🌟 Orange Echinata Acanthastrea Frag
Acanthastrea echinata (Vibrant Orange Morph)
Quick Stats
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Colour Form: Deep, fiery orange base with subtle golden highlights around each polyp. Under actinic lighting, the polyps display a radiant glow, emphasizing their intricate textures and fleshy appearance.
Water Conditions: 24–27 °C, dKH 8–11, pH 8.0–8.4, sg 1.024–1.026
Family: Lobophylliidae
Lighting: Moderate to low
Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Trace Elements
Water Flow: Low to moderate, gentle pulses
Placement: Lower to middle reef zones, on rock ledges or sandy substrate
🧬 Overview
The Orange Echinata Acanthastrea frag is a compact, eye-catching LPS coral perfect for adding a burst of warm color to your reef. Its fleshy polyps open during the day or night depending on flow and lighting, giving the frag a dynamic, lively look. This coral prefers stable conditions and will reward patience with steady growth and polyp expansion.
🍽️ Care & Feeding
Although photosynthetic, Acanthastrea benefits from supplemental feeding 1–2 times per week. Target feed with finely chopped meaty foods like mysis, brine shrimp, or powdered coral diets such as Reef Roids. Feeding during low flow encourages full polyp extension and enhances the orange intensity.
⚠️ Note: Keep some distance from neighboring corals, as sweeper tentacles can sting nearby species during nocturnal expansion.
📈 Optimal Parameters
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Alkalinity (dKH): 8–11
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Calcium (Ca): 420–460 ppm
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Magnesium (Mg): 1250–1350 ppm
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Nitrate (NO₃): 2–10 ppm
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Phosphate (PO₄): 0.01–0.05 ppm
📍 Placement
Position on stable rock ledges or the sandbed in lower-to-mid reef zones. Moderate, indirect flow will keep polyps healthy. Blue-dominant lighting enhances the orange hues and makes the polyps glow under actinic conditions, creating a stunning focal point in your aquarium.