ECC Grade A Red Micromussa (Acanthastrea) Lordhowensis Coral
QUICK STATS Care Level: Easy to ModerateCoral Type: LPS / Acan Lord / MicromussaTemperament: Semi-AggressivePhotosynthetic: YesPlacement: Lower to Middle / Sandbed or RockworkLight ing: Low to ModerateWater Flow: Low to Moderate, IndirectApproximate Purchase Size: Varies by Frag SizeApproximate Max Size: Colony Growth Depends on Feeding, Stability, Space, and Time ECC GRADE A RED ACANTHASTREA LORDHOWENSIS CORAL The ECC Grade A Red Acanthastrea Lordhowensis Coral is a colorful LPS coral known for its fleshy polyps, bold red coloration, and rounded “lord” style growth. Although still commonly sold in the hobby as Acanthastrea lordhowensis, this coral is now generally classified as Micromussa lordhowensis. Most reef keepers still call them Acans or Acan Lords, because old habits die slowly and coral taxonomy enjoys making everyone mildly uncomfortable. This Grade A Red Acan Lord may show shades of red, deep red, cherry red, crimson, orange-red, burgundy, pink-red, or contrasting accent colors depending on lighting, feeding, nutrients, and photography conditions. Grade A generally refers to stronger color, nicer patterning, fuller appearance, or better visual appeal. It does not mean the coral magically ignores bad water quality, because sadly there is no luxury tier that defeats neglect. Acan Lords are popular because they offer bright color, visible feeding response, and a fleshy LPS appearance without usually requiring extreme light or harsh flow. They work well in mixed reefs, LPS gardens, and lower-light areas where many SPS corals would dramatically perish just to make a point. The ECC Grade A Red Acanthastrea Lordhowensis Coral is photosynthetic, but it also benefits strongly from feeding. Regular target feeding can help support polyp inflation, growth, coloration, and new head development. This coral is one of the rare reef animals that actually rewards you for feeding it instead of simply turning your nutrient levels into a municipal crisis. This coral is considered semi-aggressive. It may extend feeding tentacles and can sting nearby corals if placed too close. Leave space around the colony, especially near other fleshy LPS corals. It looks soft and harmless, which is exactly how reef tanks trick people into making expensive spacing mistakes. Note: Image is a representation of what to expect. The coral you receive may vary slightly in size, number of polyps, red intensity, patterning, accent colors, polyp inflation, and overall appearance. AQUARIUM REQUIREMENTS AQUARIUM SIZE A minimum aquarium size of 10-20 gallons or larger is recommended for ECC Grade A Red Acanthastrea Lordhowensis, though larger mature reef systems are preferred. Larger aquariums provide better water stability, more placement options, and more room for surrounding corals. Acan Lords do not require a massive aquarium, but they do appreciate stable reef conditions. Smaller tanks can work, but swings in salinity, alkalinity, nutrients, and temperature happen faster. Naturally, this is where people often decide to “just wing it,” because apparently coral ownership needed a gambling component. PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ECC Grade A Red Acanthastrea Lordhowensis is best placed in the lower to middle areas of the aquarium where it receives low to moderate lighting and gentle indirect flow. Sandbed placement or lower rockwork placement both work well as long as the coral is stable and not being blasted. Sandbed Placement: Acan Lords often do well on the sandbed in reef aquariums with moderate to strong lighting. Place the coral where it will not be buried, flipped, or irritated by sand movement. Rock Placement: Lower rockwork placement works well if the coral is secure and has room to grow. Avoid sharp edges rubbing against fleshy tissue. LPS Garden Placement: Acan Lords can work well in LPS gardens with other lower-flow corals, but spacing is still important. Do not let neighboring corals touch. Spacing: Leave several inches between this coral and nearby corals. Acan Lords can sting, especially during feeding or nighttime extension. Avoid High SPS Zones: Do not place this coral in intense light and harsh flow meant for Acropora. That is not “premium placement.” That is fleshy coral bullying with equipment. WATER PARAMETERS ECC Grade A Red