Acropora millepora is widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to French Polynesia. In the wild it forms dense colonies on shallow reef flats and slopes, with corymbose (table-like) to digitate (finger-like) growth. The species is named for its thousands of pores - the tightly packed corallites that give the surface its characteristic textured appearance.
In the aquarium hobby, millepora is the most-traded named Acropora species. It tolerates a wider parameter range than tenuis or echinata, grows reliably under standard reef lighting, and is the parent species of approximately 100 named cultivars including Pink Lemonade, Sunset Milli, ORA Pearlberry, RR Pearlberry, ORA Joe Bob, Vivid Sunshine Milli, and Booms Gold Nugget.
Millepora prefers moderate-to-high light and turbulent flow, with stable alkalinity above all other parameters.
Millepora performs best in the upper third of the tank with high random flow. Two opposing power heads are ideal; a single laminar flow source will create dead spots that lead to algae attachment and tip burn. Avoid placing millepora directly under MH or T5 hot spots without first acclimating from lower in the tank.
New frags should be acclimated to lighting over 14 to 21 days. Drop them into a low-light spot (150 to 200 PAR) for the first week, move them up gradually, and watch for any pale tips or polyp retraction as warning signs.
Acropora millepora is reef-safe with the rest of the SPS guild and most LPS, with one big caveat: keep at least 4 inches of separation from chemically aggressive corals (chalice, frogspawn, hammer, torch, anemones). Tankmates that pose problems include angelfish (some species nip polyps), large butterflyfish, parrotfish (don't keep them in reefs), and any livestock that disrupts flow.
Click any cultivar to see its lineage history and current vendor offers.
+85 more millepora cultivars in our catalog.
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.
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