Acropora caroliniana

Acropora caroliniana is a bottlebrush, smooth-skin deepwater Acropora, prized for its clean, almost polished surface and tidy, upright branch structure. Aquacultured colonies are seen in yellow-green, purple, and blue, with colour that tends to deepen as a frag encrusts and begins to grow in earnest. It is a slow grower, and its appeal is in form and smooth texture as much as outright colour.

Care

Keep this species as expert-level SPS for a mature, stable system only. Alkalinity stability is the single most important factor — avoid swings, test regularly, and make any adjustment slowly. Calcium and magnesium must stay consistent in balance with alkalinity. Flow should be high and strongly random, moving around the bottlebrush branches without a constant jet fixed on one spot, which can cause tissue loss on smooth-skin corals. Light is medium to high for a deepwater type: PAR 150–300 is the working range, with slow acclimation. Judge health by an encrusting base, smooth unbroken tissue, and steady polyp extension.

Placement and growth

Position it in the middle to top zone, where light is good but not harsh and flow is broad and turbulent. Allow at least 2 in of minimum clearance on all sides so neighbouring corals do not shade its lower branches or restrict flow. Expect slow, deliberate bottlebrush growth; leave the frag undisturbed while it bases down, as repeated moving is a common reason deepwater Acropora stall.