Rainbow Montipora
The rainbow montipora is a rare and beautiful type of Montipora danae. Its range of colors is extraordinary with green, purple, orange, blue and red giving it the distinctive name of rainbow montipora. What often happens is that rainbow montipora corals are actually blue Montipora danae species with a rainbow polyp color morph. The coral may start out as blue or green, but in time, and with the right light and water flow, the polyps and surface of the coral begin to turn into numerous colors.
Rainbow Montipora Behavior
The rainbow montipora as a Montipora danae species, is a peaceful and serene coral. The rainbow montipora interacts well with other non-aggressive corals when placed in the same tank environment. They do not grow very wide, but should be allowed space for growth. Similar to other corals, they do best when not touching other corals. The rainbow montipora is moderately difficult to take care of in a tank.
Rainbow Montipora Coloration
Most rainbow montipora owners attain them so that they can use lighting to cause the polyps to turn the variety of colors that gives the montipora its name. In brighter lights, the polyps are known to turn more orange and red. In less light, they stay blue and green. This type of coral should probably not be kept at the bottom of a tank, but more near the top or over direct lights to achieve the color transition.
Rainbow Montipora Appearance
Rainbow montipora have a bumpy, encrusting surface. Corals with bumpier surfaces need higher water flow to keep the movement of water in their polyps. The shape and size of a corals polyps usually determines the type of water flow the coral needs. And in the case of a rainbow montipora, it needs a steady water flow that can be accomplished through moderate water flow in a reef tank. In nature, Montipora danaes affix themselves to reef shelves which make them accustomed to a pretty steady flow of water movement. Similarly, in your reef tank, they will do well on rocks and ridges as long as they receive proper lighting.
Rainbow Montipora Additives
In addition to lighting and water movement, other maintenance and water supplements will help the rainbow montipora thrive in the reef tank. Add calcium and strontium supplements to the tank water often. Rainbow montipora also prosper from weekly feedings of mico-plankton. This combination will help the rainbow montipora retain its strength and viability in the reef tank.
Rainbow Montipora Ideal Environment
Like other montiporas, the rainbow montipora is warm water environments in nature. A reef tanks temperature should be no warmer than 80 degrees and preferably in the range of 72-78 degrees. It is important to remember that some lighting, especially the metal halide lights, give off quite a bit of heat and that factor should be taken into consideration when regulating the tanks water temperature.
|
