Acropora donei

Acropora donei forms a corymbose plate or cluster, its branches fusing into a broad, low colony that spreads sideways as much as it grows up. In aquaculture it usually shows purple tips over a green-brown body, a combination that deepens under high light. Growth is moderate, with the colony widening steadily once established.

Care

This is an advanced SPS that needs a mature, stable system. Alkalinity stability is the foundation — avoid swings, and keep calcium and magnesium consistent to match. Give it high light in the PAR 250–400 range, acclimating new pieces gradually, and medium to high random flow that passes over and through the plate rather than a constant jet from one direction. Because the colony form is broad and relatively flat, flow that lifts detritus off its surface helps keep the centre healthy. An encrusting base at the margins and good polyp extension are the signs to look for; tissue loss in the middle of the plate often points to flow or light problems rather than pests alone.

Placement and growth

Place it at the top of the rockwork with genuinely wide room — plates and tables need lateral space, not just vertical clearance. Keep at least 2 in of clearance from neighbours, and considerably more in the direction it will spread, so it does not shade corals beneath it. Mount it level and secure, and plan its final footprint when you place the frag, not after it has grown.