Acropora Spathulata

[BoomCorals]

I've always wanted to try a Spath out -- Maybe it's time.

Fair warning, keeping one alive past a year is rare, and they require a tip top stable mature tank. And they will change color on you.

 

[Rakie]

Fair warning, keeping one alive past a year is rare, and they require a tip top stable mature tank. And they will change color on you.

Yep, those are all the reasons I never bothered with 'em. Additionally, I've been told they like extremely high light -- More than my 6 bulb ATI puts out. That could be hog wash though.

 

[nashorn]

Yea I had two stn after about a year. Color changed to a green too.
Def beyond my poor reef keeping skills.
Here's one that is 5mo old. It's about 6 in under a radion. Next to a gyre for full flow.

 

[Tim2@Triton Verified Sponsor]

Ive had this spath for about two yrs now. This is what it looked like after about a year, crappy pic under blue led.

Now it's a reddish pink with blue tips on all the new growth. I'd say it's easily 3/4" thick. The trick like most sps is keep it in consistent conditions and don't move it once it's there.

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That is a fantastic specimen.

 

[Bacon505]

Close to 2.5 years or so on these

 

[BoomCorals]

Close to 2.5 years or so on these

Very impressive!

 

[tigé21v]

Beautiful specimens,guys!
Love the Spaths!! Never tried any though, I get irritated enough when I lose the common acros.
I've heard that Aussie acros in general are harder to keep than acros from other areas?

 

[Brittleyak]

Ive had this spath for about two yrs now. This is what it looked like after about a year, crappy pic under blue led.

Now it's a reddish pink with blue tips on all the new growth. I'd say it's easily 3/4" thick. The trick like most sps is keep it in consistent conditions and don't move it once it's there.

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Bump
Just got a piece that I think is a spath. How are these looking now

Mine crappy phone photo

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Yea that looks like a spath. I have not seen any colorful ones coming into the us recently, anyone else notice this? Seems like they are all green with pink tips at best. I miss the blue and purples and what not that we used to see a lot.
I have had a green and pink tip one for a while but it’s been mistreated recently so not pic worthy. I believe they need high light when coming into our tanks but can be acclimated to normal lighting eventually, I think getting them past the transition phase of a few months is key and lots of people fail there. Once they are growing I see no reason they would be different from other corals, other than maybe flow needing to be right with the thick branches it needs.

 

[Will Wohlers]

Yea these are generally considered the hardest acros to keep long term. It's a shame though because they're one of my favorites and usually come in very colorful.

 

[Brittleyak]

Yea that looks like a spath. I have not seen any colorful ones coming into the us recently, anyone else notice this? Seems like they are all green with pink tips at best. I miss the blue and purples and what not that we used to see a lot.
I have had a green and pink tip one for a while but it’s been mistreated recently so not pic worthy. I believe they need high light when coming into our tanks but can be acclimated to normal lighting eventually, I think getting them past the transition phase of a few months is key and lots of people fail there. Once they are growing I see no reason they would be different from other corals, other than maybe flow needing to be right with the thick branches it needs.

I agree that that’s what I’ve been seeing. This was more peach in the store. I have it in the highest point of rockwork close to a mp40

 

[Monover]

One of my Spaths was like yours in the store, peach colour.
But after 3-4 months the colour was the green with pink tips.
Very nice Acro and for me, easy to keep.

 

[Brittleyak]

One of my Spaths was like yours in the store, peach colour.
But after 3-4 months the colour was the green with pink tips.
Very nice Acro and for me, easy to keep.

You’ve stopped my heart in excitement. Hopeful for something like that lol. I like my greens and purps. I got this because of growth form personally.
Nice piece!

 

[Monover]

Thanks for you words.
I am sure yours will be like mine or better.
They only need flow, light, more flow, more light and after this, more flow and light, lol.
And may be, a light spectrum more white than tipical in USA. Here in Europe we work with less blue and the aussie Acros love it.

 

[Brittleyak]

Thanks for the replies. I’ll consider bumping up whites. I believe that flow isn’t a concern as I’m getting more than adequate movement and pumps are only at ~25%. I wonder how much I have to cater to the spath flow wise when it’s growth gets chunkier.

Thanks for you words.
I am sure yours will be like mine or better.
They only need flow, light, more flow, more light and after this, more flow and light, lol.
And may be, a light spectrum more white than tipical in USA. Here in Europe we work with less blue and the aussie Acros love it.