Table Acropora
Acropora hyacinthus
Also known as Table Acro, Tabling Acropora, Plate Acropora, Hyacinthus Acro, Acro
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F (24–27°C)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 17.7 in (45 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal (200 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Origin
- Grows on exposed Indo-Pacific reef slopes and crests, from the Indian Ocean through the western Pacific.
- Family
- Acroporidae
Overview
Because it tables outward, give it a 200 liter or larger reef with plenty of horizontal room, strong light, and moderate to strong flow. It is an advanced coral that needs a mature, stable system with alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium held in tight reef range, temperature 24 to 27 C, and pH 8.1 to 8.4. Start with an aquacultured frag and mount it where the plate can spread without shading or touching neighbors. It is peaceful but grows over slower corals, so plan for the wide footprint it will eventually claim.
In the wild
A branching small polyp stony coral that grows outward into a flat horizontal table, with fine tightly packed branchlets fused into a broad plate. Wild colonies can spread into tables over a meter across, catching light like a canopy over the reef. Aquarium pieces are usually blue, purple, green, or cream with contrasting tips. The tabling growth form is distinct from the upright staghorn and low bushy corymbose acros.
Good to know
Acropora hyacinthus is a member of the family Acroporidae and one of the classic table-forming corals of Indo-Pacific reefs. Its wide flat plates make it a dominant space competitor in the wild but also leave it vulnerable to bleaching in warm water. It is a fast-growing small polyp stony coral packed with zooxanthellae.
Did you know
In the wild these tables can outgrow every neighbor and shade out the reef below them, and even a small aquarium frag will eventually try to plate out sideways into a disc.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- Saltwaterfish.com Marine fish, corals and inverts shipped overnight
- AlgaeBarn Copepods, macroalgae and captive-bred marine livestock
- Biota Captive-bred marine fish, corals and clams shipped direct
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Table Acropora?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Smooth Skin Acropora
Acropora tenuis9.8 in (25 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Staghorn Acropora
Acropora9.8 in (25 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Encrusting Montipora
Montipora confusa11.8 in (30 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Alveopora Coral
Alveopora7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Montipora Digitata (Finger Coral)
Montipora digitata7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Montipora Plating (Cap Coral)
Montipora capricornis7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)