Acropora valida Propagation Guide
Fragging and propagation of Acropora valida, a sturdy branching small-polyp stony coral with small axial corallites, increased by branch-tip cuttings in the reef aquarium.
Overview
Acropora valida is a small-polyp stony coral of the family Acroporidae. Wikipedia notes it forms colonies of varying shapes with diameters sometimes above 0.5 metres, having small axial corallites and appressed radial corallites of varying sizes. It is brown, cream or yellow with branch tips that are sometimes purple, occurs across the Indo-Pacific at depths of 1 to 15 metres, and the Tricolor Valida is a popular aquarium morph.
Reproductive Mode
Acropora reproduce both asexually and sexually. In the aquarium A. valida is multiplied by fragmentation, which retains its 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 leads regrowth, so an intact tip encrusts and elongates faster. 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 valida frags under high light and strong flow with stable alkalinity, calcium and magnesium and low nutrients to encourage healing 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.