What happens when you let a monti cap grow unchecked

[theatrus]

I don't have by any means an immaculate tank (its had its ups and downs), and have suffered losses of sensitive things over the years.

One thing that has never died has been my monti cap. This is about 5-6 years of little to no trimming (mostly accidental and scraping it off of the glass). On top, its back to front the entire depth of the tank.

A line depicting where the start of the coral is:

Its a little easier to see where the coral skeleton starts with the lights off (not all alive anymore):

The true base, from the side, where its created a very neat low light zone which sponges and worms love.

Its not a fantastic color, but it sure can grow.

 

[Wazzel]

They are hardy and grow fast. Mine has gotten close enough to the front glass that it gets shaped when I run the magnet in front of it. It now has a nice flat spot that just keeps getting longer.

 

[Oldude]

Yep they can grow aggressively - When I had a few large colonies I used then as shelves for more acros.

 

[Coralreefer1]

I love Montipora! Any species and color! Very hardy, except for the fact that they will lose many battles with neighboring corals.

 

[sixpackgarage]

wow, epic growth. Those mushrooms love it.

 

[Cosmojo]

Very impressive, time to prune it back and cut off a bunch of mini colonies to buy some stuff that's more fun

 

[theatrus]

The downside of so many mushrooms is spreading to other parts of the tank.

 

[theatrus]

Very impressive, time to prune it back and cut off a bunch of mini colonies to buy some stuff that's more fun

It's not even a particularly nice color under high light. But I'm going to have to do something since some of the coral is in the "tidal zone" and sits exposed to air.