About Acropora Coral
Acropora is the largest genus of hard corals, with over 150 species in the world. They represent the most important reef-building organisms in tropical marine ecosystems. These corals exhibit remarkable diversity in growth forms, from table-like plates to intricate branching structures including staghorn, bushy, and encrusting varieties.
As the primary reef builders in a complex coral ecosystem, Acropora coral create complex three-dimensional habitat structures supporting incredible biodiversity. They have a distinctive skeletal architecture with prominent axial corallites at their branch tips and smaller radial corallites along the sides, creating their characteristic porous calcium carbonate skeleton.
Found throughout the Indo-Pacific region with highest diversity in the Coral Triangle, Acropora species thrive in shallow, well-lit reef environments with strong water movement. Some of the most notable species include the table corals like A. hyacinthus, Caribbean staghorn species A. cervicornis and A. palmata (both listed as threatened), and popular aquarium varieties like A. millepora and A. tenuis.
Caring for Acropora Coral
To ensure the best results for your Acropora coral, please follow our suggestions on coral care below. It’s important to test your tank’s water often to ensure the parameters are within the correct range.
Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 75-82 °F (24-28°C)
- Salinity: 1.025-1.026 specific gravity
- pH: 8.0-8.4
- Alkalinity: 8-12 dKH
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1250-1350 ppm
- Nitrate: <5 ppm
- Phosphate: <0.01 ppm
Lighting:
- Intensity: Start lower and slowly increase to high level
- Placement: Upper to middle areas of the tank
Lighting requirements for Acropora fall within 250-600 PAR, though gradual acclimation is essential when increasing intensity. You should start with lower LED light levels and slowly increase until the coral demonstrates healthy growth and coloration, as excessive lighting can be detrimental (will cause them to bleach or die). When fully mature, the coral will require a high level of lighting.
Water Flow:
- Flow Rate: Water movement should be moderate/high but indirect, preferably with alternating flow patterns. Direct or excessive flow can damage delicate tissue and impair the coral's feeding ability. Use a powerhead or wave maker to create a moderate to high level of water flow without damaging the corals’ delicate polyps.
Placement, Temperament, & Notes on Fish:
Upper and middle areas of the tank is best. While Acropora exhibit peaceful temperaments, maintaining several inches of spacing between specimens prevents potential territorial disputes.
Certain fish species such as butterfly fish and angelfish have a tendency to nip at coral polyps. Make sure that you choose fish species that are reef-safe!
Feeding:
Acropora corals’ primary nutrition comes from symbiotic zooxanthellae algae within their tissues, though supplemental amino acid dosing appears to enhance both growth rates and color development.
Explore Our Acropora Coral Varieties
At Sanctuary Aquatics we have dozens of Acropora coral varieties to choose from. These SPS corals come in a wide range of colors and branch or staghorn shapes. From yellows and greens, to pinks and purples, you can choose from our Applejack, Walt Disney, Lunar Eclipse, Merlin’s Staff, Cherry Bomb, Kaleidoscope, Strawberry Shortcake, Mint Chip, Green Dragon, Woolly Mammoth, and other stunning corals.
With the proper care, the Acropora coral is quite a rewarding addition to your reef tank. Add these coral alongside various other species of coral, shrimp, crab, and fish species to make a statement aquarium that you’ll be proud of!
Get Started with Acropora Coral Today!
At Sanctuary Aquatics, we develop our Acropora coral knowledge from marine science research and years of hands-on reef keeping experience. At our location, we've built special tank systems that create the right conditions for our large Acropora collection, helping them thrive and display their best colors.
We are dedicated to helping you succeed with your Acropora coral care, so contact us and we can provide the help and resources you need to create a successful coral tank! We run several different tank systems just for Acropora corals, including quarantine and display tanks that are carefully managed to keep these corals healthy and help them grow successfully.
Contact our team today to see our Acropora coral selection and get personal advice for your saltwater aquarium needs. As always, be sure to check out our full saltwater coral collection here to see all the species we have available.
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