Solitaryensis Acropora Care Guide
Solitaryensis Acropora (Acropora solitaryensis) is a SPS coral. Care covers 200-350 PAR, high flow, reef parameters and feeding; advanced level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Solitaryensis Acropora (Acropora solitaryensis) is a SPS coral in the family Acroporidae. Subtropical Acropora from Solitary Islands; tolerates slightly cooler temps. Often green or gold.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acroporidae
- Genus: Acropora
- Scientific name: Acropora solitaryensis
- Common synonyms: Solitary Acro
Habitat
In the wild, Acropora solitaryensis is reported from Australia (Solitary Is.), where it occupies shallow reef flats and upper slopes (typically 1-15 m). The species adopts a plating growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.025-1.026
- Temperature: 22-25 °C (72-77 °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): 200-350 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 solitaryensis 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 0.3-0.7 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for plating 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 solitaryensis: Propagation Guide
Overview
Acropora solitaryensis is an Acropora in the family Acroporidae. Acropora species may grow as plates or as slender or broad branches, and finger-sized fragments can grow into much larger colonies in one to two years under good husbandry. The genus is demanding to keep but propagates well once established.
Reproductive Mode
Acropora reproduces sexually as a hermaphroditic broadcast spawner and asexually by fragmentation. For aquarists, fragmentation is the reliable route because it clones the parent colony's genetics and appearance.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Select a vigorous colony with several growing tips.
- Cut or snap an Acropora tip of a few centimetres with bone cutters.
- Secure the cutting to a plug or rock with cyanoacrylate glue or a peg.
- Place it under bright light and strong turbulent flow to encrust and grow a new axial tip.
Conditions for Propagation
This coral needs bright light, stable temperatures, regular calcium and alkalinity dosing, and clean turbulent water. Turbulent flow keeps detritus from settling on fresh wounds and speeds recovery of frags.
Sexual Reproduction
As hermaphroditic broadcast spawners, Acropora colonies release buoyant egg-and-sperm gamete bundles during mass synchronized spawning. The bundles rise to the surface, break apart and fertilise in the water column, yielding larvae used for reef restoration. Captive spawning is uncommon, so fragmentation remains the standard propagation method.