Description
The Plum Crazy Acropora can display pinkish purple or plum colored branches with light purple growth tips and corallites highlighted with light blue edges. As with any Acropora, the color can change a lot from tank to tank. Don’t be alarmed if the frag you receive does not have the same coloration.
Acropora can be found all around the world, but most are found in the Indo-Pacific. The Plum Crazy Acropora is aquacultured by ORA. These corals are grown in aquariums instead of being collected from the ocean. This comes with benefits that we will talk about later.
In case you’re unfamiliar with Acropora, we’ll go over the basic care requirements here so you can decide if this coral is right for you and your aquarium.
Let’s start with base elements. Acropora are fast growing corals, so they consume lots of calcium and alkalinity from the water. For this reason, hobbyists often use calcium reactors, dosing systems, or kalkwasser to maintain the elevated base element levels needed to keep Acropora happy. It is crucial that these levels remain stable. Otherwise, the coral will become stressed, less colorful, and may eventually die.
Next, let’s discuss lighting. Acropora require high lighting, around 200-300 micromoles of PAR. Some Acropora benefit from even higher lighting, but that is not typically recommended unless you are more experienced. Before placing your beautiful Acropora frag under high light, you need to acclimate it first. Do this by starting the coral in dimmer light and gradually move it to the ideal location. This will greatly reduce the risk of bleaching and color loss.
What about flow? Acropora prefer moderate to strong flow. Strong, irregular flow is best. Water movement is important because it keeps the coral clean while also providing access to needed nutrients and base elements. Keep in mind that the flow demands may increase as the coral grows larger. Flow is not a “set it and forget it” sort of thing.
As for nutrients, keep the nitrates around 1-5 ppm and the phosphates as close to 0.01 ppm as possible but not 0. The temperature should be between 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit and stable.
Finally, let’s discuss feeding. Acropora get most of their nutritional needs from the photosynthetic algae within them called zooxanthellae. Despite this, they greatly benefit from feeding. Ensure that whatever you feed is small enough, and don’t over do it. A safe bet for coral food is live phytoplankton and amino acids.
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
There are several benefits that come with aquacultured corals, such as this Plum Crazy Acropora from ORA. First, they are generally hardier and better adapted to aquarium life. These corals are much more likely to survive and flourish in your aquarium. They are also far less likely to carry pests and disease, though you should still dip and/or quarantine them to be safe. On top of all that, aquacultured corals are more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Keep your aquarium free of pests and do you part to decrease the impact the hobby has on the ocean by choosing aquacultured corals!
