Acropora nana

Datasheet

General Description

The Acropora nana Coral in this color morph exudes a delicate beauty with tightly packed branches and nariform (nose-shaped) corallites resembling floral clusters. It is a remarkable addition to a low-nutrient reef aquarium or any collector's or reef enthusiast's tank.

Demands and Hardiness

Lighting: Acropora nana thrives under bright lighting provided by intense metal halides or multiple T-5 or compact fluorescent lamps if placed high in the aquarium. Coloration may change based on lighting conditions, and a longer acclimation period may be needed for intense lighting.

Water Flow: This coral prefers strong, intermittent water flow within the tank achieved through a wavemaker and multiple powerheads to ensure continued good health. It requires pristine water quality with the addition of calcium, strontium, iodine, magnesium, and trace elements.

Feeding: Acropora coral mainly relies on zooxanthellae for nutrition but can benefit from direct feeding with small meaty rotifer-based foods with vitamin additives and highly unsaturated fatty acids. Feeding should be done carefully to ensure the polyps fully ingest the food.

Propagation: Acropora nana has been extensively propagated in captivity and is an excellent candidate for aquaculture, showing potential for sustainable harvesting in the future.

Localization & Habitat

Location: Found in the islands of the Indo-Pacific, including Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef, Acropora nana thrives in these warm waters.

Habitat: Acropora nana is a crown jewel of the SPS coral world, known for its sensitivity to changes in water chemistry. It thrives in well-established aquariums with high pH, alkalinity, and calcium levels, along with minimal phosphate and nitrate levels. A strong correlation has been observed between a well-established tank and the long-term health of Acropora nana.