Acanthastrea Lordhowensis is fairly forgiving for an LPS coral, but it still needs stable reef conditions. Stable parameters are more important than chasing exact numbers. Sudden swings can cause tissue recession, poor inflation, fading color, reduced feeding response, or polyp loss. Temperature: 75-79°FpH Level: 8.1-8.4Salinity: 1.024-1.026 specific gravityAlkalinity: 8-10 dKHCalcium: 400-450 ppmMagnesium: 1250-1350 ppmNitrate: 5-15 ppmPhosphate: 0.03-0.10 ppm Avoid ultra-low nutrient systems with this coral. Acan Lords often look better and inflate more fully with some available nutrients and regular feeding. Sterile water may sound clean, but to fleshy LPS it can feel like being asked to thrive inside a polished desert. LIGHTING ECC Grade A Red Acanthastrea Lordhowensis prefers low to moderate lighting. A general target range of 50-100 PAR works well for many Acan Lords, though some may adapt slightly higher if acclimated slowly. LIGHTING RECOMMENDATIONS Low to Moderate PAR: Start around 50-75 PAR if newly added, especially if the coral is freshly shipped or coming from lower light. Gradual Acclimation: If moving into stronger light, increase exposure slowly over several days to weeks. Color Protection: Too much light can cause fading, bleaching, color morphing, or tissue stress. Red and rainbow-type Acans may shift color under intense lighting. Best Display: Red Acan Lords often show strong color under lower to moderate reef lighting with a blue-heavy spectrum. Too Much Light: Signs may include shrinking, bleaching, faded color, tight tissue, exposed skeleton, or refusal to inflate. Too Little Light: Signs may include dull coloration, stretching toward light, poor growth, or reduced overall energy. Do not place a fresh Red Acan Lord directly under a light cannon because the red looked expensive. That is not reef keeping. That is using photons as a blunt instrument. WATER FLOW ECC Grade A Red Acanthastrea Lordhowensis prefers low to moderate indirect flow. Flow should be enough to keep debris from settling on the coral, but not so strong that the fleshy tissue is pulled tightly against the skeleton. FLOW RECOMMENDATIONS Ideal Flow: Low to moderate, gentle, indirect flow that softly moves across the coral. Avoid Direct Flow: Strong direct flow can cause tissue irritation, poor inflation, exposed skeleton, or recession. Avoid Dead Spots: Too little flow can allow detritus to collect between polyps or around the skeleton, leading to irritation or algae growth. Watch Polyp Inflation: Healthy Acans should look full and fleshy when settled. If the tissue stays tight or pulled, check flow and lighting. Feeding Response: Slightly calmer flow during target feeding helps the coral capture food more effectively. The goal is gentle movement, not a coral wind tunnel. If the polyps look like they are clinging to the skeleton for emotional support, the flow is probably too much. DIET ECC Grade A Red Acanthastrea Lordhowensis is photosynthetic, but it benefits greatly from feeding. Regular feeding can improve growth, polyp inflation, coloration, and new head development. PRIMARY DIET Photosynthesis: Low to moderate reef lighting provides baseline energy through symbiotic zooxanthellae. Target Feeding: Offer small meaty foods directly to the polyps when feeding tentacles are visible. Frozen Food: Mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, reef blends, and small LPS-appropriate frozen foods work well. Pellets: Small sinking coral pellets or LPS pellets may be accepted. Amino Acids / Coral Nutrition: Amino acids and LPS coral foods can be used carefully in established systems. Particle Size: Use appropriately sized food. Large chunks can be rejected or rot against the tissue, because apparently even coral can judge portion control. FEEDING FREQUENCY Feed 1-2 times per week for maintenance and growth. More frequent feeding may increase growth but can also raise nutrients if the system is not able to process the added food. Turn down flow briefly during feeding if needed. Allow the coral time to grab and swallow food before restoring normal flow. COMPATIBILITY ECC Grade A Red Acanthastrea Lordhowensis works well in mixed reef and LPS-focused aquariums when placed with proper spacing, gentle flow, and moderate lighting. COMMON TANK MATES Fish: Reef-safe fish such as clownfish, gobies, blennies, wrasses, cardinalfish, firefish, tangs, anthias, and