Encrusting montipora— what is its role for in aquascape?

Ancient Mariner · Dec 5, 2022

I’m curious how encrusting montiporas and encrusting corals in general are used in a reef aquascape. Early on I was attracted to encrusting montiporas by their color and texture that are striking in the online store pictures. But as my reef matured they fall in the background as other corals grow over them. And some just aren’t as pretty grown up as they are in a close up shot of a frag. They end up becoming a strange interesting rock instead of a striking show piece. It seems they are mainly used to cover bare bottom tanks.

Anyone use encrusting corals in striking ways in their reefscape?

Sunset Montipora looking like an interesting rock.

Green Cyphastrea? being overgrown.

Montipora undata (top) and green encrusting/plating Montipora sp. fading into the background.

blaxsun · Dec 5, 2022

They're great at catching the sand my parrotfish constantly kicks up.

imprezareef · Feb 4, 2023

I think they are great filler pieces. Sometimes yes, they do get somewhat drab in color when grown out.

nano reef · Dec 13, 2023

interesting! I always hated them because thats exactly what I thought they would look like grown is just an interesting rock and we dont buy corals because they look like rocks lol

I recently picked up a l few pieces of both cyphastera and monti and encrusting favia (cheap on ebay auctions) Its good to know that corals can grow over them.

I have some tonga branches against my back wall in some cool shapes and they hold a bridge rock between the two sides. The bridge will have some sps and lps on it. I have zoas on the tongas (still on plugs) and was going to add pieces of encrusting coral and hopefully they will grow around and in between the zoas! Some of the tonga have sort of a flat toped end pieces ( hard to describe) I placed one of my torches on top of it and looked great so I am going to add more torches or gonis to those areas as well!

Boehmtown · Dec 17, 2023

They can be used as contrast to your branching SPS. A red and yellow acro will stand out more with a blue monti behind it type thing.

Waters · Dec 18, 2023

Look good on BB tanks to cover the bottom.

nano reef · Feb 28, 2024

Can you use them on a back wall like cyphaestra?

Sisterlimonpot · Feb 28, 2024

I don't think that they're supposed to be center pieces, and I agree that as they encrust they just take the shape of the substrate they're on.

I like the idea that they're simply filler. I've concluded that they need ro be isolated like zoas or else you run the risk of not being able to control where they go.

I have cyphastreas, chalaces, monti's that have become nothing more that colored rocks that are great to stuff in nooks to pull the eye.

Not to say that someone with enough forward thinking can't use them in a way that helps accent the scape in its entirety, using contrasting colors to complement acros.