Anacropora

Anacropora, sometimes called Briar coral, is a branching SPS genus that resembles a more delicate version of Acropora. Its thin, spindly branches lack the defined axial corallites of Acropora, giving it a smoother, more wispy appearance. Maintain calcium at 400–440 ppm, alkalinity at 7.5–9 dKH, and temperature between 25–27°C. Anacropora are generally hardier than Acropora and more forgiving of minor parameter fluctuations, placing them in the moderate difficulty range for SPS.

Place Anacropora in the mid to upper sections of your tank where they receive high light (PAR 200–400) and moderate to high flow. While they appreciate strong lighting, they are less demanding than Acropora and can adapt to slightly lower PAR levels. The thin branches grow in open, airy formations that look striking when backlit. Anacropora come in greens, creams, purples, and occasionally pink — colour improves with strong blue-spectrum lighting and stable, low-nutrient conditions.

Fragging Anacropora requires a gentle touch due to their delicate branches. Snap or cut small sections and glue to frag plugs — they encrust and establish well. In Australia, Anacropora are less commonly stocked than Acropora or Montipora, but they are worth seeking out from specialist coral vendors and frag traders. They are naturally found across the Indo-Pacific including Australian waters. Their graceful, open branching structure fills space beautifully without the heavy-handed growth of some other branching SPS, making them an elegant addition to any SPS-dominant reef.