Acropora tenuis

About

Found on upper reef slopes throughout the Indo-Pacific, Acropora tenuis is a corymbose table-forming coral that builds tidy, spreading colonies of slender branchlets radiating outward in fairly even spacing, though some colonies grow more irregular or low-lying. Up close, the structure is detailed. Axial corallites are clearly defined and tubular, while the radial corallites are arranged in small rosette patterns with lips that flare slightly outward. That detail is actually useful for identification in the field and in the tank. Coloration ranges from cream and yellow through to green and blue, and some specimens show vividly contrasting corallite tips that make the whole colony look almost painted. Like most Acropora, this is not a coral for a new reef setup. It demands intense, consistent lighting, strong and well-directed flow, and the kind of stable, clean water chemistry that only comes with disciplined husbandry and a mature system. Calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium all need to be kept in balance, and swings in any direction tend to show up quickly in the tissue. That said, for a reefer who has put in the time to dial in their system, tenuis is a rewarding coral to keep. Responsive to good conditions and genuinely beautiful in a way that holds up well over time.