monti cap
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: SPS
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions SPS corals.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60158
Printed Date: April 27 2024 at 6:38pm
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Topic: monti cap
Posted By: markiepora
Subject: monti cap
Date Posted: November 09 2012 at 9:58pm
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Can anyone give me advice, on where to place A couple of small monti caps, in a 20 gallon column Tank, that will give me good growth, and what I should look for in a healthy monti... Thanks everyone ------------- MarkiePora:0 |
Replies:
Posted By: DLindquist
Date Posted: November 09 2012 at 10:27pm
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Medium to high light and good flow. You'll want to make sure dentrius (or any type of salt build up/crystals that get knocked back into the tank from salt creep) does not collect in the cap. Other than that, sit back and enjoy. ------------- A government strong enough to give you everything you want, is powerful enough to take everything you have. |
Posted By: markiepora
Date Posted: November 09 2012 at 10:35pm
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Very cool thanks so much for the advice, should I place them up top on the reef? ------------- MarkiePora:0 |
Posted By: DLindquist
Date Posted: November 09 2012 at 11:46pm
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Your Monti's should be able to handle high placement and high light. However, what type of lights are you running? ------------- A government strong enough to give you everything you want, is powerful enough to take everything you have. |
Posted By: sabeypets
Date Posted: November 09 2012 at 11:47pm
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I prefer to place them mid level so I can grow corals above them. Plating Monti's create a lot of shade below them as they grow out. ------------- Shaun American Fork "Would you leave a dead cat in your kitchen till tommorow?" Builderofdreams |
Posted By: DLindquist
Date Posted: November 10 2012 at 7:09am
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Great point Shaun. I was actually thinking about that last night. But then again, shade is not much of a concern with our 1500W's of lighting. However, I'm sure (markiepora's) lighting is on a much smaller scale. I would try and find somewhere that would not impead future real estate space (or light) for other corals but still allow space for your cap to grow in a somewhat natural plate form. And that might prove difficult in a 20 tall. ------------- A government strong enough to give you everything you want, is powerful enough to take everything you have. |
Posted By: rize2
Date Posted: November 10 2012 at 1:11pm
| Do you have any pics of your how you have your rock work? |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: November 10 2012 at 1:58pm
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Markiepora - How long has your tank been up? What is your nO3 (nitrate) reading? Do you use a skimmer? I have found that under the right circumstances, plating corals like Monti caps can be some of the easiest SPS to keep. However, my experience is that they do not like high nitrates (over 20 ppm) or high nutrient water. Under those conditions the growth tends to be stunted and they sometimes brown out. Right now I have some Dark Red, some Leng Si (green w/ blue rim) and some Chocolate Monti Cap in my 93 Cube. They are about 14" from my 250w MH light and they are in an area that recieves good flow, but indirectly (a powerhead is not aimed directly right at them). I also use a turkey baster to gently blow off any detritus that accumulates on top of them about once a week. Also, since they are so thin and fragile, take care not to place an loose frags or pieces of rock above them, as one tumble and the monti cap will get shattered into a dozen pieces. ------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: markiepora
Date Posted: November 10 2012 at 5:40pm
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Well thanks for all of the responses, being A 20 gallon column tank, lighting has been A bit of an issue, trying to find lighting that is Only 13 inches long, I'm more than likely going To be running skye led's here in the near future. I am currently running 1 10k coral life daylight ,and 1 50/50 65 k atintic, and atintic 5 led stunner strip, which Has been fine for sorties and lps, not sure enoungh For Sps however. I have lots of rock so I could get them Up top, not sure if monti caps would be a good addition or not, My nitrates are around 10ppm, and all other params are Normal, I will add pics later this evening and you can Tell me if there is even enough room in this nano for Monti caps... Thanks again all ------------- MarkiePora:0 |
Posted By: markiepora
Date Posted: November 10 2012 at 7:01pm
here is my tank, i know i would have to move some stuff for monti caps, be gentle still a noob ha ha! ------------- MarkiePora:0 |
Posted By: rize2
Date Posted: November 10 2012 at 8:59pm
| I dont know much about sky LED's but i got a cheap ebay fixture for $175. It works great on my 34 gal. I have a leng si monte that has been growing really fast under these lights. When i tried a monti cap with the power compact lights I had before, I never had success. |
Posted By: markiepora
Date Posted: November 10 2012 at 9:08pm
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So you think I should ditch the power compact lights, and go with stronger LED's What brand lights u running? just hard to find led's for my tank it seems. ------------- MarkiePora:0 |
Posted By: rize2
Date Posted: November 11 2012 at 10:05am
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One of the best things that i've done was upgrade to LEDs. I'm pretty sure these are the ones that I got: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AQUARIUM-LED-LIGHT-55x3W-BRIDGELUX-Coral-Reef-Dimmable-120W-/290760221552?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b2a8e370 But there are lots of other ones that have the same case but just dont have the bridgelux LEDs. The total length of the box is a little bigger than your tank, but where the lights actually are would be around 13 inches or less
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Posted By: rize2
Date Posted: November 11 2012 at 10:08am
| And the tank looks good by the way |
Posted By: bmac2
Date Posted: November 11 2012 at 10:11am
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That is AJM Aquatics. I bought 5 of those exact units for my tank. I am running 2 of them on my 90 right now. Mine have the multi colors and us bulbs, dimmable with separate switches and dimmers between the blue and the white/colored. If you call Andrew, the owner, and talk with him he can make them exactly what you want, and if you bargain with him and buy multiple units, he can cut the price. I absolutely love his lights. It is the same case, same almost everything that local stores who "make them" are charging 2x the price. And don't let anyone blow the smoke up your hiney that the drivers that everyone else uses are cheap and won't last. Even IF the driver goes out, the driver units are cheap to replace. Andrew can and does build the CREE lights for those who subscribe to those being better. I posted a link to his website, http://www.ajmreefled.com/#!home/mainPage" rel="nofollow - AJM Reef LED drop him an email and he responds pretty quick. |
Posted By: markiepora
Date Posted: November 11 2012 at 7:04pm
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Thanks for your replys folks, lots of great advice I will contact Andrew on building me some lights That will fit my tank by email, I will tell him u guys Sent me and I will keep u posted thanks again friends! ------------- MarkiePora:0 |
Posted By: phys
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 1:55am
| if you want, you can place the monti on the glass... Or those two pillar looking sections on each side of the tank. You may also try a bonzai approach and carefully trim it into the space you want it but that's very difficult without breaking too much... One way is to rotate it or angle it so it grows with the light and flow.. |