Acropora tenuis is a small-polyp stony coral distributed across the Indo-Pacific. Compared to its workhorse cousin millepora, tenuis has finer corallites, more delicate branching, and a tendency toward multi-color polyp expression that has made it the foundation species of the most expensive coral cultivars in the hobby.
If millepora is the family sedan of Acropora, tenuis is the supercar - faster to color up, more demanding to keep, and producing the most prized named lineages: Walt Disney Tenuis, Holy Grail, Superman, Tropic Marin, Pengs Heart of the Ocean, Tyree Superman.
Tenuis demands stricter parameter stability than millepora. Alkalinity swings of even 0.5 dKH can trigger RTN. Treat tenuis as the canary in your reef: when tenuis is happy, your system is dialed.
What makes tenuis special: certain lineages express multiple distinct polyp colors across a single colony - reds, oranges, blues, greens, purples, all visible simultaneously. Walt Disney Tenuis is the signature example, with Mickey Mouse-multicolor polyps reading like a Pixar palette.
Achieving this expression requires:
Same as Acropora millepora but with higher RTN sensitivity. AEFW dipping is mandatory before introducing any tenuis to a display.
Click any cultivar to see its lineage history.
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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