When I plan out a SPS reef I always put a lot of consideration into adding pieces with bright, contrasting colors. I like to cover the entire spectrum with sticks that are bright pink, deep purple, intense blue, blood red, neon green, orange and yellow. Some pieces might be considered a rare “designer” coral such as a Tyree Purple Monster while others might be more common or “pedestrian” such as a Stylophora.
But if you like bright colors in your SPS reef tank, as I do, then you should seriously consider adding an Orange Setosa to your collection. The Setosa is a Montipora, one of the easiest SPS species to keep, with vivid and intense orange coloration. At one point a few years ago it was a rare and “hot” coral but today it is more readily available.
In my experience this Montipora prefers low to medium light and is happiest in the bottom half of a tank with medium flow. The bright orange coloration will become less intense and, in some cases, the coral will turn pinkish when exposed to more intense lighting.
A Setosa is a moderate to fast grower with an encrusting base and branches that grow and fuse together in peculiar patterns (the amount of flow it receives will impact growth patterns). Its branches are delicate and thus prone to breakage, a good thing if you like to swap frags with friends! The Setosa also has few polyps, giving it a smooth texture.
Overall, the Setosa has many appealing attributes and is a solid choice for both experts and beginners. Give it a shot the next time you are considering some new SPS additions. Come on, how can you go wrong with a retina burning, bright orange coral? It should be a requirement for all of you Denver Bronco fans out there. Heck, I like to put it near an Oregon Blue Tort…….orange and blue…..go NY Mets!
Additional Resources
If you would like some help with a new tank build, including help designing a custom aquarium, or help re-configuring your current setup then you can visit this page for more information. And if you are looking to add some equipment, I do sell GHL, Pax Bellum, Reef Octopus Calcium and Kalk Reactors and Royal Exclusiv products, including Dreamboxes, which is the equipment I use and recommend. I also sell Reef Brite metal halide and LED fixtures as well as Maxspect & IceCap Gyres.
As for additional insights and information, please explore my many other reef tank and SPS related articles as well as my YouTube channel. For an even deeper dive into reef tank care you can check out my Reef Keeping Master Class. This online course is an immersive and one of a kind educational tool designed to help reef aquarium hobbyists build and maintain a beautiful SPS reef tank. The course is a series of video presentations with some supplemental video from my YouTube channel. There are also quizzes to help students retain and understand the information presented in the course.
Need some frags…..I can help with that as well 🙂 Please visit my SPS Frag store to see what is available.