Acropora batunai

Acropora batunai is a deepwater bottlebrush species, with upright, neatly spaced branches quite different from the dense thickets of shallow-water staghorns. In aquaculture it is typically pale cream to blue, often with softly glowing tips that stand out under lower, bluer light. Growth is slow, and patience is part of keeping it well — it rewards stability rather than frequent adjustment.

Care

Rated expert for good reason: this species belongs in a mature, stable SPS system with a proven track record. Alkalinity stability is the priority above all else, with calcium and magnesium held consistent alongside it. As a deepwater, lower-light Acropora it does best at roughly PAR 150–300 rather than being pushed to the brightest spot in the tank, and new pieces should be acclimated slowly. Flow should be medium to strong and random, washing around the branches without a constant jet pointed directly at them. An encrusting base and gentle polyp extension are the health signs to watch for; because growth is slow, problems can be slow to show, so test regularly rather than reacting to appearances alone.

Placement and growth

Place it in the middle to top zone, but not necessarily under the most intense light — a slightly moderated top position suits it better than the peak of the rockwork. Allow at least 2 in of clearance from neighbouring corals, and mount it securely so the bottlebrush branches are not rocked by flow. Expect a long settling period before visible growth.