Montipora

Montipora corals are one of the most popular and versatile corals in the aquarium hobby. They come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, from encrusting to branching forms. Montipora corals are relatively easy to care for and can be a great addition to a beginner or advanced reef aquarium.

Montipora corals require moderate to high light and moderate to strong water flow. They are photosynthetic and rely heavily on the energy produced by their zooxanthellae. Under intense lighting, they can develop vibrant colors ranging from green, yellow, blue, purple, and even red. Their growth patterns can also be influenced by water flow and placement within the aquarium.

Encrusting Montipora corals form a thin, sheet-like layer that covers rocks or other surfaces, while plate-like Montipora corals form large, flat structures that look like plates. Branching Montipora corals have thin, finger-like branches that grow in a tree-like pattern, while digitate Montipora corals have thicker, finger-like branches that grow in a more compact fashion.