ORA Red Tip Green Stag Acropora

Description

Acropora are one of the most common corals in the world. They are found along the coasts of nearly every continent. Most Acropora corals originate from the Indo-Pacific. This particular Acropora is found in the region of Micronesia, but it is a aquacultured by ORA. Instead of being collected from the ocean, these corals are grown in aquariums and the fragged to be sold to hobbyists such as yourself. This comes with benefits that we will discuss later.

Acropora are usually reserved for experienced hobbyists or at least those who have had moderate success with other corals. That’s not to say a beginner couldn’t keep Acropora successfully, but it will likely result in the beginner feeling discouraged and unhappy with the hobby. In case you’re unfamiliar with keeping Acropora, we’ll go over the basic care requirements to help you decide if this coral is right for you.

This Acropora is green with red tips and red polyps. However, the coloration can vary depending on the aquarium conditions. Sometimes the tips will appear more purple or pink. A lot of this has to do with the lighting. With suboptimal lighting, the coral may not be as vibrant or colorful. Acropora are light loving corals, requiring around 200-300 micromoles of PAR to display decent coloration. Before placing your Acropora under high light, make sure to acclimate it first. Start the coral under dim or moderate light, and then gradually move it into higher light during a month or even a few months. this will greatly reduce the risk of bleaching and color loss.

Acropora prefer strong flow. You might be able to get by with moderate flow, but usually the more flow you can provide the better. It is best that the flow is irregular and random to avoid dead spots and to promote proper growth. Water movement is important because it keeps the coral clean while also giving it access to needed nutrients and base elements. As your corals grow larger, you may need to provide more flow.

Acropora are fast growing stony corals, so they require elevated levels of calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. With only a few small stony corals, you could replenish these levels with water changes alone. However, as your corals grow larger and you add more, you will likely need to implement a calcium reactor, dosing, or kalkwasser. These methods are extremely effective, but can be detrimental if they aren’t used correctly. Remember, less is more until you get more experience.

Acropora are considered photosynthetic because of the zooxanthellae within. This algae provides the coral with most of its nutritional needs. While feeding is not necessary, it may bring out better colors, faster growth, and better overall coral health. If you want to feed frozen of dry coral food, make sure the food particles are small enough, and make sure not to over feed. A safe feeding method is dosing your aquarium with amino acids and live phytoplankton.

Regarding other parameters, keep the nitrates around 1-5 ppm and the phosphates as close to 0.01 ppm as possible. This is just a general suggestion, not a strict rule. If you’re able to maintain your nitrates around 10-15 ppm without any algae issues, then that works as well. For temperature, keep it between 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Care requirements

Purchase Size: 1 – 2″

Placement: Middle to top.

Lighting: Medium to high.

Flow: Moderate to strong.

Parameters:  72-78° F, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 32-35 ppt

Calcium: 350-450 ppm

Alkalinity: 8-12 dKH

Magnesium: 1,250-1,350 ppm

More Information

Because this coral is aquacultured, it is better adapted to aquarium life and better able to handle the stress of shipping. Aquacultured corals are also far less likely to carry pests and disease, though you should still dip and/or quarantine to be safe. On top of all that, aquacultured corals are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.