Description
Acropora are one of the most common coral in the world. They makeup a large portion of the ocean’s reefs. They are mostly found in the Indo-Pacific, but there are some Acropora that can be found elsewhere. This particular Acropora is aquacultured by ORA. Instead of being collected from the ocean. Aquacultured corals are grown in aquariums and then fragged to be sold to hobbyists such as yourself. There is a list of benefits that come with aquacultured corals that will be discussed below.
Acropora can be daunting to care for and for good reason. They are sensitive corals that are typically left for the more experienced hobbyists. However, everyone has to start somewhere! If you are new to keeping Acropora or unfamiliar with it, you’re in luck. Here we’ll go over the basic care requirements. Keep all these requirements in check and you’ll have a good chance at keeping this coral successfully. To start, let’s talk about lighting. Acropora are light loving corals. In fact, they are one of the most light demanding corals. They required at least 200-300 micromoles of PAR to display proper coloration. However, some Acropora can benefit from even higher light. When you first add Acropora or any coral, especially light demanding ones, you need to acclimate the coral to the light. Do this by starting the coral in lower light and gradually moving it to the ideal placement over a month or even a few months. Acropora also require strong flow. You should provide as much flow as you can because it would take a lot to give too much flow. You are much more likely to provide too little flow than too much. However, it is ideal for the flow to be irregular and random to prevent dead spots and to encourage proper growth.
The most intimidating side of keeping Acropora is probably water chemistry because this is not something that can be easily adjusted unless you have some experience. It is crucial that you keep your calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels consistent and within a good range. Sudden fluctuations can be devastating for this coral. You need to be able to properly use a dosing system, calcium reactor, kalkwasser, or a combination of these methods. Along with that, it is important that your nutrient levels are in a good place. Nutrients that are too high may cause tissue recession, death, and algae growth. Zeroed out nutrients can cause poor coloration. Ideally, the nitrates should be 1-5 ppm and the phosphates should be as close to 0.01 ppm as possible but not 0. Lastly, let’s talk about feeding. Acropora, like most common corals in the hobby, contain a photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae which provides the coral with most of its nutritional needs. However, feeding your Acropora can result in great benefits such as better coloration, faster growth, and better overall health. Make sure the food particles are small enough for the polyps to consume. Alternatively, you can dose or spot feed phytoplankton if you want a feeding method that won’t raise your nutrient levels.
Care requirements
Purchase Size: 1 – 2″
Placement: You can place this coral anywhere in your aquarium as long as its lighting and flow needs are met.
Lighting: Medium to high.
Flow: Moderate to strong.
Parameters: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, 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
Aquacultured corals such as this Blue Voodoo Acropora are better adapted to aquarium life and overall hardier than corals collected from the ocean. They are also far less likely to carry pests and diseases (though you should still dip and/or quarantine them to be safe). These corals are much more likely to survive and do well in your aquarium. On top of all that, they are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
