Purple Montipora Foliosa (Montipora foliosa)
The Purple Montipora Foliosa is a beautiful plating SPS coral known for its layered, scrolling growth and rich purple colouration. Its thin, folded plates create a dramatic natural structure, making it an excellent choice for adding shape, contrast, and colour to a mature reef aquarium.
 
Key Information
Type: SPS Coral
Care Level: Intermediate
Lighting: Medium to High
Flow: Medium to High
Placement: Middle to upper reef
 
Description
This Montipora foliosa develops a distinctive plating or scrolling growth form, creating overlapping layers as it matures. The purple colouration gives the coral a refined and elegant appearance, especially under blue reef lighting where the ridges and growing edges can show enhanced contrast.
As it grows, the Purple Montipora Foliosa can form wide, layered plates that add depth and structure to the reef. Its shape makes it ideal for creating ledges, shelves, and visual height within SPS or mixed reef aquariums.
Water Parameters
Temperature: 24–26°C
Salinity: 1.025
Alkalinity: 7.5–9 dKH
Calcium: 400–450 ppm
 
Feeding
Primarily photosynthetic, but may benefit from occasional supplemental feeding, including:
Amino acids
Fine particulate coral foods
Phytoplankton-based foods
Broadcast coral feeding
 
Compatibility
Reef safe. Allow space from neighbouring corals, as Montipora foliosa can plate outward and may shade corals below as it expands.
 
Notes
Best suited to established reef aquariums with stable parameters, good flow, and consistent lighting. Generally more forgiving than many Acropora, the Purple Montipora Foliosa is still sensitive to sudden changes in alkalinity, nutrients, and lighting. With stable care, it will reward reef keepers with steady plating growth and strong colouration.