How much light and flow does Montipora coral need?

Stony coral · SPS, high light at roughly 200–300 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PAR, with high flow. Light and flow must match: high light with weak flow burns tips, strong flow with weak light thins the tissue.

Will Montipora coral attack neighbouring corals?

It shows no real aggression and can sit close to neighbours, though it still must not be shaded from above.

Does Montipora coral need feeding?

No. It gets its energy from its symbiotic algae, and extra food only raises nutrients.

What water parameters does Montipora coral need?

24–26 °C, specific gravity 1.024–1.026, 7–9 dKH, 400–450 mg/L calcium, 1250–1350 mg/L magnesium. That is only 2 dKH wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.

Is Montipora coral a good beginner coral?

Difficulty: moderate. Growth: fast. Place it in the midground / background. Spacing: keep 8-10 cm from other SPS; the edge creeps out and covers live rock, and anything closer gets stung at night or overgrown by faster Acropora.

G-03 / 02Marine

Montipora coral蔷薇珊瑚

Montipora spp. · Acroporidae

Montipora: the most forgiving SPS coral, in plating and branching forms alike — a good first stony coral.

Illustration to come

G-03 / 02 · Montipora coral Montipora spp.

SpecificationsCoral atlas

Name: 蔷薇珊瑚
Scientific name: Montipora spp.
Family: Acroporidae
Origin: Reefs of the Indo-Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef, the Philippines and Indonesia
Type: Stony coral · SPS
Light: High light
PAR: 200–300
Flow: High flow
Aggression: No aggression
Feeding: No feeding needed
Alkalinity: 7–9 dKH
Calcium: 400–450 mg/L
Magnesium: 1250–1350 mg/L
Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG
Growth: Fast
Placement: Midground / Background
Level: Moderate

Water requirementsMarine

Temp.24–26 °C

pH8.1–8.4

Salinity1.024–1.026 SG

Alkalinity7–9 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Spacing: keep 8-10 cm from other SPS; the edge creeps out and covers live rock, and anything closer gets stung at night or overgrown by faster Acropora.
2Flow: moderate to strong. Plating colonies especially hate trapped detritus — debris on the underside bleaches quickly.
3Water tolerance: handles mild swings better than Acropora, but alkalinity and calcium still have to hold steady; chronically high nutrients turn the colour brown.
4Feeding: no target feeding needed; suspended organics in the tank are enough.
5Growth form: branching types grow upward, plating types spread sideways — the space they occupy differs a lot, so plan the layout accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

How much light and flow does Montipora coral need?: Stony coral · SPS, high light at roughly 200–300 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PAR, with high flow. Light and flow must match: high light with weak flow burns tips, strong flow with weak light thins the tissue.
Will Montipora coral attack neighbouring corals?: It shows no real aggression and can sit close to neighbours, though it still must not be shaded from above.
Does Montipora coral need feeding?: No. It gets its energy from its symbiotic algae, and extra food only raises nutrients.
What water parameters does Montipora coral need?: 24–26 °C, specific gravity 1.024–1.026, 7–9 dKH, 400–450 mg/L calcium, 1250–1350 mg/L magnesium. That is only 2 dKH wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.
Is Montipora coral a good beginner coral?: Difficulty: moderate. Growth: fast. Place it in the midground / background. Spacing: keep 8-10 cm from other SPS; the edge creeps out and covers live rock, and anything closer gets stung at night or overgrown by faster Acropora.