Desalwii Acropora Care Guide
Desalwii Acropora (Acropora desalwii) is a SPS coral. Care covers 250-400 PAR, high flow, reef parameters and feeding; advanced level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Desalwii Acropora (Acropora desalwii) is a SPS coral in the family Acroporidae. Open-branched Acropora with widely spaced corallites. Pastel blue and purple morphs.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acroporidae
- Genus: Acropora
- Scientific name: Acropora desalwii
- Common synonyms: Desalwii
Habitat
In the wild, Acropora desalwii is reported from Indo-Pacific, where it occupies shallow reef flats and upper slopes (typically 1-15 m). The species adopts a branching growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.025-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 7.5-9
- Calcium: 420-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1300-1400 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
- Minimum system age: 1 year
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 250-400 PAR
- Water flow: high
Place this SPS coral on the upper rockwork where light is bright and water movement is strong, ideally turbulent rather than laminar. Acclimate gradually to high PAR over 2-3 weeks to avoid bleaching. SPS demand a mature system: stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium with phosphate and nitrate kept ultra-low.
Feeding
Acropora desalwii hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Additional feeding is generally not required when lighting is adequate.
Compatibility
This coral is passive toward neighbours. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.
Care notes
Difficulty level: advanced. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.4-0.9 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for branching 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.
Acropora desalwii: Propagation Guide
Overview
Acropora desalwii is a branching small-polyp stony (SPS) coral in the family Acroporidae. Like other Acropora, it can grow as slender or broad branches, and finger-sized fragments can grow into much larger colonies within one to two years under good conditions. It is demanding to keep but propagates readily once a colony is thriving.
Reproductive Mode
Acropora reproduces both sexually and asexually. In the wild the genus reproduces sexually as hermaphroditic broadcast spawners; in aquaculture the practical method is asexual fragmentation, which preserves the parent colony's color and form.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Choose a healthy colony with several actively growing branch tips.
- Cut or snap off an Acropora tip a few centimetres long using bone cutters or a cutting tool.
- Mount the frag onto a plug or rock with cyanoacrylate glue or a peg.
- Return it to high light and strong, turbulent flow so it can encrust and regrow an axial tip.
Conditions for Propagation
Acropora requires bright light, stable temperatures, regular addition of calcium and alkalinity supplements, and clean, turbulent water. Strong flow keeps detritus off fresh cuts and supports rapid healing of fragments.
Sexual Reproduction
Acropora species are hermaphroditic broadcast spawners. During mass synchronized spawning events colonies release buoyant gamete bundles of eggs and sperm that float to the surface, break apart and fertilise externally, producing larvae used in reef restoration. This is rare in home aquaria, where fragmentation is the standard method.