Turquoise Beaded Monticap (Montipora capricornis)

This monticap is doing very poorly right now. Only a small colored patch of it remains.

This monticap is recovering from some red cyanobacteria overgrowth that is finally under control. The scarred areas where the cyanobacteria took hold are visible in the picture.

Another picture of the monticap. It appears to have been affected by my clogged return-pump issue. Hopefully, it will recover quickly.

Montipora capricornis (or "Monticaps") are among the hardiest of short-polyped-stony (SPS) corals available in the hobby. However, they still require good lighting, excellent water conditions, moderate flow, and maintained calcium & alkalinity levels to grow. They are sometimes referred to as "Vase" corals because of their unusual "cup-like" growth pattern.

I'm not entirely sure that this specimen is a monticap but I have had numerous assurances from the vendor that it is. It's a fairly light blue, but hopefully it will color up in time.