Montipora Fragging

[JTN]

Hey all,

I am looking for some advice on my plating Montipora.
I want it to grow in layers up, instead of out and down.
How should I cut it back to help convincing it to grow that way?

 

[bluemon]

It won't grow in layers up because it would shade itself and kill itself.

It would only make sense for the colony to grow out.

It can also decide to grow up, but then it would "cup" which would cause problems of its own of collecting detritus and not looking too good to view.

you CAN frag it and attach a new frag above it, but it will grow and kill the one below by shading

 

[JTN]

It won't grow in layers up because it would shade itself and kill itself.

It would only make sense for the colony to grow out.

It can also decide to grow up, but then it would "cup" which would cause problems of its own of collecting detritus and not looking too good to view.

you CAN frag it and attach a new frag above it, but it will grow and kill the one below by shading

Ah, all good points. TY
As far as fragging it in general. I can't remove it from the tank, therefore I would have to do so underwater. Just take a pair of bone cutters and cut it back?

 

[bluemon]

Ah, all good points. TY
As far as fragging it in general. I can't remove it from the tank, therefore I would have to do so underwater. Just take a pair of bone cutters and cut it back?

yea, that works.

With plating montis, you can probably use your hands to break a chunk off, depending on how thick your colony has grown

 

[CoastieCorals]

Great looking Monti Cap!