Montipora Plating (Cap Coral)
Montipora capricornis
Also known as Cap Coral, Plating Montipora, Monti Cap
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F (24–27°C)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal (75 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Very common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific reefs, commonly collected and maricultured from Indonesia and Australia
- Family
- Acroporidae
Overview
Sessile and passive with no sweeper tentacles, so it will not sting neighbors, but it is easily overgrown or stung by more aggressive corals and needs its own space. One of the more forgiving SPS corals, though it still reacts badly to sudden swings in alkalinity, temperature or light. Best introduced lower in the tank and moved up gradually to avoid light shock.
In the wild
A plating small polyp stony coral that forms overlapping whorls and vase-like shelves in the wild across shallow to mid Indo-Pacific reefs. In the aquarium it wants a mature, chemically stable system with steady alkalinity and calcium. Give it moderate to high light, roughly 150 to 250 PAR, and moderate to strong flow across the plate to keep detritus from settling. Mount it mid to upper rockwork angled to catch light, and remember a growing cap casts heavy shade on anything below it.
Good to know
Montipora capricornis is a zooxanthellate SPS coral in the family Acroporidae. It builds thin calcium carbonate plates that spread outward and stack into layered shelves, growing roughly 5 to 7 cm across per year under good conditions. Like other Montipora it has very small polyps and relies mostly on photosynthesis from symbiotic zooxanthellae, supplemented by capturing fine particulate food.
Did you know
The overlapping plates often curl up at the edges into a broad vase or rose shape, which is why hobbyists nickname it the cap coral even though a single colony can eventually shade out a large area of the tank floor beneath it.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- Saltwaterfish.com Marine fish, corals and inverts shipped overnight
- AlgaeBarn Copepods, macroalgae and captive-bred marine livestock
- Biota Captive-bred marine fish, corals and clams shipped direct
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Montipora Plating (Cap Coral)?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Montipora Digitata (Finger Coral)
Montipora digitata7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Encrusting Montipora
Montipora confusa11.8 in (30 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Alveopora Coral
Alveopora7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Smooth Skin Acropora
Acropora tenuis9.8 in (25 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Staghorn Acropora
Acropora9.8 in (25 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Table Acropora
Acropora hyacinthus17.7 in (45 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)