Acanthastrea echinata
| Care Level | Easy to moderate |
| Lighting | Low to moderate |
| Water Flow | Low to moderate |
| Placement | Rock or sand, low to mid tank |
| Aggression | Semi-aggressive (night sweepers) |
| Coloration | Rainbow — orange, red, green |
Color Variations
Acanthastrea echinata is endlessly collectible, sold in named designer morphs. The coloration is cosmetic — every one takes the same care described above.
Overview
Acanthastrea echinata — the classic “acan” — is a fleshy, brilliantly-colored LPS with large, rounded corallites, endlessly collectible in rainbow morphs like the “Orange Crush.” It is a hardy, rewarding coral and one of the corals that built the acan-collecting craze. Note it is a different animal from the acan lord (Micromussa lordhowensis), despite the shared nickname.
Care & Placement
Easy to moderate. It prefers low to moderate light and gentle flow — too much of either washes out the color and keeps the fleshy polyps from inflating. Place it on rock or the sand bed in the lower half of the tank. Keep it dimmer and feed it well rather than blasting it with light.
Feeding
Feeding is the key to Acanthastrea. It is photosynthetic, but it responds dramatically to being fed — offer small meaty foods placed on the polyps a couple of times a week for faster growth, fuller polyps, and richer color.
Propagation
Easy to frag with a band saw: cut between corallites so each frag carries one or more whole polyps, then glue to a plug. It heals and encrusts readily.
Cautions
Generally peaceful, but it can extend short sweeper tentacles at night, so leave a little space from close neighbors. Keep light modest — the most common mistake is too much light, which bleaches out the very colors you bought it for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acan Echinata the same as an Acan Lord?
No. Acan Echinata is Acanthastrea echinata, while the “acan lord” is Micromussa lordhowensis (formerly Acanthastrea lordhowensis). They look similar and share the nickname, but they are different species.
How do I get the best color from Acanthastrea?
Keep it under low to moderate light with gentle flow and feed it regularly. Bright light bleaches the rainbow coloration, while dimmer light plus frequent feeding brings out the deep oranges, reds, and greens.
Is Acan Echinata a good beginner LPS?
Yes — it is hardy, forgiving on light and flow, and one of the most rewarding corals to feed. Just keep it out of intense light and give it stable water.