Bowerbanki Acan Care Guide
Bowerbanki Acan (Homophyllia bowerbanki) is a LPS coral. Care covers 75-175 PAR, low flow, reef parameters and feeding; intermediate level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Bowerbanki Acan (Homophyllia bowerbanki) is a LPS coral in the family Lobophylliidae. Bowerbanki LPS with very fleshy, balloon-like polyps (formerly Acanthastrea bowerbanki). Often deep red.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lobophylliidae
- Genus: Homophyllia
- Scientific name: Homophyllia bowerbanki
- Common synonyms: Homophyllia bowerbanki
Habitat
In the wild, Homophyllia bowerbanki is reported from Australia, where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a encrusting growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
- Minimum system age: 3 months
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 75-175 PAR
- Water flow: low
Mount this LPS coral on the lower or mid rockwork or on the sand bed (for free-living forms) where light is moderate. Strong direct flow can damage the fleshy tissue; aim for indirect, varied movement.
Feeding
Homophyllia bowerbanki hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Supplemental target feeding accelerates growth and supports colouration; commonly accepted items include mysis, reef-roids, amino-acids. Feed once or twice per week after lights-out, when polyps are extended.
Compatibility
This coral is moderately aggressive toward neighbours. It extends sweeper tentacles capable of stinging adjacent corals, so leave generous spacing (10-20 cm) between colonies. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.
Care notes
Difficulty level: intermediate. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.1-0.3 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for encrusting colonies — separate branches or polyps with a bone cutter, glue to plug, allow 1-2 weeks for healing. Maintain stable alkalinity (avoid swings above ±0.5 dKH per day) to preserve tissue health.
Acanthastrea bowerbanki (Homophyllia bowerbanki) Propagation Guide
Overview
Acanthastrea bowerbanki is a fleshy large-polyp stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae, prized in the hobby for its balloon-like polyps. A 2016 taxonomic revision reclassified the corals formerly called Acanthastrea bowerbanki and Acanthastrea hillae into the genus Homophyllia and merged them as the single species Homophyllia bowerbanki, since the corallite size and colour or tissue differences that separated them were considered insufficient to define distinct species.
Reproductive Mode
The coral is colonial regardless of name, growing by adding corallites that each contain a fleshy polyp. This modular colony structure underlies asexual propagation, since the colony can be divided into pieces that each retain complete polyps.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
As with other acans, the colony is cut with a band saw around the polyps, with a typical frag of roughly two to four polyps. The base is trimmed flat and the frag is glued to a plug, where it heals and encrusts; the cut is left thick enough that the saw does not reach the living polyp tissue. Its very fleshy polyps demand care to avoid tearing during handling.
Conditions for Propagation
Cut frags settle best under stable parameters, low to moderate flow and moderate light in an established system. Feeding speeds tissue regrowth over the wound and onto the plug, and clean water minimizes infection at the cut.
Common Challenges
The fleshy tissue tears easily, so rough handling, cutting into the polyp, or poor post-cut water quality can cause recession or infection. Gentle handling and low flow until the wound seals protect the frags.