Peltiformis Monti (Montipora peltiformis) Care Guide
Montipora peltiformis is a hardy encrusting/plating Indo-Pacific SPS coral, photosynthetic and well suited as a beginner colony filler in reef tanks.
Overview
Montipora peltiformis (Bernard, 1897) is a small-polyp stony (SPS) coral of the family Acroporidae. Its colonies are submassive or flat plates, with or without nodular upward growth, and bear mostly immersed corallites. The natural colour is pale brown; in the hobby it overlays rockwork as colourful encrusting sheets and serves as a classic colony filler.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acroporidae
- Genus: Montipora
- Scientific name: Montipora peltiformis
- Authority: Bernard, 1897
- Growth form: encrusting / plating
Habitat
The type locality is Indonesia and the species is widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific. It is uncommon in the wild, found on shallow reef slopes. Montipora as a genus is absent from the Atlantic.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.025-1.026
- Alkalinity (dKH): 7.5-9
- Calcium: 420-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1300-1400 ppm
- Nitrate: below 10 ppm; Phosphate: below 0.05 ppm
- Lighting: ~150-250 PAR (medium-high)
- Flow: medium
- Established tank (minimum age ~3 months)
Placement & lighting
Like other Montipora it prefers medium to high light but is bleaching-sensitive, so increase lighting gradually. Encrusting forms tolerate medium flow. As an encrusting/plating coral it will spread over adjacent rock, so leave space around slower-growing neighbours.
Feeding
Montipora peltiformis is photosynthetic, relying on symbiotic zooxanthellae for most of its energy; dedicated target-feeding is not required. Stable light and water chemistry are the main concerns.
Compatibility
It is passive and reef-safe, without aggressive sweeper tentacles, and is safe with fish and shrimp. Its hardiness and growth speed make it one of the more beginner-friendly Montipora.