[Marc Smith]

Acropora Microphthalma Stag

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Very rare deep water stag that now is a part of my reek structure!

The color is amazing, and it is one big boy!

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.