Orange Montipora Capricornis Help

[nick]

Hi Guys,

I had bought a orange montipora capricornis frag at the nov frag swap.

It looks to be growing, however the color is fading but the polpys are still extending. Could this be bleaching? I check my parameters Phosphate, Nitrate & Calcium ammo, ph, etc and have added a little of Calcium, Strontium and Iodine and everything seems to be normal. I have it set low-mid level in my 45gallon tank. In a tank with mushrooms, leathers, and one candy cane. Which are doing fine. I have a current lighting 1 - T5HO 39 watts and 1- 460 Actinics 39watts Any recommendation?

Thanks,

Nick

 

[finksmart]

What's your phosphate level? How much flow? I think you can give it more light. My orange monti cap sits high top with medium-high flow and it's the brightest orange monti cap I've seen.

 

[michael Jack]

Put it up high it likes lots of light

 

[nick]

my Phosphate level were about .02 I had tested them through that red sea reef lab kit. I could move it higher in the tank closer to the lights. But i was worried that the color would just fade more.

 

[nick]

Let me try raising it up higher. I was worrired about burning it.

 

[Josh]

More light would help.

Get your phosphate to 0.

What is the alk?

 

[nanoreefer22]

Definitely check where you alk is. Alk seems to be one of the more important things for montis. You can tell if alk is off by caps, they seem to be the first to reactor to less than ideal levels.

I had a cap grow quickly in a system that was far from ideal for SPS. I just made sure my levels were on point. Phosphates will definitely inhibit growth, but might not be the main factor in whats going on with your cap.

 

[salt-rookie]

Let me try raising it up higher. I was worrired about burning it.

You can't burn a Cap with T-5!

 

[salt-rookie]

Definitely check where you alk is. Alk seems to be one of the more important things for montis. You can tell if alk is off by caps, they seem to be the first to reactor to less than ideal levels.

My Staghorn corals react much quicker, but each system seem to be different.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

You can't burn a Cap with T-5!

You can cause damage to any coral if it is not accustomed to that lighting type and that specific depth. So if he moves it up too quickly instead of gradually it could cause the coral to bleach, burn, rtn, stn, etc..............

 

[pnoyreefer]

Check Alk, raise it up a bit or check for monti nudi's... post a picture so we could have an idea what it looks like..