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nano10
08/20/2006, 12:55 PM
What are optimal conditions for monti cap growth?


I would like to have a Orange Monti Cap as the center piece in my tank.

dragonladylea
08/20/2006, 01:04 PM
I think this one pretty much just grows, I have had problems with nitrates and phosphates and my montis just keep on growing!!

nano10
08/20/2006, 01:14 PM
do they like alot of light?

dragonladylea
08/20/2006, 01:16 PM
Mine is under a 175 mh with alot of water flow.

CeeGee
08/20/2006, 02:00 PM
I received a frag last december of a purple cap. It hasn't grown at all.

If you find out any good info let me know cause what I am doing isn't working obviously.

dragonladylea
08/20/2006, 02:05 PM
Have you tested for Calcium and Alk?? Are you doing water changes to add trace minerals?? Not an expert by any means but doing a 15% water change weekly seems to add just the right amount of nutrients for growth.

nano10
08/20/2006, 04:23 PM
thanks for your help dragonladylea.

What is the optimal calicum,alk level that i should shoot for? do you dose? If so with what?

dragonladylea
08/20/2006, 04:42 PM
I average 420 calcium and 1200 mag usually and no I dont add anything other than the water changes. Always seemed to risky to me with my small tank.

tuberider
08/20/2006, 05:51 PM
I like to call caps the star polyp of the SPS world. If you get a good piece it will take over. However I've had pieces that take a while to transition into "grow like mad" state. The problem is keeping up with the calcium/alk demand once they spring into action, with some specimens it may take a while to acclimate.

tacomareefer
08/20/2006, 09:40 PM
They all seem to be different to me. i have had some frags that take of and others that really havn't done much. I think the key is to not move them once thay start take of as for me they tend to go down hill from there.

Jester
08/21/2006, 07:11 AM
I jsut got two frags this weekend.. and I can't wait for them to start growing too... the person I got them from said that he just dosed with Tropic Marine Bio-Calcium... luckily I needed some more additives, so I jsut started dosing with that... We'll see... I placed my frags near the top of my rock under 2x55watt PCs (25 gallon aquarium)...

Jester

jeffbrig
08/21/2006, 08:53 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7976257#post7976257 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nano10
do they like alot of light?

IMO, monti caps are about the easiest SPS you can keep. I had great color under just T5s, before even adding MHs.

Mine aren't terribly finicky, even if Ca/Alk aren't 100% stable. I've had calcium levels from 350-425, occasional low Alk, low pH, etc. They're still colorful and healthy (although low levels probably depress growth rates somewhat).

With the proper conditions, they can grow pretty fast.

Here's a small frag on 3/15
http://home.comcast.net/~jbrigman/pics/monti_frag_3_15_06.jpg

Same frag on 7/30
http://home.comcast.net/~jbrigman/pics/monti_frag_7_30_06.jpg

In the last month, I've been more diligent about maintaining proper levels, and this frag has really taken off. Here's the same piece today (8/21)
http://home.comcast.net/~jbrigman/pics/monti_frag_8_21_06.jpg



Finally, here's my show piece (which the clowns choose to live in)
http://home.comcast.net/~jbrigman/pics/clown_w_XT.jpg

Jester
08/21/2006, 09:12 AM
Those pictures look a lot like the frags I got, except the piece I have is really small, so hopfully I can get it to grow...!!!!

CeeGee
08/21/2006, 12:10 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7976492#post7976492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dragonladylea
Have you tested for Calcium and Alk?? Are you doing water changes to add trace minerals?? Not an expert by any means but doing a 15% water change weekly seems to add just the right amount of nutrients for growth.

dose b-ionic daily test levels weekly with salifert and all levels are very close to NSW. I change a little more water than most weekly. By the time I get done vacuuming out all the detritus I am replacing a little more than most do per week.

CH
08/21/2006, 09:00 PM
Mine took a good 6-12 months to really "settle in" but then they started growing at a very steady rate. I only have VHO lighting, and it is my understanding (and experience) they do just fine under slighty lower light conditions. They may not be as brightly colored, but they will still be growing and healthy. I have both orange and green, Monti caps, and Monti Digitata's. They greens aren't super green, but they aren't brown either.

Sk8r
08/21/2006, 09:10 PM
it likes to shelve. Stick it between two rocks in an area of good flow and light and it will take off.