Blue Digitata

Montipora digitata in its blue form is one of the easier, more forgiving SPS, but with that classic branching silhouette that looks great in a collector nano or a big farm system. It grows fast, keeps color under modest lighting, and handles swings better than most Acropora.

Here’s a clear, streamlined guide.

Lighting

Moderate light around 120 to 200 PAR is usually enough to keep the blue tone. Higher light tightens growth and can deepen the color, but blasting it doesn’t improve anything. It’s more forgiving than many montis about spectrum changes.

Flow

Moderate to high flow. Digitata likes its polyps dancing. Consistent movement keeps the branches clean and encourages upward, symmetrical growth. Avoid laminar jets pointed directly at the colony because they can cause the base to erode.

Placement

Mid to upper rockwork. It grows upward like a miniature forest, so give it vertical space. Once it gets going, it can shade whatever sits beneath it.

Water parameters

Pretty tolerant as SPS goes, but stability still matters.

Calcium about 420.
Alkalinity around 8 to 8.6.
Magnesium near 1350.
Nitrate 5 to 15.
Phosphate 0.03 to 0.1.

Digitata often thrives in systems that are slightly “nutrient positive,” meaning you aren’t chasing zeros.

Feeding

It gets most energy from light. Occasional amino acids or light broadcast feeding can bump richness in color, but it grows well without targeted feeding.

Growth behavior

Fast. Branches thicken quickly and form delicate tips. It encrusts the mount before shooting upward. Great for fragging because branches snap cleanly.

Sensitivities

Montipora-eating nudibranchs are the biggest threat. Always dip and inspect new frags. Alk swings can cause burnt tips, but the coral recovers fast once stability returns.

Compatibility

Peaceful. It doesn’t sting or fight, but it can quietly shade slow growers. Works well in mixed reefs and SPS gardens.