❤️💛 Red Shadow Spathulata Acropora
Acropora spathulata – Yellow Body with Red Shadow Highlights (WYSIWYG Frag)
Please note: This is a WYSIWYG frag — you will receive the exact piece shown.
🔹 Quick Stats
Care Level: Advanced
Temperament: Peaceful
Colour Form: A striking Acropora spathulata with a bright, canary-yellow base overlaid by deep red “shadow” pigmentation along the branch ridges and radial corallites. Under daylight, the frag displays clean yellow tissue with subtle crimson shading; under actinic lighting, the red shadows glow with neon cherry intensity while the yellow body shifts into a radiant, fiery gold. The species’ signature thick, plate-like corallites give the frag a sculpted, high-definition texture that amplifies the colour contrast beautifully.
Water Conditions: 24–26 °C, dKH 8–9, pH 8.1–8.4, sg 1.024–1.026
Family: Acroporidae
Lighting: High (PAR 350–450 ideal for yellow/red separation)
Water Flow: Strong, multidirectional
Placement: Upper rockwork
🧬 Overview
The Red Shadow Spathulata Acropora is a premium collector’s frag combining intense warm-tone pigmentation with the iconic structure of A. spathulata. Its thick, sculpted corallites create dramatic shadows where the red pigment concentrates, producing a layered, flame-like effect against the golden-yellow base.
Highly responsive to strong light, this morph develops exceptional fluorescence and maintains bold colour separation when kept under stable SPS conditions. A true statement piece for reefers who appreciate vivid contrast and refined skeletal architecture.
🍽️ Care & Feeding
Fully photosynthetic, though occasional micro-feeding (Reef Roids, Coral Dust, Phytoplankton) can support growth and enhance red pigment density. Maintain stable alkalinity, calcium, and trace elements — particularly potassium and iron — to preserve both the yellow base tone and the red shadowing.
📈 Optimal Parameters
| Parameter | Ideal Range |
|---|---|
| Alkalinity (dKH) | 8–9 |
| Calcium (Ca) | 430–460 ppm |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1300–1400 ppm |
| Nitrate (NO₃) | 2–10 ppm |
| Phosphate (PO₄) | 0.02–0.08 ppm |
📍 Placement
Mount high in the reef under strong, alternating flow. Avoid shading — spathulatas require consistent, intense PAR to maintain their vibrant yellow base and crisp red shadowing.
❤️💛 Red Shadow Spathulata Acropora
A bold fusion of molten yellow and ruby shadows — sculpted, luminous, and unmistakably premium. A standout frag for SPS collectors who value dramatic contrast and top-tier colour expression.