Lumpy Rice Coral

About

Lumpy Rice Coral (Montipora turgescens) is a variable and visually understated member of the Montipora genus, forming colonies that can take on massive, encrusting, hemispherical, or columnar shapes depending on where it grows. In areas exposed to heavy wave action, the surface tends to develop a distinctly mounded, bumpy texture. Hence the common name. The corallites are immersed into the coenosteum, giving the surface a smooth but porous appearance without the elaborations you see in some other Montipora species. Coloration runs from brown and cream through to purple, so the same species can look quite different from one colony to the next. In the wild it occupies most reef environments, which hints at some adaptability, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's an easy keep. Like most Montipora, it belongs in a mature, stable reef system with very high light intensity and strong, consistent flow. Water quality needs to be dialed in. This coral is unforgiving of swings in chemistry or accumulating nutrients. It's best suited to experienced reefers who already have a solid handle on their system parameters. Given the right conditions, it's a rewarding and architecturally interesting addition to a mixed reef.