TankBud

Acan lord coral

Micromussa lordhowensis

Also known as Acan, Acanthastrea lordhowensis, Lord Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Acan lord coral (Micromussa lordhowensis)
Haplochromis · CC BY 2.5

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Lobophylliidae
Origin
Australia and the western Pacific

Overview

The Acan lord coral is one of the most collected LPS, prized for its color morphs. It suits the lower part of a reef tank and is best with a little reef experience.

Did you know

Single Acan polyps of rare color morphs have sold for eye-watering prices. That makes a fist-sized colony worth more per square inch than almost any other coral in the hobby.

Caring for the Acan lord coral

Keep the Acan lord coral under lower light, around 50 to 100 PAR, with low to moderate indirect flow. Too much light bleaches it, and too much flow keeps the polyps retracted. Place it on the sandbed, the lower rock or a shaded overhang.

It needs at least 11 gal (40 L), at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It is photosynthetic, but it is also a strong feeder that extends feeder tentacles at night. Feed it mysis, brine or coral foods once or twice a week. It responds dramatically, with better color and faster growth.

The Acan lord coral is mostly peaceful, but its feeder tentacles can sting corals placed right against it. Give it a few inches of space. It frags easily, polyp by polyp.

Good to know

The Acan lord coral was long known as Acanthastrea lordhowensis. It was reclassified in 2016 as Micromussa lordhowensis, though the trade name Acan stuck. It is a large polyp stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae, and it grows by adding new polyps to its mat. Its polyps come in bright, high-contrast color combinations.

In the wild

Acan lords come from reefs around Australia and the western Pacific. There they form encrusting mats of rounded, fleshy polyps.

Common questions

What size tank does an Acan lord coral need?

An Acan lord coral needs at least 11 gal (40 L).

What temperature and pH does an Acan lord coral need?

An Acan lord coral is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does an Acan lord coral eat?

An Acan lord coral is photosynthetic, but it is also a strong feeder. Feed it mysis, brine or coral foods once or twice a week.

How big does an Acan lord coral get?

An adult Acan lord coral reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

Related species