ECC Holy Grail Micromussa

Quick facts

Handling caution: Sweeper tentacles can sting skin and neighboring corals; wear gloves when handling or fragging

Identity

Also known as

Acan Lord; Acan; Lords; Acanthastrea

Synonyms

Acanthastrea lordhowensis

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indo-Pacific, Australia, Lord Howe Island

Habitat

Reef slopes and lagoons with moderate water movement and lower light, typically on shaded rockwork or reef ledges

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Coral type

LPS

Temperament

Semi-Aggressive

Growth form

Colonial polyps

Adult size

0.8 – 6 in (1.9 – 15 cm)

Spread

8 in (20 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Low, Middle, Sand bed

Water

Temperature

75 – 78 °F (24 – 26 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 9.5 dKH

Salinity

1.025 – 1.026 SG

PAR

75 – 150 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Low

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Alk/Ca uptake

Medium

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

4 in (10 cm)

Colors

Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Multicolor

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Omnivore

Foods

Frozen, Micro-pellets, Coral food, Zooplankton

Propagation

Fragging

Something wrong or missing? Submit a correction

Care guide

Overview

Concentric rings of red, yellow, green, and blue circle each fleshy polyp in this compact Micromussa colony. As with other Acan Lord types, it wants low to moderate light, gentle flow, and stable water chemistry, along with clearance from neighboring corals that could sting or overgrow it. Direct feeding a few times weekly encourages fuller polyp extension and color retention.

Care

This LPS coral forms a compact colony of thick, fleshy polyps that display rings of red, yellow, green, and blue coloration. It does best under low to moderate lighting, since too much intensity can cause bleaching or reduced polyp extension while too little dulls color. Gentle to moderate flow keeps debris from settling between the polyps without preventing full extension, and stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium levels support steady growth.

Placement & acclimation

Acclimate gradually to light when introducing a new specimen, starting lower in the tank and moving it upward over days to weeks to avoid stress or bleaching. Mount on stable rockwork or place directly on the sandbed in a low-traffic area, leaving generous space from other corals. Avoid direct flow strong enough to prevent the fleshy polyps from fully extending.

Feeding

Although photosynthetic, colonies benefit noticeably from direct feeding of small meaty items such as mysis, brine shrimp, or fine pellet foods like Reef Roids, offered two to three times a week. Feeding is best done at night or under subdued light when the internal feeding tentacles extend fully. Broadcast feeding a plankton-based food into the water column can supplement target feeding for colonies with many polyps.

Neighbors

Colonies carry sweeper tentacles capable of stinging neighboring corals, so leave several inches of clearance from other stony corals and avoid contact with faster-growing species that could overtake the space. Reef-safe fish and most invertebrates coexist without issue, but angelfish, filefish, and puffers are known to pick at the fleshy polyps. Keep away from corals with long, aggressive sweepers to prevent tissue damage on either side.

Fragging

Frag by cutting along the skeletal ridges between individual polyps using a coral saw, band saw, or Dremel, taking care to avoid the centers of polyps. Wear gloves and eye protection, as cutting produces significant coral slime and can send debris into the air. Dip fresh frags and allow several weeks of recovery time before handling again.

Pests & problems

Excess light or unstable parameters can cause the polyps to stay deflated or bleach as zooxanthellae are expelled. Predation from angelfish, filefish, and puffers can strip tissue quickly in a closed aquarium system, so fish selection matters. Watch for tissue recession at the base if flow is too weak to clear detritus from between polyps.

Sources

1. ECC Holy Grail Micromussa - Bulk Reef Supply
2. Holy Grail Micromussa - Whitlyn Aquatics
3. Introduction To Acan (Micromussa lordhowensis) Care | Reef Builders
4. We take a look at Micromussa lordhowensis – Essex Marine Aquatics

More Acans

ECC Hypershock Acan Echinata