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.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
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.
Propagating Montipora peltiformis (Peltiformis Monti)
Overview
Montipora peltiformis is an encrusting coral of the family Acroporidae that overlays rockwork in colorful sheets. Encrusting is one of several Montipora growth forms; the genus has the smallest corallites of any coral family and is found across the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea but not the Atlantic. Colonies rely on symbiotic zooxanthellae.
Reproductive Mode
Montipora are hermaphroditic broadcast spawners, releasing gametes in spring. In the aquarium the routine method is asexual fragmentation of the encrusting sheet.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Fully encrusted corals are best fragged with a band saw. Cut around the polyps to the desired frag size, keeping pieces flat to make gluing easier. Encrusting frags suit a frag disc, and the flat base seats cleanly with a single glue application.
- With a band saw, cut around the polyps to the desired frag size.
- Keep each frag as flat as possible for an even bond.
- Apply cyanoacrylate glue to a frag disc, sized to the frag base.
- Seat the frag, hold about 30 seconds, then return it to the tank in good flow and light.
Conditions for Propagation
Encrusting Montipora is hardy and recovers quickly under stable chemistry. The Aquairi record targets medium-high light (about 150-250 PAR), medium flow and 24-26 C.
Common Challenges
An undescribed Phestilla nudibranch feeds on Montipora and is easily overlooked. Because encrusting colonies cover large areas, an infestation can spread quickly, so dip and quarantine new frags.