Monti's hate me...

[HV1990]

So as the title states monti's seriously hate me. For whatever reason I cannot get them to thrive or stay colored up. I have no issue with any other type of corals. I have even gone monti free for over 6 months and have no idea what to do. Here are some basics about my system

Size: 120 (48x24x24)

Lights: 250w radiums X2 running 3 hours a day (not at the same time have them cascading, 2 48w actnic+ t5's running 6 hours a day

Water movement: Water blast 7000 return pump 2 MP40's dialed at 80% and 2 Korallia 1400

Dosing: Korallin Calcium RX

Alk: 9.5 - 10
Mag: 1450 ish
Calcium: 440

Phosphates: .04 - .06
Nitrates: 0
Nitrites: 0

Now I have checked for pest and do NOT see any sign of them. All monti's start to look great when first added then slow they start to bleach and the eventually die. Any thoughts would be great.

 

[Constrictor6090]

Take your MH to 6 hours a day and Actinics to 10-12 hrs

 

[psykobowler]

You likely have low IRON in your system. Have you checked if your chaeto is pale yellow or any green corals that are not green? If so it is an indication of low iron in your system. I dose fergon to help with my chaeto and I found it helps montipora too. There is an article in reefkeeping that mentions iron to montiporas. I dose lugols and potassium chloride in my system on top of iron. You can read more on the Red Sea coral care and their emphasis on iron, potassium and iodine. I have over 13 different montiporas in my tank and I have no issue in any monti or sps in that matter. Here is a picture for proof.

 

[hypnoj]

following

 

[Paulca916]

Monti's seem to like really great water quality to grow and color up.
If I kept my PO4 and NO3 very low and did weekly 25% water changes going they thrived to the point they grew to fast and became a pest coral.
If I didn't they lost color and growth slowed down.
I ended up getting rid of mine they took up to much space ended up throwing alot of them away because my LFS didn't want them.
I ran my MH 4 hour's a day and my VHO actinic's 6 hour's a day FWIW.
I also noticed over the year's that in lower flow they just plated out normally when I went to 80% turn over they really cupped and grew really nice shapes.
Good luck Hugo you will get it just don't give up.

Here is a pic of my Orange Cap this is what it did in higher flow the color aint great because I was lagging on water changes
<a href="http://s668.photobucket.com/user/PauLCa916/media/More%20june%20reef%20pics%20wc/06-05-11_2039.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/PauLCa916/More%20june%20reef%20pics%20wc/06-05-11_2039.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 06-05-11_2039.jpg"/></a>
This is what size it was 4 months earlier
<a href="http://s668.photobucket.com/user/PauLCa916/media/REEF%20PICS%2005-18-2011/05-18-11_2149.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/PauLCa916/REEF%20PICS%2005-18-2011/05-18-11_2149.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 05-18-11_2149.jpg"/></a>
This is what it looked like 2 months later notice loss of color
<a href="http://s668.photobucket.com/user/PauLCa916/media/SEPTEMBER%20REEF%20SHOTS/09-11-10_1150.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/PauLCa916/SEPTEMBER%20REEF%20SHOTS/09-11-10_1150.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 09-11-10_1150.jpg"/></a>
Idaho Grape and to the left some Blue polyp can't remember the name came from MARS DBTC
<a href="http://s668.photobucket.com/user/PauLCa916/media/Feb%202011%20REEF%20SHOTS/Jan2011REEFSHOTS020.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/PauLCa916/Feb%202011%20REEF%20SHOTS/Jan2011REEFSHOTS020.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Jan2011REEFSHOTS020.jpg"/></a>

Same Idaho Grape under not such great water quality
<a href="http://s668.photobucket.com/user/PauLCa916/media/Feb%202011%20REEF%20SHOTS/Jan2011REEFSHOTS009.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/PauLCa916/Feb%202011%20REEF%20SHOTS/Jan2011REEFSHOTS009.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Jan2011REEFSHOTS009.jpg"/></a>
And as I said they take up to much space for my liking....................
<a href="http://s668.photobucket.com/user/PauLCa916/media/JUNE%20REEF%20PICS/REEFING023.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/PauLCa916/JUNE%20REEF%20PICS/REEFING023.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo REEFING023.jpg"/></a>

 

[psykobowler]

High flow for sure. I have them directly in front of the vortech mp-60s and they are all cupping. They like high magnesium, iron and stable alk. They are my indicator of alk swing. The red is my indicator if potassium, the green for iron.