Montipora had overgrown the mag holder, what next?

[dendro982]

I have a flat piece of montipora, mounted on magnetic frag holder. Now it had grown right to the glass.
From readings I thought, that it will build itself up, making folds, but mine behaves really like encrusting.

Should I reglue it on a bigger magnetic holder, or to a bigger rock - so it will have a place to crawl on?

Thanks.

[lotus02]

I would just leave it. If it has already encrusted the frag mag you'll likely bust it up trying to get it off, plus it will likely do the same thing if you glue it to a bigger magnet.

[dendro982]

Let it grow onto the glass wall?
So far I am moving the frag holders for a glass cleaning.

[rharr21]

IMO, I would leave it on the glass if you like its location. It will attach itself to the glass over time. The attachment to glass is weak but will be enough to hold it. When it gets larger and has grown onto the glass, if you decide to remove it, you will appreciate the weak connection to the glass. Many times, I have seen them come off without damage. As far as cleaning the glass goes, just clean carefully as close to the frag as possible.

[LobsterOfJustice]

In my experience, SPS arent very good at encrusting to glass. Its more like they just plate up next to it with a very light attachment. You will probably still be able to (re)move it without breaking anything as long as you are careful. Eventually it might be too heavy for the magnet though.

[dendro982]

If I'll have to remove it sooner or later, may be do it now, without harming the frag?
I had seen photos of mounting montipora frags, they were growing up, bulding folds, and mine did not...

[Tennsquire]

Alot of what shape montiporas take depends on species and even more so on flow patterns within the tank.

[aquarius77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11122758#post11122758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tennsquire
Alot of what shape montiporas take depends on species and even more so on flow patterns within the tank.

This is right on the money.



Id leave it alone.

[dendro982]

Let grow on the wall, right? Then I'll find it a safer place on other wall.

What flow is better, where should I place it relatively to the powerhead?

Thanks.

[aquarius77]

Yep id let it grow onto whatever it wants.

Random flow is best, alternating currents and surges will help the coral grow in a more natural pattern. single directional flow will make a coral grow kinda lopsided and usually it will grow out away from strong flow.

Some monties dont plate out and swirl or fold, they encrust and then branch. Can you get a pic of the peice? It would help answer your questions.

[herostar]

I'd like to see a picture of this...

[dendro982]

You asked! :D

I was told, that it is red montipora:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/sps/monti1.jpg
place of contact with the glass:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/sps/monticontact.jpg

The second small one:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/sps/monti2.jpg

The bigger still has place to grow on:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/sps/montibig.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/sps/montibig2.jpg

Tank, Nano-Cube 12g + side sump:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/sps/montitank1.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/sps/montitank.jpg
Now they are in 20g long, a couple of days only, all content moved there. Orientation frags to the flow - perpendicular to shown on photos, reflected from the glass.

The light was 72W PC + sun, now 70W MH 14,000K.
The major bryopsis outbreak is close to the end. Zero phosphates :(

Thanks for your patience ;)

[Chad Vossen]

i have seen sps encrust over a HUGE area before branching. but once they started branching, they go crazy

[c.rob]

Glad to see the DIY frag Mags are working out. I have a few monties that are growing off the mags onto the glass!

[c.rob]

Oh , and FYI I moved one off for a trade and it left a 1/2" piece stuck to the glass tha tis now on it's own.

[dendro982]

Thanks to you, rob!
Ended up with HDD magnets - the ones from hardware store are good only for a thin glass, like 10g tank, 5mm glass of Nano Cube - and they barely hold.

Will try montipora on the glass, only have to find a really good spot, so it will not be damaged during siphoning.