ECC Hypershock Acan Echinata

Quick facts

Handling caution: Sweeper tentacles can sting skin and neighboring corals; handle with gloves

Identity

Also known as

Acan; Spiny Acan; Acan Colony; Red Acan; Colored Acan; Star Coral

Synonyms

Micromussa echinata

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indonesia, Australia, Tonga, Indo-Pacific

Habitat

Shallow, protected lagoons and reef flats across the Indo-Pacific, typically to about 20 meters depth

Sourcing

Both

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Coral type

LPS

Temperament

Aggressive

Growth form

Encrusting

Adult size

1 – 6 in (2.5 – 15 cm)

Spread

12 in (30 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Low, Sand bed

Water

Temperature

75 – 80 °F (24 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 10 dKH

Salinity

1.025 – 1.026 SG

PAR

50 – 150 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Low

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Alk/Ca uptake

Medium

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

6 in (15 cm)

Colors

Purple, Pink, Green, Red, Orange, Multicolor

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Carnivore

Foods

Frozen, Coral food, Zooplankton, Target-fed

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

Extends fleshy polyps over its shared skeleton by night, sweeping tentacles outward to sting anything within reach. Colonies show a swirl of purple and pink tissue with green flecks under actinic light. Needs firm spacing from tankmates, low to moderate light and flow, and periodic target feeding to color up and grow.

Care

This LPS forms a mat of thick, fleshy polyps over a shared skeleton and tolerates a wide range of light and flow as long as conditions are stable. Keep it low to moderate light (roughly 50-150 PAR) and low to moderate flow, since bright light or strong current can bleach or tear the tissue. Because it is one of the more aggressive acans in the trade, give it several inches of open space from any neighboring coral to avoid tissue damage from its sweeper tentacles.

Placement & acclimation

Mount frags or colonies on stable rockwork low to mid tank, in a shaded spot away from direct flow and intense light, then acclimate gradually by starting at lower PAR and increasing over one to two weeks. Ensure ample clearance on all sides before placement, since this species will sting anything it can reach once settled.

Feeding

Acanthastrea echinata gets some energy from its zooxanthellae but grows and colors up better with direct feeding. Offer minced meaty foods, mysis, or other zooplankton-sized items once or twice a week, ideally after lights out when the polyps extend feeding filaments. Target feeding with a pipette or turkey baster reduces the chance of food drifting onto adjacent corals and triggering aggressive stinging.

Neighbors

Leave at least four to six inches of clearance between this coral and any other sessile invertebrate, since it extends long sweeper tentacles at night to sting and digest tissue on anything within reach. It pairs reasonably well with other LPS or soft corals if adequately spaced, but should not be placed near delicate or slow-growing species. Reef-safe fish generally leave it alone, though butterflyfish and some LPS-eating fish can nip at extended polyps.

Fragging

Frags easily by cutting the shared skeletal mat between polyps with a bandsaw or diamond blade, keeping at least one healthy polyp per frag. Allow cut edges to heal in low flow and subdued light before returning frags to normal tank conditions.

Pests & problems

Acans are more susceptible than many other LPS to brown jelly infection, especially after rough handling, poor acclimation, or a sudden increase in light intensity. New frags should be introduced to a shaded, lower-light spot and moved up gradually over a couple of weeks. Watch for receding or bleached tissue as a sign of light stress, and isolate any polyps showing tissue loss to prevent the infection from spreading across the colony.

Sources

1. ECC Hypershock Acan Echinata - Bulk Reef Supply
2. Acan coral care: tank size, temperature and tankmates · TankBud
3. Acanthastrea Echinata Care Guide | Acan Echinata LPS Lighting, Flow & Feeding - Extreme Corals
4. Acanthastrea echinata — Coral Care Guide

More Acans

ECC Holy Grail Micromussa