Banana Lokani Acropora Coral

Banana Lokani Acropora Coral

Sale price  $99.99 Regular price $129.99
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Banana Lokani Acropora Coral

Banana Lokani Acropora Coral

SKU: CTOxBananaLokani

Sale price  $99.99 Regular price $129.99
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Grow your Banana Lokani Acropora with:

Quick Specs

Care Level
Shop live corals by care level: Moderate–Difficult
Flow
Shop live corals by flow: High
Lighting
Shop live corals by lighting: Moderate
Placement
Shop live corals by placement: Low–Mid
Growth Rate
Shop live corals by growth rate: Slow–Moderate
Temperament
Semi-aggressive(2–4 inches spacing)
Feeding
Photosynthetic(primary), microplankton, rotifers, copepod nauplii, powdered coral foods (e.g., Reef-Roids), oyster eggs/oyster feast, amino acid supplements
Description
Photo is of mother colony. Frags are typically ¾" – 1" in size.

Aquacultured Acropora Coral

Acropora corals are the centerpiece of many advanced reef aquariums, and few SPS corals match their range of color, texture, and growth form. Our Acropora for sale spans popular species such as millepora Acropora (Acropora millepora, or "millies"), Acropora tenuis, staghorn Acropora (Acropora formosa), Acropora tortuosa (torts), Acropora valida, and Acropora lokani. We farm and propagate Acropora from mother colonies in our Florida aquaculture facility, where frags grow out under captive reef conditions before they ship.

Acro corals reward stable, well-maintained systems with fast branching growth and some of the most vivid coloration in the hobby. They are best suited to reefers who test regularly and can keep parameters consistent.

Acropora Care at a Glance

Parameter Recommended Range
Care level Advanced
Lighting High, 200+ PAR
Water flow Strong and variable
Temperature 75–80°F
Salinity 1.025–1.026
pH 8.1–8.4
Calcium 420–440 ppm
Alkalinity 8–9.5 dKH
Magnesium 1300–1450 ppm
Nitrate <10 ppm
Phosphate <0.10 ppm
Origin Indo-Pacific; aquacultured by Top Shelf Aquatics

Water Chemistry for Acropora

Acropora are highly sensitive to parameter swings, so stability matters as much as the numbers themselves. Calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium drive skeletal growth, and a healthy pH helps the coral absorb the calcium it needs to build new branches. Test often and dose to hold levels steady rather than chasing large corrections.

Lighting Your Acropora

In the wild, Acropora grow near reef crests and upper slopes across Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef, where light is intense. In the aquarium, aim for 200+ PAR from high-output LEDs, T5 fluorescents, or metal halides. We grow our colonies under a combination of EcoTech Marine Radions and metal halides.

Spectrum shapes the result:

  • More white light (10K–14K): faster growth, but less vivid coloration
  • Deeper blue light (18K–20K): stronger coloration, but slower growth

Increase intensity gradually so a new frag can adjust without bleaching.

Water Flow

Strong, randomized flow mimics the high-energy reef crest, delivering nutrients and carrying waste away from the coral's tissue. We use EcoTech Marine MP pumps, Reef Octopus OCTO Pulse, and Sicce XStream wavemakers to keep flow varied across every colony. As a branching colony grows, it changes how water moves through your tank, so audit and adjust flow patterns over time.

What We Feed Our Acropora

Acropora get most of their energy from photosynthesis through their symbiotic zooxanthellae, but supplemental feeding improves growth and color. We feed our exclusive Royal Flush phytoplankton blend (Tisochrysis, Rhodomonas, and Tetraselmis), along with Benepets, Reef Roids, and amino acids. For best results, target-feed with a turkey baster and turn off circulation and return pumps for about 10–15 minutes so the coral can absorb nutrients. Maintaining trace elements such as iron and iodine also supports vibrant pigmentation.

Coloration and Settling In

Acropora color depends on lighting spectrum, nutrition, and water stability. It is normal for a new frag to show little visible growth for the first 3–6 months while it settles into your system, so patience and consistency pay off.

Common Acropora Challenges

  • Rapid tissue necrosis (RTN): usually triggered by stress or unstable parameters; pristine, stable water is the best prevention
  • Bleaching: caused by sudden changes in light or temperature; acclimate gradually and keep temperature consistent
  • Parameter fluctuations: regular testing and dosing keep calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium in balance
  • Growth interference: prune and reposition colonies to limit competition for space and flow

How We Farm Our Acropora Frags

Our team of marine biologists monitors water parameters across more than 30,000 gallons of farmable water volume. We select robust mother colonies, frag them carefully, and mount each frag on a plug with reef-safe glue or epoxy. Frags then grow out in dedicated systems with high-intensity lighting and advanced flow before they ship.

How to Acclimate an Acropora Frag

  1. Temperature: float the bag in your aquarium for 15–20 minutes to equalize temperature.
  2. Drip acclimation: gradually introduce your tank water to the coral.
  3. Lighting: increase light intensity gradually over 2–3 weeks to avoid bleaching.
  4. Placement: mount the frag securely in an area with strong water flow.
FAQs Common questions about Banana Lokani Acropora Coral

Why does my Banana Lokani lose its yellow and turn olive/brown under blues?

Acropora lokani is a deepwater species; its yellow pigments wash out if PAR is too low or spectrum is overly blue-heavy without enough white/cyan. Increase PAR gradually to the 180–250 range, add some 10–12K daylight channels for a few hours, and keep nutrients moderate (NO3 ~5–15 ppm, PO4 ~0.03–0.08). Avoid red/green overshoot, which can push it toward drab tones.

My Lokani shows “burnt” tips after a water change—what’s the likely cause?

Tip burn in A. lokani often follows alkalinity spikes or rapid shifts in CO2/pH. Deepwater acros are touchy about stability. Match new water’s alkalinity to within 0.2 dKH, spread dosing over multiple smaller additions, and maintain strong, alternating flow around the tips. If damage occurs, hold parameters steady; avoid large corrections and watch for RTN.

Detritus keeps settling between the blades—any tips to prevent recession there?

Lokani’s flattened branches trap fines. Use a periodic “storm” routine: once or twice weekly, baste the colony and rockwork before filtration peaks, and run a short surge of mechanical filtration. Adjust flow to create cross-currents rather than a single jet. Keep vermetid snails in check; their mucus nets amplify detritus buildup and can irritate tissue, triggering STN lines.

What night-time care changes improve polyp extension and growth?

This species extends more after lights out. Run a gentle feeding window 30–60 minutes into darkness with fine zooplankton (e.g., 100–300 µm) and modest amino dosing. Temporarily reduce return flow slightly to keep food suspended without settling on blades, then restore normal flow. Don’t overfeed—excess organics fuel film algae on the plate surfaces and stress tissue.
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