Gemmifera Acropora Care Guide
Gemmifera Acropora (Acropora gemmifera) 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
Gemmifera Acropora (Acropora gemmifera) is a SPS coral in the family Acroporidae. Acropora with prominent gem-like axial corallites. Often green to mustard yellow.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acroporidae
- Genus: Acropora
- Scientific name: Acropora gemmifera
- Common synonyms: Gem Acro
Habitat
In the wild, Acropora gemmifera 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 gemmifera 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 gemmifera: Propagation Guide
Overview
Acropora gemmifera occurs in digitate colonies consisting of thick tapering branches, each with a single axial corallite at the branch terminus and incipient axial corallites toward the base. It was originally described by Brook in 1892 as Madrepora gemmifera and is classified in the family Acroporidae. It ranges widely across the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific on exposed upper reef flats and slopes at depths of 1-15 m, and is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Reproductive Mode
Like other Acropora, A. gemmifera reproduces sexually as a hermaphroditic broadcast spawner and asexually by fragmentation. In aquaculture, fragmentation is the practical method and reproduces the colony's color and digitate form faithfully.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Choose a healthy colony with several thick growing branches.
- Cut or snap a branch tip a few centimetres long with bone cutters; the axial corallite sits at the tip.
- Mount the frag to a plug or rock with cyanoacrylate glue or a peg.
- Return it to bright light and strong turbulent flow so it can encrust and regenerate an axial corallite.
Conditions for Propagation
Acropora requires bright light, stable temperatures, regular calcium and alkalinity dosing, and clean turbulent water. Because A. gemmifera naturally occupies exposed upper reef flats, strong flow and intense light suit it well and aid fragment recovery.
Sexual Reproduction
As a hermaphroditic broadcast spawner, A. gemmifera releases buoyant gamete bundles of eggs and sperm during mass synchronized spawning. The bundles float to the surface, break apart and fertilise externally, producing larvae used in reef restoration. This is uncommon in aquaria, where fragmentation is standard.