Montipora frag attachment

[eastfernstreet]

I am considering adding a Montipora frag to my 90 gal tank. In order to have it in the top third for light (4 new ATI T5's) and get good flow (two Koralia 750's plus return flow) I'll need to position the base on which the frag comes to a nearly horizontal place on the rock.

Question: If I glue (with the putty-like, mix-in-your-hand epoxy stuff) in a horizontal position, will the coral itself still grow horizontally, i.e. shelf-like?

Thanks!

[thegrun]

They tend to reach upwards towards the light, although some species will grow laterally or even downwards. It is difficult to predict.

[bnumair]

it will grow upwards towards the light more likely.

[BigAl2007]

I bought a Monti frag at MACNA 2008 and it was mounted to a coral disc. They had cut a disc in half (it was a small frag and only attached to 1/2 the disc). Then I cut that 1/2 disc (the part with no frag on it) into 1/2 (making it a 1/4 circle) and then glued it to the original half making a "T" base. This was then glued to my rock keeping the original monti flat. It plated beautifully. See pics below:

Here it is before I attached it to the rockwork
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/BigAl07_01/90g/IMG_5198.jpg

Here it's attached with Epoxy
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/BigAl07_01/90g/IMG_5273.jpg
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/BigAl07_01/90g/IMG_5272.jpg


Top Down 2 months later
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/BigAl07_01/90g/IMG_6070.jpg

Layering nicely
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/BigAl07_01/90g/IMG_6877.jpg


http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/BigAl07_01/90g/IMG_8636.jpg




Here it is growing so much it was actually touching the front glass (don't think you can see it in this picture)
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/BigAl07_01/90g/IMG_0248.jpg

[jlanger]

Question: If I glue (with the putty-like, mix-in-your-hand epoxy stuff) in a horizontal position, will the coral itself still grow horizontally, i.e. shelf-like?

Thanks!

If your talking about the montipora digitata corals, they will grow towards the light. Placing them horizontally will be just fine.

If you have a plating montipora sp., they'll be just fine.
I just glued up some frags a couple of weeks ago and I intentionally glued some of them with the coral placed vertically just to see what it will do.
It appears that the new coral growth is wanting to flatten back out horizontally.
We'll have to see what happens in another couple of weeks.

-JASON

[Michigan Mike]

Okay, any of the montipora varieties will adhere itself to rock regardless if its the bottom of monti cap or milli, gluing or epoxy helps if you have too much flow or fish/inverts that knock them off the rock you want.
Bottom line is they attach themselves given they are not disturbed for awhile.

[Palting]

The most common Montipora is a Monti cap, and since you are talking "shelf-like", and horizontal growth, I assume that's what you are asking about. If the light is adequate, Monti cap will grow horizontal and shelf like. Even if you start it vertical :). You can wedge it between rocks vertically, it will encrust unto the rock and it will still develop shelf-like horizontally. Ask me how I know :D LOL!!

[Michigan Mike]

He he , nice pics Al! Lol
The long-nose is very cool!

[BigAl2007]

He he , nice pics Al! Lol
The long-nose is very cool!

Thanks Mike.

"Arthur" was king of the tank for many years and had a lot of personality. He was always perched up high looking down over his minions :)

[eastfernstreet]

The advice is very much appreciated. I'll glue it and assume that coral knows a lot more about coral than I do.

Love the Longnose!

[popebosephus]

My favorite way to mount caps is on a magnet stuck to my back glass. Those usually end up verticle, they grow up and plate out.