PREMIUM LPS CORALS

Acanthastrea

Vividly coloured LPS corals with large, fleshy polyps and exceptional variety – from hardy animals for beginners to rare WYSIWYG one-offs.

WYSIWYG one-offs Vividly coloured polyps Beginner-friendly
Acanthastrea ansehen
Acanthastrea

WYSIWYG: WYSIWYG only applies to products marked accordingly.

✓
WYSIWYG guarantee
You receive exactly the coral shown in the product photos.
🪸
14-day quarantine
Every animal is carefully observed and cared for before it goes on sale.
🚚
Shipping across Europe
Securely packed and sent by express straight to you.
★
Since 2017
For years, Premium Reefing has stood for high-quality corals and personal service.

Care at a glance

What Acanthastrea need.

Acanthastrea corals prefer stable water parameters, moderate lighting and gentle to moderate flow. Under the right conditions they develop strong colours, well-expanded polyps and healthy long-term growth.

These details are intended as a guide. Always watch how each individual coral responds and adjust light, flow and placement as needed.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate

Ideal for aquarists with an established, stable reef aquarium. Acanthastrea are considered hardy LPS corals and are also suitable for ambitious beginners.

Light

Low to moderate

Moderate lighting promotes intense colouration. New corals should be acclimated slowly to stronger lighting.

Flow

Low to moderate

Gentle, indirect flow keeps the polyps clean and allows full expansion without stressing the tissue.

Feeding

Recommended

Regular feeding with fine frozen food or special coral food can further promote growth, colour development and polyp expansion.

Placement

Bottom to middle

A sheltered spot with enough distance from neighbouring corals supports healthy development and prevents tissue injuries.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Under stable conditions, Acanthastrea grow steadily and form impressive colonies with vividly coloured polyps over time.

More about Acanthastrea

What are Acanthastrea corals?

Acanthastrea originally come from the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, where they prefer to grow on sheltered reef slopes or in somewhat deeper zones. They are characterised by their large, fleshy polyps, which open fully during the day and cover almost the entire skeleton. Today, many species formerly placed in the genus Acanthastrea have been scientifically reclassified, yet the name has remained established in the reef-keeping hobby and is still the most common term.

Acanthastrea Corals – Colourful LPS Corals for Every Reef Aquarium

Acanthastrea corals are among the most popular LPS corals (Large Polyp Stony Corals) and delight reef keepers with their exceptional range of colours, large polyps and comparatively easy care. Whether bright red, intense green, orange, blue or spectacular multicoloured combinations – Acanthastrea add impressive splashes of colour to any reef aquarium and, under optimal conditions, develop into real eye-catchers.

Thanks to their hardy nature, many species are ideal LPS corals for beginners, while their exceptional colour morphs also make them highly sought after by experienced reef keepers.

Husbandry and Care – How to Keep Acanthastrea Happy

The care of LPS corals such as Acanthastrea is considered straightforward, provided a few basic water parameters are maintained. Stable parameters and high water quality are especially important.

Recommended water parameters:

  • Temperature: 24–26 °C
  • Salinity: 34–35 PSU
  • KH: 7–9 dKH
  • Calcium: 420–450 mg/l
  • Magnesium: 1250–1350 mg/l
  • Nitrate: 2–10 mg/l
  • Phosphate: 0.02–0.08 mg/l

As Acanthastrea can be sensitive to large fluctuations, they benefit from consistent conditions and a regular supply of trace elements.

The right spot in the aquarium

Many Acanthastrea feel most at home in the lower to middle zone of the aquarium. Direct, strong flow should be avoided, as it puts unnecessary stress on the fleshy polyps.

Since some specimens can extend sweeper tentacles at night, it is advisable to leave enough space to sensitive neighbouring corals.

Light and flow

The right LPS coral lighting plays a crucial role in growth and colour development. Acanthastrea mostly prefer moderate to rather lower light intensities.

PAR values of roughly 50 to 150 are ideal. Under overly intense lighting, the polyps may retract or lose their vivid colours. Placement in the lower to middle zone of the aquarium or in slightly shaded areas is therefore recommended.

Balanced LED lighting with a high proportion of blue supports both fluorescence and the natural growth of the corals.

Acanthastrea prefer gentle to moderate, indirect flow. Excessive flow prevents the polyps from opening fully and can lead to tissue damage over time. Alternating water movement that is not aimed directly at the coral provides optimal conditions.

Feeding and growth

Although Acanthastrea obtain much of their energy from their zooxanthellae, they reward regular target feeding with noticeably better growth and more intense colours.

Suitable LPS coral foods include, for example:

  • fine frozen food (mysis or artemia)
  • lobster eggs
  • special coral food for LPS
  • zooplankton
  • amino acids and high-quality coral food

Ideally, feed with the lights switched off or dimmed, when the feeding tentacles are extended. Just once or twice a week is enough to visibly promote growth.

Premium Reefing quality

Carefully cared for and prepared as well as possible.

Our corals are kept under stable conditions, carefully observed and only offered for sale once we are convinced of their quality.