Staghorn Coral

About

Found on shallow fringing reefs and upper reef slopes where Acropora diversity peaks, Acropora donei is a large table-forming coral that can spread up to two meters across in the wild. The colony is made up of dense, fused horizontal branches arranged with a tidiness that gives the whole structure a surprisingly organized look. Branches toward the outer edge run mostly flat, while those nearer the colony center angle upward at their tips. All branch ends are blunt rather than pointed, and the radial corallites come in two distinct sizes. The larger ones sporting noticeably flared lips that add texture to the surface. The coenosteum is coarse and rough to the touch, which helps distinguish this species from smoother table Acropora. Coloration tends toward green, white, or cream, with pale brown turning up only rarely. In the aquarium, this species demands the conditions it evolved in: intense, wide-spectrum lighting and vigorous, consistent water movement. Even small specimens need plenty of horizontal space to grow properly, and water quality has to stay tight. This is firmly advanced territory. A coral for keepers who already have stable, well-dialed systems and some experience running demanding SPS tanks.