Scientific Name:
Acropora cerealis
Classification: SPS
Common Names: None
Description:
Grows with upwards oriented branches with large noticeable radial
corallites. Coloration is tan with light blueish purple tips of the axial and extended radial
corallites. Polyps are obvious, light brown in color and prominent
day or night.
Veron: Colonies are caespitose or
corymbose, composed of branches which interlock in three
dimensions. Branches are thin, with most of their width occupied
by corallites. Axial corallites are tubular. Radial
corallites are tubular and appressed becoming nariform and conspicuous
towards the tips of branches, giving colonies a spiny appearance.
Color mostly pale brown, cream or white, with purple, pink, blue or
cream branch tips.
Natural Environment:
Veron: Upper Reef slopes
Care:
Lighting: Requires strong lighting to maintain coloration.
Recommend Metal halide or strong VHO/PC lighting.
Water Current: As with most SPS corals, requires fairly strong water
currents.
Temperature: Does well within a range of at least 75º to 84º
F
Aggressiveness: Low. All corals can sting adjacent corals,
but it does not have elongated stinging tentacles, so they can live in
fairly close proximity to other non-aggressive corals.
Feeding: A. Cerealis is photosynthetic and requires no direct
feeding. That is why it is important to provide the proper lighting.
It will presumably take small zooplankton type foods if provided.
Supplements: Correct Calcium (400 – 500) and Alkalinity
(3.2 – 4.5ml/eq.) levels are important for health and growth. Low
alkalinity levels can cause loss of blue color as can insufficient
lighting.
Tank Positioning: Best if kept in the middle to upper portion
of the tank where it can get maximum light and moderate to high water flow.
If your tank has very high intensity lighting, it is best to place any
new coral on the bottom of the tank for a week or two to acclimatize it
to your tank lighting conditions before moving it to it’s final
location.
Growth Info: Go
to Growth Sheet
