Scientific
Name: Acropora microphthalma
Classification: SPS - Small Staghorn species
Common Names: None
Description:
Grows with straight upwards oriented relatively thin
round branches. Coloration is light brown with attractive light
blue tips. Polyps are small, brown in color and fairly
inconspicuous day or night.
Veron: Colonies frequently exceed 2 meters
across and may form extensive single species stands. They are arborescent
and small, usually forming thickets. Branches are slender and
straight. Sub-branches may occur at irregular intervals. Radial
corallites are small, numerous and of similar size. Color usually pale
gray, sometimes pale brown or cream.
Natural Environment:
Veron: Upper Reef slopes.
Also tubid waters and sandy lagoons
Care:
Lighting: Requires strong lighting. Recommend Metal halide
or strong VHO/PC lighting.
Water Current: Does well with medium to high water current
levels. This
coral should not require as much water motion as some other SPS based on its
native habitat. The specimen in the picture is in a fairly high water
current area.
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. microphthalma 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 – 450) and Alkalinity (3.2 –
4.5ml/eq.) levels are important for health and growth. Low
alkalinity levels can cause loss of bluish coloration of tips.
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
