Acropora nasuta Propagation Guide

Fragging and propagation of Acropora nasuta, a flat-topped clumping small-polyp stony coral, increased by branch-tip cuttings under high light and strong flow.

Overview

Acropora nasuta is a small-polyp stony coral of the family Acroporidae. Wikipedia describes it as a small colonial coral that grows in clumps which tend to develop flat tops, with branches up to about 12 mm wide and radial corallites in neat rows. It is creamy-white or pale brown with bluish branch tips, occurs in the western and central Indo-Pacific, and grows at 3 to 15 metres deep on upper reef slopes and edges.

Reproductive Mode

Acropora reproduce both asexually and sexually. In the aquarium A. nasuta is multiplied by fragmentation, which retains the parent's symbiotic zooxanthellae and coloration. Wikipedia notes that captive propagation of Acropora is widespread in the reef-keeping community.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

Cut or snap a branch tip of about 2-5 cm with bone-cutters and attach it to a frag plug with cyanoacrylate gel or epoxy. The axial corallite at the branch tip drives regrowth, so an intact tip encrusts and elongates fastest. Wikipedia reports finger-sized Acropora fragments can grow into medicine-ball-sized colonies in one to two years under good reef conditions.

Conditions for Propagation

Wikipedia states Acropora requires bright light, stable temperatures, regular calcium and alkalinity dosing, and clean turbulent water. Place nasuta frags under high light and strong flow with stable alkalinity, calcium and magnesium and low nutrients to encourage encrustation onto the plug and renewed branching.

Sexual Reproduction

In the wild Acropora reproduce by annual synchronised broadcast mass-spawning, releasing buoyant packets of eggs and sperm into the water column for external fertilisation. This event is generally not reproduced in home aquaria, where propagation relies on fragmentation.

Common Challenges