Acropora is a genus of small-polyp stony coral (SPS) found across reef systems worldwide. The genus contains roughly 150 described species, of which 30 to 50 enter the aquarium hobby with regularity. They are characterized by branching, table, or staghorn growth forms and dense coloration that ranges from baby blue tenuis to neon green millepora to the bleeding-red Hawkins echinata.
Acropora is also where the named-cultivar economy lives. Below the wild species sits decades of farm-bred and hobbyist-discovered lineages: Pink Lemonade, Walt Disney Tenuis, Strawberry Shortcake, ORA Pearlberry, Tyree Purple Monster, GARF Bonsai, JF Homewrecker. Each is a distinct genetic lineage traced to an originating colony, propagated outward across the hobby through frag trades and limited-edition releases.
Most coral retailers struggle to organize their Acropora inventory beyond "blue Acro" and "rainbow Acro." On Fast Aquatics, every named cultivar gets its own page, its own lineage history, and its own vendor offer aggregation. When you search for Pink Lemonade Acropora, you find the Tyree LE original, sub-lineages, current vendor offers, and verified frag photos. That is the catalog depth no other marketplace operates at.
For full per-species care details, click into the species page. As a genus, Acropora prefers:
Common wild species pages on Fast Aquatics. Click any species to see its named cultivars.
+38 more species pages going live as we onboard founding vendors.
The cultivar economy is shaped by the farms and hobbyists who first introduced each lineage. Fast Aquatics maintains an originator directory with bio, founding year, and complete cultivar list for each.
Each cultivar has its own page with lineage history, distinguishing characteristics, and current vendor offers.
Tyree LE. Pink coloration with bright lemon polyps. One of the foundational LE lineages from Steve Tyree's collection.
Mike Biggar / BigRCorals. Multi-color polyp lineage with cult following. The "true Walt Disney" lineage authenticity is community-tracked.
ORA. Aquacultured pearl-on-pink milli with polyp extension. Reliable grower available across many vendors.
GARF. The original. Foundational hobby Acropora that shaped a generation of reefkeepers. Vibrant green with purple tips.
Tyree. Deep purple body, contrasting polyps. One of the original LE Acropora that built the cultivar economy.
Hawkins. The defining echinata. Bleeding red body with neon green polyps. Foundational hobbyist-named lineage.
+1,490 more cultivars indexed across our database, going live as vendors list inventory.
Whatever specific topic brought you here, four fundamentals govern long-term aquarium success: water quality, parameter stability, biological filtration, and species-appropriate husbandry. Skip any one and the others struggle to compensate.
Water quality: ammonia + nitrite at zero, nitrate under 30 ppm freshwater + 10 ppm reef. Test weekly with API or Salifert kits. Use our water parameter checker to score your readings against your tank type.
Parameter stability: stable wrong parameters beat fluctuating ideal parameters. Most fish tolerate a wide pH range if it's stable. Sudden swings of 0.4+ pH or 5+°F kill fish faster than chronic suboptimal values. Use temperature controllers (Inkbird) + automated dosing for consistency.
Biological filtration: the bacterial colony on your filter media + rock + substrate is the engine. Never replace all media at once. Use our filter turnover calculator to size correctly.
Species-appropriate husbandry: research adult size, territoriality, diet, and tankmate compatibility before purchase. Use our tank stocking calculator + compatibility guides.
How long does an aquarium take to set up? 4-6 weeks for full cycling + first stocking. Use our cycle ETA calculator + how long does cycling take.
What's the best aquarium for beginners? 20-gallon long. Big enough for parameter stability, small enough for budget + space. See beginner picks.
How often should I do water changes? 25-30% weekly. See water change frequency Q&A + water change calculator.
Why does my fish keep dying? 5 leading causes: uncycled tank, wrong species pairings, no quarantine, undersized tank, neglected water-change schedule. See full diagnosis.
Saltwater livestock · Freshwater livestock · Coral catalog · Care library · Q&A library (222) · Glossary (127) · Disease database (50) · Calculators (29) · Interactive tools (7) · Husbandry deep-dives · DIY projects · State legality directory