Description

This is a favorite acropora species with a neon base purple tips and copper colored polyps. The base is mainly white and turns neon with the 20k lighting we use. This acropora grows out in a table like structure and has been growing out in our coral systems since around 2010.  DocAquarium uses this coral in most if not all our custom reef aquarium installations. This coral is easy to manicure during standard reef aquarium maintenance  just by clipping back the branches to not let it over grow the area.

Acropora corals can be one of the more challenging corals due to the fact chemistry levels need to be stable in order for this coral to do well. Regular testing of alkalinity and calcium are required. Flow needs to be alternating and strong. The colors will look great with good lighting, flow and certain nutrient levels.

Lighting: medium high – strong lighting 150-450 PAR. 

Flow: medium – high

Care Level: intermediate- advanced 

Original Location Range: Indonesia, Coral Triangle, South Pacific

Grown in our California coral farm where we provide zero impact corals

Water chemistry Calcium 400-450, Magnesium 1350, KH 7-9.5, pH 8.1-8.4, Nitrates .01-10, Phosphates .01-.1 salinity 1.026

Temperature Range: 74- 81 Fahrenheit 

Dosing: Doc highly recommends automated dosing of Ca, Kh and other elements to provide ultimate stable water chemistry throughout the day. It is important there are no large fluctuation swings especially with Kh/alkalinity. For more information on dosing and products click here. 

Placement recommendations: Acropora coral will do best in the upper 1/3 of the aquarium where light and flow is high. Best to have alternating flow in a back and forth motion. 

Attachment: Use epoxy and reef glue or just reef glue for smaller fragments. Clip off as much of the plug or disc possible. Add a small amount of coral glue to the underside of the disk. Mix up enough two part epoxy to create a small mound and dab it a few times into the glue to get it tacky then press and mold a conical shape. Add a few small daps to the tip of the cone dabbing the glue so it really sticks to the epoxy. Press the coral disk onto the desired location and press the epoxy flat around the disk. Be sure the coral is fully secure, the coral should never fall off the reef.

Click here for our favorite epoxy and reef glues. 

Trouble shooting: Acros can and will brown out easy especially went first added to a new environment. Do not be surprised if your colorful Acropora fragment browns out for a while. They will also brown out from any unstable levels and keep consistent water parameters is best for the coral. Pests like acropora eating flatworms aka aefw will cause the coral to brown out and even die. Keep an eye out for slow tissue necrosis and rapid tissue necrosis.