Also known as the Acan Brain Coral or the Starry Cup Coral, the Acan Echinata adds a splash of colour to the substrate of any reef tank. They come in a wide variety of colour morphs, with red, green and orange being some of the most common. They are a colonial coral and grow by splitting, where a single polyp will develop a second mouth before splitting into two distinct polyps. When placed on the substrate they will generally grow in a mound, whereas the growth pattern of frags placed on the rockwork is generally less predictable.
Acan Echinata are native to Australia and Tonga,where they are found on reefs at depths of up to 100 feet. This coral is not widely aquacultured and the vast majority of specimens available for sale in the reefing hobby are wild collected. They are generally found on the protected sides of reef slopes, as they prefer calmer waters. In a home aquarium they are often placed on the substrate but they can also be placed on lower rockwork if desired. They have a voracious appetite and will extend feeding tentacles at night so careful initial placement is key.
This coral is generally found on deeper reefs so it prefers lower levels of light and flow. The lighting should be of moderate intensity and flow should be sufficient to keep the coral clean but not so strong that its flesh is blown around aggressively. Placement on the substrate generally will accomplish both of these goals.
While Acan Echinata are photosynthetic and are able to meet their energy needs by harnessing aquarium lighting, they do benefit from targeted feeding. Vitalis LPS Pellets are a good choice as they allow each head to be fed individually and this can reduce the impact of over feeding on water quality.
This type of acan is fairly easy to propagate because each polyp has a distinct skeletal structure, making cutting fairly easy provided the right tools are used. A bandsaw can be used to carefully cu the stony skeleton, being careful not to cut the flesh. It is a good idea to dip both the mother colony and the new frag in iodine to reduce the risk of infection.
Like all LPS corals it is important to monitor alkalinity, calcium and magnesium regularly.
