Coral Overview

Taxonomy: Acropora austera

Coral type: SPS

Primary color: deep blue to blue-green

Secondary accents: bright yellow axial tips (new growth)

Growth form: branching / corymbose branching (upright branches as it colonies)

This is a classic high-contrast Acropora with crisp yellow growth tips over a darker base. In stable systems, frags typically deepen in color and develop a greener base tone as they mature into colonies.

Care Requirements

• Care level: Advanced (stability-dependent SPS)
• Lighting: High (acclimate up slowly to avoid bleaching)
• Flow: High, turbulent (randomized, not a single harsh jet)
• Placement: Upper rockwork once fully light-acclimated; start mid-high if new to your system
• Aggression/Sweepers: No sweepers, but can sting nearby corals with direct contact

Farm parameters (reference): This coral is grown under stable reef conditions similar to 24–26 °C, 35 ppt salinity, pH ~8.1–8.4, alkalinity around 8 dKH, with measurable nitrate and phosphate. Use this as a reference point and prioritize consistency over chasing exact numbers.

Feeding & Nutrition

Acropora are primarily photosynthetic, but they still benefit from consistent, low-pollution nutrition that supports both the coral and the reef microbiome.

• Planktura Coral Shots (live phytoplankton): supports a more complete food web and helps feed microfauna that indirectly benefit SPS
• Planktura Bacto Fuel (live bacteria): supports microbial diversity and can help maintain a more stable, resilient system when used appropriately

Practical approach: feed small amounts consistently, keep nutrients measurable (not stripped), and avoid large “one-time” feedings that spike phosphate or drive instability.

Best At

Color contrast in SPS-dominant layouts. The yellow axial tips highlight active growth, and the darker base provides structure and depth among lighter acros.

Known Sensitivities

• Alkalinity swings (rapid dKH changes are a common trigger for recession in SPS)
• Low-nutrient “bottomed out” systems (pale tissue, reduced growth, reduced polyp extension)
• Sudden lighting increases (photoinhibition or bleaching if not acclimated)
• High localized flow blast (tissue damage at the point of impact)
• Common SPS pests (inspect and dip as part of your standard process)

Common Names

• Yellow Tips Acropora
• Yellow Tips Austera
• Yellow Tip Blue Acro (trade name)

Common Misidentifications

• Other yellow-tipped branching Acropora species sold under “yellow tip acro”
• Acropora sp. frags that show temporary yellow tips under very high light (color can be environment-driven, not ID-driven)

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