Best way to stop/slow/kill growth of encrusting monti

KK's Reef · Apr 7, 2022

I have limited real estate and I have an encrusting rainbow monti that is encroaching on the last bit of available real estate. I want to put an acro there, but I'm sure by the time I get the acro frag and have it glued down, the monti will be taking over that space. My question is, what's the best way to stop the monti without killing it? I just want eliminate some of it's outer edge growth. Do I hack/scrape it off? Is there a chemical or natural solution I can put on it to kill the outer edges? Any other tips or tricks?

youcallmenny1 · Apr 7, 2022

A dental pick/scalpel works wonders in scraping them off but honestly replacing the whole rock and chalking it up to learning a lesson about encrusting monti placement might be the easier answer.

KK's Reef · Apr 7, 2022

youcallmenny1 said:
A dental pick/scalpel works wonders in scraping them off but honestly replacing the whole rock and chalking it up to learning a lesson about encrusting monti placement might be the easier answer.

It's a really small tank, and that piece of rock is actually perfect for the scape, so I don't want to just remove it. I'll have to give the scalpel thing a try.

When the acro itself encrusts and grows its base, will it keep the monti at bay? Or is the monti's sting more powerful?

Hairyteeth · Apr 7, 2022

Aptasia x or kalkwaser would prob work fine?

Shooter6 · Apr 7, 2022

KK's Reef said:
I have limited real estate and I have an encrusting rainbow monti that is encroaching on the last bit of available real estate. I want to put an acro there, but I'm sure by the time I get the acro frag and have it glued down, the monti will be taking over that space. My question is, what's the best way to stop the monti without killing it? I just want eliminate some of it's outer edge growth. Do I hack/scrape it off? Is there a chemical or natural solution I can put on it to kill the outer edges? Any other tips or tricks?

Glue new rock around the area your trying to use. Picture the monti as a plate.

Cover a section of that plate with another plate. Anything under the second plate will starve from lack of light and die off. Then the monti will start growing up until it covers the side of the rock. Eventually creeping closer to the area your trying to use. As it does you can break off the new rock and give it away or sell it, and replace it with new rocks. Ruble or the shelf rock works best.

TheDragonsReef · Apr 7, 2022

I use epoxy to cover encrusting montis that over reach. A sharp right angle pick also does a good job at removing them but its more difficult and time consuming.

KK's Reef · Apr 7, 2022

Hairyteeth said:
Aptasia x or kalkwaser would prob work fine?

Small tank, so I'm not sure I want to pollute with Aiptasia X. Kalkwasser might throw params out of whack.

KK's Reef · Apr 7, 2022

TheDragonsReef said:
I use epoxy to cover encrusting montis that over reach. A sharp right angle pick also does a good job at removing them but its more difficult and time consuming.

Do you remove the epoxy after the monti underneath has died off? How long does it usually take to die off?

Shooter6 · Apr 7, 2022

I delt with this in my previous system. A rainbow Phoenix monti. As you can see I broke peices off regularly and used the rocks to cover/ block it as well.

Shooter6 · Apr 7, 2022

KK's Reef said:
Small tank, so I'm not sure I want to pollute with Aiptasia X. Kalkwasser might throw params out of whack.

Definitely would run that risk.

TheDragonsReef · Apr 7, 2022

KK's Reef said:
Do you remove the epoxy after the monti underneath has died off? How long does it usually take to die off?

I usually remove it after the monti starts growing over it. That way i essentially get 2 uses out of it. I dont know the time frame for the monti to die off but id assume 2 weeks would be plenty.