Purple Planet Acropora

Purple Planet Acropora: The Deep Purple Plater

The Purple Planet Acropora (Acropora species, widely recognized as a strain of A. efflorescens or similar plating/encrusting forms) is an extremely famous and highly coveted Small Polyp Stony (SPS) coral in the reef aquarium hobby. This classic collector strain is celebrated for its deep, saturated metallic purple to eggplant-colored base which beautifully contrasts with striking neon green or sometimes yellow polyps.

The Purple Planet typically grows in a low, encrusting and then thick, plating or tabling morphology. Achieving and maintaining its intense purple coloration is a true test of an aquarist's skill, as the color relies on specific non-fluorescent pigmentation driven by ultra-low nutrient levels (ULNS) and high-intensity, blue-spectrum lighting.

The Purple Planet Acropora is firmly in the Expert-Only category. It requires a highly mature, stable reef system with impeccable water chemistry. It is highly intolerant of alkalinity swings and nutrient spikes, which will quickly cause the color to brown or lead to rapid tissue loss (RTN/STN).

Diet & Compatibility:

• Diet: This coral is primarily Photosynthetic. It relies heavily on energy produced by its symbiotic zooxanthellae algae, thriving under strong light intensity.
• Feeding: Supplemental feeding is strongly recommended to support its demanding coloration and dense growth, especially when keeping nutrient levels near zero. Target feed the polyps 2-3 times per week with high-quality, fine particulate foods, such as amino acid solutions, cyclops, or commercial coral powders.
• Reef Compatibility: It is Reef Safe but intensely Territorial. Like all Acropora species, it is chemically and physically aggressive toward its neighbors. Due to its plating growth, it can quickly shade out corals below it. It requires ample space, ideally 6 inches or more of clearance from all other corals.
• Temperament: Peaceful toward fish and motile invertebrates, but Highly Aggressive/Territorial toward other corals. It should be positioned in the middle-to-upper region of the aquarium to receive maximum light and strong water flow across its plate to prevent detritus accumulation.
• Water Requirements: Requires zero tolerance for instability. The tank must be mature with ultra-low nutrient levels (Nitrate < 5 ppm, Phosphate < 0.05 ppm). Critical parameters: Alkalinity (dKH 8.0-8.5), Calcium (420-450 ppm), and Magnesium (1300-1400 ppm). Demands very intense, high-PAR lighting (PAR 350-550+).

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Acropora sp. (Likely a variant of A. efflorescens)
• Primary Common Name: Purple Planet Acropora
• Other Common Names: Purple Planet Acro, Green Polyp Purple Acro
• Origin: Cultured/Maricultured (Originals from the Indo-Pacific)
• Max Size: Can grow into large, thick plates (12+ inches in diameter)
• Temperament: Peaceful (Aggressive/Territorial toward other corals)
• Diet: Photosynthetic (Zooxanthellate; benefits from plankton/aminos)
• Minimum Tank Size: 75 Gallons (Established, dedicated SPS reef)
• Reef Compatibility: Yes, but requires expert-level spacing and stability.
• Care Level: Expert Only