Montipora help

[Ryno]

I was hoping someone could give me some advice on acclimating Montipora Cap.
I have tried two times now to keep Montipora and both times they bleached and died within about two weeks. I feel that it may have been light shock as I may have rushed them into place too quickly. I just want to know if anyone has any tips to share. I am running 2 x 175w Hamilton 14k metal halides 9 hours per day in a standard 90 gallon tank. my levels are as follows.

salinity- 1.026
temp- 78-80
ph-8.1
alk-7.7 (red sea)
calc-460 (red sea)
mag-1440 (red sea)
nitrate-5 (API)
phosphate- about .025 - .030 I think (I have a hard time reading the color wheel on the red sea kit)

all other corals in the tank are fine. I'm just a little nervous to buy another one as I'm wondering if I am doing something wrong with them.

 

[Jazeel55]

MH are the first problem. I had the same problem at first. Don't put them in the direct light. Put them off to the side or very low in the tank. Placement should be to the back or side of tank

 

[Ryno]

Thanks. I had a feeling it was light shock. How long should I keep them on the sand bed before I can start putting them up higher? My plan is to have a few growing out from the bottom 1/3 of the rock work below everything else.

 

[salpet]

you can keep them higher as long as they don't get direct light they thrive in shade

 

[Ryno]

Ok thank you. That's good to know. I was trying to give them too much light then.

 

[reefer4eva]

Agree on all above comments...just about every montipora or cap always grew very well out of direct light.and make sure your parameters are in check...alk,calcium..etc..etc

 

[piranhapat]

Monti don't like high Phosphate. What are your reading? . 25 or .30 ? Should be no higher .08 check again could be the reason.

 

[JBNY]

I have had good luck with Montipora under Halides, so I can only say that you are probably starting them off with too much light. Start them off on the bottom and bring them up over time. I think they do just fine under direct light. I have had some really great growth directly under the halide.

Under middle halide 250 XM10K

directly under right MH 250 watt XM10k

 

[Ryno]

Thank you for the replies.

Joe, Those are great looking monti's.

Just an update: shortly after my original post, I purchased another red Monti. Cap and it has been doing really well so far. I placed it on the bottom all the way to the left and it seems pretty happy. I can already see some new growth and it is starting to encrust onto the glass next to it.

piranhapat: I did double check with my Red Sea kit and it I'm definitely right around .03 Phosphate

 

[vio]

JBNY (Joe) there is any reason why you like XM 10K VS Iwasaki ?
Then one more Q.
How about XM 10 K VS Radium ?
I now XM 10 K, may be faster grow, more PAR, any think ............. more than that?


Thank You.

 

[Mattl22]

Jbny do u know anyone who has that stag tan with blue tips anymore??

 

[JBNY]

JBNY (Joe) there is any reason why you like XM 10K VS Iwasaki ?
Then one more Q.
How about XM 10 K VS Radium ?
I now XM 10 K, may be faster grow, more PAR, any think ............. more than that?


Thank You.

Visually I think the XM10K looks much nicer than the Iwasaki, I found that growth was the same or maybe a little slightly with the XM10K.

XM10K and the radium are very different lamps. The radium looks crazy blue if you are going from an XM10K. Visually I think it is really a matter of preference as you can get very good coloration with both lamps. But growth will be stronger using an XM10K bulb than with the Radium.

All that said, I am currently using a Radium lamp over my tank. Mainly because I had used the XM10K and wanted t try a different bulb. But also because I prefer pairing the XM10K with actinics and the actinic bulbs that available for T5 IMO are terrible visually when compared to VHO actinics. So I don't use them.

 

[JBNY]

Jbny do u know anyone who has that stag tan with blue tips anymore??

I do not, but that was just a normal run of the mill tan staghorn that I had there.

 

[Mattl22]

I had a pc from mgny few yrs ago it grew so fast I loved it Havnt seen it since