Green Montipora
Green montipora comes in several different varieties, but the two most common are Montipora digitata and montipora encrusting coral. Both varieties are small polyp stony (SPS) coral. The green montipora digitata coral is commonly called the Velvet Branch or Velvet Finger Coral. They are a vivid dark green with branch like features that have lighter ends on their finger-like extensions. They usually grow vertically with branches, but not all the time. Due to their sprawling, vertical nature, their placement in the tank should be thoughtfully considered so that the have room to grow.
Green Montipora In The Reef Aquarium
Green montipora digitata coral is a peaceful coral that gets along well with similar non-aggressive corals in a reef aquarium environment. They require moderate lighting and a variety of lighting options will work for the green montipora. This includes the power compacts, VHO, T-5s and metal halide lighting options. The lighting for the green montipora should be at three watts per gallon.
Green Montipora Ideal Environment
Water temperature and movement are important for any montipora, including the green montipora. Water temperatures should be kept in between 78 and 80 degrees with a pH level of 8.1-8.4. Similar to other montiporas, this one needs moderate water movement to mimic its natural environment which is usually shallow lagoon-like waters. Overall, the green montipora digitata is considered one of the easier SPS corals to take care of in reef aquariums.
Green Montipora Ideal Characteristics
The montipora green encrusting coral, Montipora nodosus, does not have the branch-like features of the montipora digitata, though they both have the same vivid green hue. Like the montipora digitata, the green encrusting coral is also peaceful and does well with other corals in a reef aquarium.
Green Montipora In The Trade
Both green montipora varieties discussed here are from the Acroporidae family. The encrusting corals origin is from the Solomon Islands and the Montipora digitata is now aquacultured for the most part, but is also found in nature in the Indo-Pacific region. Both varieties are sold in fragmented, aquacultured form, but the Montipora digitata can be imported from the wild. The encrusted green montipora grows wide in a dome shape appearing like a ridged, small mountain. The Montipora nodosus also requires medium lighting like its similar branch-like variety and moderate water flow that is perhaps a bit more intermittent. The ideal water temperature for the encrusting green montipora is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Green Montipora Appearance
The encrusting green montipora is sometimes called cabbage, lettuce or velvet rock coral. Its polyps are small and close together giving it a velvety appearance. Both green montiporas excel when given weekly feedings of micro-plankton. Its also helpful for the corals core skeleton if calcium is added to the water as a supplement along with strontium and other trace elements. This is a very common maintenance practice for montipora corals.
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