right? where would I buy this putty? also one good thing I like about the thing is that it spreads enough to bind loose corals together. If you see the top part of the picture it helped me bind this weird coral together (chalice?) obv you can't see it.

Sorry for not bothering with caps and stuffs lol.
 
Yep, the two part putty stuff. There are a few companies that make it. I usually get the grey from Two Little Fishes.
 
I use the epoxy regularly but its tough to remove... it can easily get stuck onto the rock and take a hammer and chisel to get it out...
 
+1 on putty. I use "fix-it-stick" from lowes or HD. $8 a stick and works great. I have a meteore shower and a few montis that i frag with the technique mentioned above. Put the putty in its path of growth and remove when it grows over it..... repeat! Easy stuff, fun and i have frags to swap/gift/sell. Get control over it before it grows too far and makes managing it a task!

Also.... you dont have to beat the putty into the rock, just get it to stick and leave a lip or overhang tab to pull it off later! Makes it alot easier
 
wonrib00 said:
It's going to keep going until it reaches the sand or something that is more invasive. You could put the putty over the top, but that will kill that spot and the monti will grow on to that as well. Just make a ring around the coral, allowing to be as big as you want it to be. I made the pieces of putty in two inch strips and put it right on top of edge of the coral.
Click to expand...

+ 1 this is the best idea I think I'm goin to do this in my encrusting montis. Good thread ! Happy reefing.


55 gal mixed reef 10 gal SPS Dom.
10 gal nem tank 2 maxi minis 2 rock flower and one sunburst RBTA

Sent from some device using some app
 
I use a sharp chisel to 'encourage' naughty encrusters that a change in growth direction is wise. Just giving you another easy fix for rogue SPS lol.
 
biggles said:
I use a sharp chisel to 'encourage' naughty encrusters that a change in growth direction is wise. Just giving you another easy fix for rogue SPS lol.
Click to expand...

What's up biggles what do u do with the chisel
? Just tap it on the edge of we're u want it to stop growing?
 
If any parts of that coral fall off, make sure you take those bits out. Otherwise you will have a bigger issue at hand.
 
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