Orange Setosa (Montipora) PSA!!

[MBX5]

That’s when I got it. Don’t have a photo of all sides but I can guarantee you it was all orange.

This was a few months back. I will say 95%+ bleached about 6-7 months back. When it colored back up it had this very defining line?

 

[MBX5]

My vote is it still it, but maybe you bleached it and the part that is still white is the part which hasn’t recovered yet. That’s the only 2 options really. It clearly isn’t dying.

You posted as I was replying. Just surprised the line is so definitive and it still growing bleached?

 

[MrObscura]

A is dead. And with most corals now a days coming from led lit environments under equal or higher par, I highly doubt it was the lighting.

 

[lolgranny]

View attachment 1030040
That’s when I got it. Don’t have a photo of all sides but I can guarantee you it was all orange.
View attachment 1030043
This was a few months back. I will say 95%+ bleached about 6-7 months back. When it colored back up it had this very defining line?

Yea I think it grafted. Here is mine when I got it...

Small guy in the center

This is it a year later or so. It grafted itself, but could only been really visible under my vhos. Looked more brown under 20k radium / vho.

And I already posted the current state above

 

[lolgranny]

You posted as I was replying. Just surprised the line is so definitive and it still growing bleached?

I wouldn’t think so, but I’ve seen stranger things lol. I honestly think it’s grafted.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

A is dead. And with most corals now a days coming from led lit environments under equal or higher par, I highly doubt it was the lighting.

I addressed above why I’m fairly certain that in my case it was the lighting. Now whether it’s due to light shock or not I’m unsure, but all other factors have been eliminated.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Setosa is a very slow growing and not so easy coral and NOT recommended for new tanks. It also requires a Very stable tank/system.

 

[lolgranny]

Setosa is a very slow growing and not so easy coral and NOT recommended for new tanks. It also requires a Very stable tank/system.

View attachment 1030085

Unfortunately I have to say I disagree with all of the above. For a monti it’s extremely hardy and a very fast grower in comparison to some. If I was to give anyone a beginner sps coral this would be one of them.

Lovely tank btw. How’s your flame doing with everything? Behaving? I want to add one, but I don’t want him teaching my regal bad habits lol.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

I did not expect this write up to prompt so much discussion over this specimen but I’m happy it did. Should provide a wealth of info and anecdotal experiences/photos for others raising this amazing coral going forward. I appreciate all the responses!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Unfortunately I have to say I disagree with all of the above. For a monti it’s extremely hardy and a very fast grower in comparison to some. If I was to give anyone a beginner sps coral this would be one of them.

Lovely tank btw. How’s your flame doing with everything? Behaving? I want to add one, but I don’t want him teaching my regal bad habits lol.

I have three tanks and each one has a flame as they add color and always hardy and peaceful

 

[MARK M. DAVIS]

 

[MARK M. DAVIS]

See the orange setosa in the lower middle of my tank. Size of a 8” desert plate. Low light, medium flow. Grew from thumb nail frag in 2 years. Hardy!

 

[James Hopkins]

wow that's some good growth.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

View attachment 1041527

Your tank...and especially your orange setosa, look incredible! Thanks for sharing the photo!

 

[MARK M. DAVIS]

Light acclimation is huge. They will bleach and rtn with lighting shock.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Light acclimation is huge. They will bleach and rtn with lighting shock.

I learned that the hard way! ;Facepalm Even with a 4 week light acclimation, that last movement was apparently too large a jump in PAR for the Setosa. Other corals handled the move fine but I agree, this one needs to be raised carefully.

 

[MARK M. DAVIS]

I increment by 10% a month for 10 months on intensity and spectrum changes. Better safe than sorry. I bleached and killed a sps piece. It was getting shaded by a huge monti cap. So I snapped the cap. The piece below went from bleach to rtn.

 

[MARK M. DAVIS]

Lessons learned

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Lessons learned

Constantly in this hobby. Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[Forshurley]

My setosa is one of my first corals and biggest colony.