other peaceful to semi-peaceful community fish. Avoid: Fish known to nip fleshy LPS corals, such as some angelfish, butterflyfish, puffers, filefish, and certain triggers. Invertebrates: Generally safe with cleaner shrimp, snails, hermit crabs, and other common reef invertebrates. Some shrimp may steal food during target feeding because apparently theft is also part of the reef ecosystem. Coral: Keep away from aggressive corals such as torches, hammers, frogspawn, galaxea, favias, chalices, hydnophora, and other stinging LPS. Acan Gardens: Acan Lords can often be placed near other Acan Lords, but leave room for tissue expansion and growth. Different colonies should not be forced to touch unless you enjoy slow coral negotiations conducted through stinging. BEHAVIORAL NOTES Temperament: Semi-aggressive. Acan Lords can extend feeding tentacles and may sting nearby corals. Growth Pattern: Forms fleshy, rounded polyps over a hard calcium carbonate skeleton. New heads may develop around the colony edge over time. Grade A Appearance: Grade A usually refers to stronger color, cleaner patterning, fuller visual appeal, or more desirable contrast. It does not mean easier care. Coloration: May show red, cherry red, crimson, burgundy, orange-red, pink-red, or contrasting accent colors depending on lighting, nutrients, feeding, and photography conditions. Polyp Inflation: Healthy polyps should look full and fleshy once settled. Poor inflation can be caused by too much light, too much flow, pests, irritation, hunger, or unstable parameters. Feeding Tentacles: Feeding tentacles may appear at night or when food is in the water. This is normal and useful for target feeding. Skeleton Safety: Avoid placing the coral where fleshy tissue is pressed against sharp rock or exposed skeleton edges. Tissue Recession: Receding tissue can result from excessive light, harsh flow, unstable alkalinity, starvation, aggression, pests, or physical damage. Color Shifts: Acans can change coloration under different lighting intensity and spectrum. A coral that was red in one system may shift slightly in another, because apparently even LPS corals have lighting opinions. Dipping: Coral dipping before introduction is strongly recommended. Use coral-safe dips according to product directions and inspect the frag plug and skeleton closely. Pest Awareness: Inspect carefully for flatworms, nudibranchs, algae, vermetid snails, sponge overgrowth, and other hitchhikers before placing into the display. Frag Handling: Handle by the plug, base, or skeleton whenever possible. Avoid touching or squeezing the fleshy polyps. Placement Reality: This coral can become a bright red LPS showpiece, but it needs gentle flow, moderate light, and space. Acan Lords look soft and polite, then sting their neighbors like tiny decorative goblins. ACCLIMATION PROCESS This acclimation method helps reduce stress by gradually introducing the coral to your aquarium’s temperature, lighting, and water chemistry. 1. DIM THE LIGHTS Turn down aquarium lights or place the coral in a shaded lower area at first. This helps reduce stress while the coral adjusts. 2. FLOAT THE BAG Float the sealed bag in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes to allow the temperature in the bag to equalize with the tank. 3. OPEN BAG, ADD CORAL TO CONTAINER Carefully open the bag and transfer the coral and shipping water into a clean container. Handle the coral by the plug, base, or skeleton rather than touching or squeezing the fleshy polyps. 4. ACCLIMATE USING TANK WATER Add small amounts of tank water to the container every few minutes for 20-30 minutes. Avoid exposing the coral tissue to air longer than necessary. 5. CORAL DIP Use a coral-safe dip according to the product instructions. Inspect carefully for pests, algae, sponge growth, vermetid snails, and hitchhikers before the coral enters your aquarium. 6. TRANSFER CORAL TO AQUARIUM Place the coral in a lower-light area with gentle indirect flow at first. Discard the shipping and dip water. Do not pour shipping water or dip water into your aquarium. 7. LIGHT ACCLIMATE Allow the coral to adjust gradually over several days to weeks before moving it into brighter light. Watch for polyp inflation, feeding response, coloration, tissue health, and new head growth before making major placement changes.
