Acanthastrea Hillae Care Guide
Acanthastrea Hillae (Acanthastrea hillae) is a LPS coral. Care covers 75-175 PAR, medium flow, reef parameters and feeding; intermediate level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Acanthastrea Hillae (Acanthastrea hillae) is a LPS coral in the family Lobophylliidae. Larger-polyped Acan species with pronounced fleshy mantle. Often confused with lordhowensis.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lobophylliidae
- Genus: Acanthastrea
- Scientific name: Acanthastrea hillae
- Common synonyms: Hillae Acan
Habitat
In the wild, Acanthastrea hillae 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: medium
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
Acanthastrea hillae 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. 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 0.2-0.5 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 hillae (Homophyllia bowerbanki) Propagation Guide
Overview
Acanthastrea hillae is a large-polyp stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae, popular in the hobby as a fleshy acan. In a 2016 taxonomic revision the corals formerly called Acanthastrea hillae and Acanthastrea bowerbanki were reclassified into the genus Homophyllia and treated as a single species, Homophyllia bowerbanki, because the size of corallites and differences in colour and tissue used to separate them were deemed insufficient to define distinct species.
Reproductive Mode
Whatever name is applied, the coral is colonial, growing by adding corallites that each house a polyp. This colonial, modular form is what allows asexual propagation by cutting the colony into multi-polyp pieces.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Like other acans, it is fragged with a band saw cut around the polyps, with a typical frag of about two to four polyps. The underside is cut flat and the piece is glued to a frag plug to heal and encrust, keeping the cut thick enough to avoid the living polyp tissue.
Conditions for Propagation
A mature system with stable parameters, moderate flow and moderate light supports recovery of cut frags. Targeted feeding accelerates encrusting onto the plug, and clean water lowers the chance of infection at the wound.
Common Challenges
Cutting into living tissue, too-thin frags, and declining water quality after cutting can lead to tissue recession or infection. Settling frags in low flow until the wound seals improves survival.