New Pokerstar montipora

[ChicagoReefer88]

I just picked up a nice purple pokerstar monti, about 2x2". any advice? im new to the hobby and have no experience with motipora, my tank has been cycling for 4 months. I appreciate your advice.

 

[RebelReef]

You have no eperience with montipora, or the hobby in general?

 

[ChicagoReefer88]

first frag yes.

 

[ChicagoReefer88]

I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about the hobby for the past 6 months.

 

[unbreakable]

low phosphates, low nitrates, moderate to heavy indirect flow, clean water (ro/di), alk 7-9 dkh, calcium 400 to 490ppm, metal halide or t5ho lighting, start it off mid to low in the tank and slowly bring it up higher (if you have metal halide or t5ho)... have no idea what size tank you have so I'm just assuming you have adequate lighting so I'd start off low in placement

 

[ChicagoReefer88]

thats alot, i keep my water very clean, its just a small 29g with t5ho. I placed him about mid -low abd he seems alright day one.

 

[seapug]

You may get lucky, but don't be too disappointed if this coral loses its luster and turns brown or simply dies after a few months. Unlike the fast growing and hardy M. caps., many of the "high end" plating montiporas like that can be very finicky about conditions beyond the standard recommendations for nitrate, phosphate and lighting. Proper levels of a variety of trace and minor elements (Potassium, Iron, etc) seem to be important to maintain their coloration long term. They do great is some tanks, but are impossible to keep color in other tanks.

 

[noahm]

As above, slowly acclimate to the mid/upper. They can handle bright light, but are easy to shock IME.

 

[nvdiz]

hey man follow what others said, and also checkout http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=180

its the local forum

 

[chimmike]

probably want to put it higher up than low level. Montis tend to like light. I had a pokerstar that loved to be up high.

 

[Alysiak00]

i have 2 frags, one of purple idaho and one of green monti that were both fragged from the same tank. they were both acclimated the same way, same time, same temp and the purple idaho is browned out but showing a few dots of purple. the green on the other hand is bright vivid green and fluoresces. i think some are just weird lol

 

[wickedfood]

you may get lucky, but don't be too disappointed if this coral loses its luster and turns brown or simply dies after a few months. Unlike the fast growing and hardy m. Caps., many of the "high end" plating montiporas like that can be very finicky about conditions beyond the standard recommendations for nitrate, phosphate and lighting. Proper levels of a variety of trace and minor elements (potassium, iron, etc) seem to be important to maintain their coloration long term. They do great is some tanks, but are impossible to keep color in other tanks.

+1

 

[chimmike]

i have 2 frags, one of purple idaho and one of green monti that were both fragged from the same tank. they were both acclimated the same way, same time, same temp and the purple idaho is browned out but showing a few dots of purple. the green on the other hand is bright vivid green and fluoresces. i think some are just weird lol

the purple idaho may want more or less light. I never put a coral in a "permanent" spot when I first put it in the tank because many times, that may not be a spot that the coral likes.

 

[phenom5]

You may get lucky, but don't be too disappointed if this coral loses its luster and turns brown or simply dies after a few months. Unlike the fast growing and hardy M. caps., many of the "high end" plating montiporas like that can be very finicky about conditions beyond the standard recommendations for nitrate, phosphate and lighting. Proper levels of a variety of trace and minor elements (Potassium, Iron, etc) seem to be important to maintain their coloration long term. They do great is some tanks, but are impossible to keep color in other tanks.

Agreed. Encrusting montis can be a little tricky compared to caps and digis. My Pokerstars grows at a pretty unbelievable rate, but I'm having a tough time to get the colors to really shine. It doesn't look bad, but it could look better.

IME, my Pokerstars is pretty sensitive to changes in alk, and likes lots of flow.

 

[lolgranny]

Congrats on the frag, i just got one yesterday as well. Got a huge guy, about 7"x4"
Lets hope they keep the colors!

 

[ChicagoReefer88]

thanks for the advice, I think i should move him up a little he could be getting more light, and as for symptoms of stress you all are saying if he starts to turn brown something is wrong? Correct? Thanks.

 

[BeanMachine]

thanks for the advice, I think i should move him up a little he could be getting more light, and as for symptoms of stress you all are saying if he starts to turn brown something is wrong? Correct? Thanks.

Yes.

I wouldn't move it up just yet, do it slowly over the coarse of two weeks.

 

[lolgranny]

Mines on the floor of the tank at the moment ~20" under a 250w / 2-65w PC's. Do you guys think i should raise it up eventually, i would be fine if i could keep it on my floor because i have a BB and think it would look pretty cool.