Acropora turaki

Acropora turaki is a bottlebrush Acropora distinguished by long tubular axial corallites, giving its branch tips an extended, open look. Aquacultured pieces are most often turquoise and blue-green, sometimes with purple tips, a combination that stands out among deepwater forms. It grows at a moderate pace for a bottlebrush type once fully settled.

Care

Treat Acropora turaki as expert-level SPS suited only to a mature, stable system. Alkalinity stability is paramount — hold it steady, test often, and correct slowly — while keeping calcium and magnesium consistent in balance. Provide high, strong random flow that surges around the long axials from varying directions; never leave a constant jet pointed at the colony. Light requirements are medium to high for a deepwater species, with PAR 150–300 as the sensible range and careful, gradual acclimation to any increase. Health shows first as an encrusting base at the mount, followed by polyp extension and clean, elongated growing tips.

Placement and growth

Place it in the middle to top zone, where it gets bright but not blasting light and broad turbulent flow. Keep at least 2 in of minimum clearance around the colony so its tubular branches are not shaded or damaged by neighbours. Expect moderate growth after an initial basing-down period; a frag that encrusts steadily is on track, even if upward growth looks slow at first.