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Micromussa Corals

Micromussa Corals or Acanthastrea Corals? Either Way, You Win!

There’s been a ripple effect across the reefing hobby in recent months as yet another popular coral genus has been renamed. This time, the name change involves one of the most iconic coral species in the hobby, Acanthastrea. The gorgeous Acan Lord, or Acanthastrea lordhowensis, corals that populate many reef tanks around the world now belong to the Micromussa genus. In the grand scheme of things, these name changes are really not a big deal. After all, this is the natural progression of science as we learn more about these extraordinary invertebrates that captivate us and provide us with so much joy. Whether you call them Micro frags or Acan frags, their dazzling color morphs and popularity will remain the same.

Micromussa Coral Care Guide

Experience Level

Our Micromussa coral frags for sale online can be good choices for reefers just getting started in the hobby, as long as they’ve done their homework, understand water quality parameters and are in the habit of testing and charting their WQ on a regular basis. This preparation and investment in the hobby is perhaps the single-most important part of reefkeeping and the best way a reefer can set themselves and their reef display up of success.

Optimal Water Quality Parameters

Temperature: 72-78F, 22-25C
pH: 8.1-8.3
dKH: 7-11 (125-200ppm CaCO3 equivalent)
Calcium: 375-450ppm
Magnesium: 1275-1350ppm
Salinity: 33-35ppt
Ammonia (NH3): less than 0.1ppm
Nitrite (NO2): less than 0.2ppm
Nitrate (NO3): less than 0.2ppm
Phosphates (PO4): less than 0.03ppm

Lighting Preferences:

Micromussa tend to do best in areas of moderate lighting although some species prefer more intense lighting. Just remember that the light is feeding the photosynthetic zooxanthellae algae living in the coral’s tissues adjust to higher lighting levels slowly and observe carefully for at least two weeks before moving again. Your mileage may vary but your WQ params had better not if you want healthy corals!

Water Flow Preferences:

Initially, choose an area with low to medium shifting, laminar flows from your inflows and powerheads. After the Micromussa frag has acclimated to your system, observe each polyp carefully and note how much water each takes one and the extension of the feeding tentacles. If the polyps are closed all the time, consider moving the frag to another location with slightly difference lighting and flow intensities. Just make sure to be patient and observant between each move.

Placement Considerations:

As usual, it’s best to acclimate your new Micro in an area with less lighting than your intended final location. That way, the symbiotic algae get a chance to adjust to the new lighting and environment and are less likely to get stressed. Also, Micromussa can be a pretty aggressive species, so make sure there’s enough distance between your new Micro frag and other corals, clams and other sessile inverts or the mesentery filaments, or sweeper tentacles, from your new frag will sting and damage other prized species.

Feeding Considerations:

You’ll love feeding your Micromussa colonies as long as you don’t overdo it. Small, coral-appropriate foods in small quantities on a regular basis will deliver good growth and coloration over time. Like many corals, prime the feeding response buy squirting a small amount of thawed brine or mysis juice upstream and watch the polyps dilate and the feeding tentacles deploy before providing most of the food. The watch them close and digest the protein. Just make sure you’re monitoring your WQ as closely as you’re watching your corals or you can love your corals to death by trashing your water chemistry with excess nutrients!

New Name, Same Great Customer Service, Selection and Coral Frags Online

If you can’t resist buying one or more Micromussa coral frags from our collection, we understand completely. We’ve suffered from the same affliction for years. That’s why we turned our passion into our profession and have been providing healthy coral frags online to our customers for quite a while now. Each frag is inspected multiple times for optimal health, color and unwanted hitchhikers, to help ensure that you get the coral frag you want and no unintended pests that you definitely don’t! You can rely on our professionalism, eye for detail and customer service to ensure you get a running start on success with your new frags. Thanks for looking!

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