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The Orange and Purple Acanthastrea Coral (Acanthastrea echinata), commonly known as an Echinata Acan, is a hardy and encrusting large polyp stony (LPS) coral featuring thick, aggressively textured corallites with a fiery orange body and contrasting dark purple centers. Highly prized by reef keepers for its intense coloration and distinct geometric ridges, it is a resilient bottom-dwelling coral that grows steadily by coating underlying rockwork.
Tank Requirements
Lighting: Low to moderate (30–120 PAR); subdued or indirect lighting is ideal to keep its rich orange and purple pigments from bleaching or fading.
Water Flow: Low to moderate; requires a gentle, indirect current to keep debris from settling in its deep centers without stressing its fleshy tissue.
Temperature: 72°F – 78°F (22°C – 26°C).
Salinity (Specific Gravity): 1.023 – 1.025.
pH Range: 8.1 – 8.4.
Care and Feeding
Placement: Bottom to middle sections of the aquarium, glued flat onto rockwork or an isolated rock where its encrusting base can slowly expand.
Diet: Photosynthetic via zooxanthellae, but possesses a massive feeding response and grows significantly faster when target-fed weekly with mysis shrimp or specialized micro-pellets.
Temperament: Aggressive; unlike Micromussa lordhowensis, Acanthastrea echinata possesses highly potent stinging cells and will actively digest neighboring corals that get too close, meaning it requires several inches of isolation from all other species.
The Orange and Purple Acanthastrea Coral (Acanthastrea echinata), commonly known as an Echinata Acan, is a hardy and encrusting large polyp stony (LPS) coral featuring thick, aggressively textured corallites with a fiery orange body and contrasting dark purple centers. Highly prized by reef keepers for its intense coloration and distinct geometric ridges, it is a resilient bottom-dwelling coral that grows steadily by coating underlying rockwork.
Tank Requirements
Lighting: Low to moderate (30–120 PAR); subdued or indirect lighting is ideal to keep its rich orange and purple pigments from bleaching or fading.
Water Flow: Low to moderate; requires a gentle, indirect current to keep debris from settling in its deep centers without stressing its fleshy tissue.
Temperature: 72°F – 78°F (22°C – 26°C).
Salinity (Specific Gravity): 1.023 – 1.025.
pH Range: 8.1 – 8.4.
Care and Feeding
Placement: Bottom to middle sections of the aquarium, glued flat onto rockwork or an isolated rock where its encrusting base can slowly expand.
Diet: Photosynthetic via zooxanthellae, but possesses a massive feeding response and grows significantly faster when target-fed weekly with mysis shrimp or specialized micro-pellets.
Temperament: Aggressive; unlike Micromussa lordhowensis, Acanthastrea echinata possesses highly potent stinging cells and will actively digest neighboring corals that get too close, meaning it requires several inches of isolation from all other species.