Acropora Millepora Care Guide: Beginner SPS Coral

Most reefers cut their SPS teeth on Acropora millepora, and for good reason. This acropora millepora care guide sps covers the species that routinely survives beginner alkalinity swings and questionable husbandry while more demanding acros STN in days. Gensou Aquascaping in Everton Park stocks A. millepora as a first acro for Singapore reefers transitioning from LPS. It accepts a wider PAR band than most Acropora, encrusts quickly onto frag plugs, and shows off the pinks, greens, and purples that define the genus without demanding perfect parameters.

Quick Facts

• Scientific name: Acropora millepora
• Care level: beginner SPS, most forgiving acro
• PAR range: 200-400, accepts 150 low end
• Flow: moderate to strong, turbulent and varied
• Alkalinity: 8-9 dKH stable, swings under 0.5 dKH/day
• Ca 420-440 ppm, Mg 1300-1400 ppm
• No target feeding — SPS rely on photosynthesis

Identifying Millepora

Millepora forms short, stubby branches with small, raised corallites that give the surface a pebbled or “millipede” texture — the name comes from this. Colonies grow in compact, rounded shapes rather than the tall, arborescent form of A. tenuis or A. tortuosa. Common morphs in Singapore include orange, pink, green polyp, and the popular “Hulk” green pieces at $40-120 per frag.

Lighting and PAR

Place millepora frags at 200-300 PAR for the first month, then ramp to 300-400 once encrusted. A. millepora colours up at higher PAR but tolerates 150 on shaded rockwork without bleaching. Blue-heavy reef spectra (Radion Pro Gen 5, Hydra 32/64, ReefBreeders Photon) at 60-80% intensity typically land in range. Avoid sudden light increases — acclimatise new frags under a mesh screen for 5-7 days.

Flow Requirements

Moderate to strong turbulent flow, 20-40x tank turnover. Stagnant flow breeds cyano and algae on the branches. Direct laminar blast stunts polyp extension. Gyre pumps on alternating modes or two powerheads on opposing cycles produce the reef-crest turbulence acros prefer. When polyps extend fully during the day, flow is correct.

Alkalinity Stability Is Everything

A. millepora tolerates alkalinity between 7.5 and 9.5 dKH, but it will STN — slow tissue necrosis — from swings over 0.5 dKH in 24 hours. Two-part dosing or a calcium reactor keeps levels steady. Test alkalinity three times weekly with a Hanna checker and adjust dosing slowly. Never correct a reading of 7.2 dKH back to 9.0 in one dose; step up 0.2-0.3 dKH per day.

Supporting Parameters

Calcium 420-440 ppm, magnesium 1300-1400 ppm, salinity 1.025-1.026. Nitrate 1-5 ppm and phosphate 0.02-0.05 ppm — SPS colour darkens at high nutrients and pales at zero. Singapore tap water needs RO/DI treatment; PUB chloramines destroy beneficial bacteria. Run the tank at 25-26°C with a chiller.

No Target Feeding

Unlike LPS, SPS acropora do not benefit from target feeding. They pull nitrogen and phosphorus from fish waste and pick up dissolved organics from the water column. Overfeeding the tank to “feed the acros” causes algae blooms and browning. Amino acid dosing at low doses (a few drops per 100 litres daily) supports colour in ultra-low-nutrient systems.

Pests to Watch For

Acropora-eating flatworms (AEFW) and red bugs are the two main threats. AEFW eggs survive most dips — quarantine all new acros in a frag tank for 76 days minimum. Red bugs appear as yellow specks on branches; treat with Interceptor (milbemycin oxime) per standard reef protocols. Dip every new frag in Bayer or CoralRx regardless of source.

Singapore Considerations

HDB reef tanks benefit from millepora’s compact growth form — a frag stays manageable for 12-18 months before needing colony placement. Indo-Pacific aquacultured millepora from Bali ships weekly to Singapore importers. Maricultured pieces at $40-80 encrust faster than wild pieces but often show less intense colour until adapted.

Related Reading

Acropora Coral Care Guide SPS
How to Frag SPS Corals Acropora
Red Bugs on Acropora Treatment
Calcium Alkalinity Stability Reef
Two Part Dosing Guide Reef Tank