QUICK STATS

Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Coral Type: LPS / Acan Lord / Micromussa
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Photosynthetic: Yes
Placement: Lower to Middle / Sandbed or Rockwork
Lighting: Low to Moderate
Water Flow: Low to Moderate, Indirect
Approximate Purchase Size: Varies by Frag Size
Approximate Max Size: Colony Growth Depends on Feeding, Stability, Space, and Time

RED MICROMUSSA (ACANTHASTREA) LORDHOWENSIS CORAL

The Red Micromussa (Acanthastrea) Lordhowensis Coral is a colorful LPS coral known for its fleshy polyps, bold red coloration, and rounded “lord” style growth. Although this coral is now generally classified as Micromussa lordhowensis, it is still commonly sold in the reef hobby as Acanthastrea lordhowensis, Acan Lord, or simply Acan. Science updated the label. The hobby mostly squinted at it and kept using the old one, because naturally.

This Red Micromussa Lord may show shades of red, cherry red, crimson, burgundy, orange-red, pink-red, dark red, or contrasting accent colors depending on lighting, feeding, nutrients, and photography conditions. Some specimens may be mostly solid red, while others may show rings, streaks, centers, mouths, or contrasting edges.

Micromussa Lords are popular because they offer bright color, visible feeding response, and a fleshy LPS appearance without usually requiring intense lighting or harsh flow. They work well in mixed reefs, LPS gardens, and lower-light areas where many SPS corals would dramatically perish and make it everyone’s problem.

The Red Micromussa Lordhowensis Coral is photosynthetic, but it also benefits strongly from feeding. Regular target feeding can help support polyp inflation, growth, coloration, and new head development. This coral is one of those rare reef animals that actually rewards feeding instead of immediately turning your nutrient levels into an administrative crisis.

This coral is considered semi-aggressive. It may extend feeding tentacles and can sting nearby corals if placed too close. Leave space around the colony, especially near other fleshy LPS corals. It looks soft and polite, which is exactly how reef tanks trick people into making expensive spacing mistakes.

Note: Image is a representation of what to expect. The coral you receive may vary slightly in size, number of polyps, red intensity, patterning, accent colors, polyp inflation, and overall appearance.

AQUARIUM REQUIREMENTS

AQUARIUM SIZE

A minimum aquarium size of 10-20 gallons or larger is recommended for Red Micromussa Lordhowensis, though larger mature reef systems are preferred. Larger aquariums provide better water stability, more placement options, and more room for surrounding corals.

Micromussa Lords do not require a massive aquarium, but they do appreciate stable reef conditions. Smaller tanks can work, but swings in salinity, alkalinity, nutrients, and temperature happen faster. Naturally, this is where people often decide to “just wing it,” because apparently coral ownership needed a gambling component.

PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Red Micromussa Lordhowensis is best placed in the lower to middle areas of the aquarium where it receives low to moderate lighting and gentle indirect flow. Sandbed placement or lower rockwork placement both work well as long as the coral is stable and not being blasted.

Sandbed Placement: Micromussa Lords often do well on the sandbed in reef aquariums with moderate to strong lighting. Place the coral where it will not be buried, flipped, or irritated by sand movement.

Rock Placement: Lower rockwork placement works well if the coral is secure and has room to grow. Avoid sharp edges rubbing against fleshy tissue.

LPS Garden Placement: Micromussa Lords can work well in LPS gardens with other lower-flow corals, but spacing is still important. Do not let neighboring corals touch.

Spacing: Leave several inches between this coral and nearby corals. Micromussa Lords can sting, especially during feeding or nighttime extension.

Avoid High SPS Zones: Do not place this coral in intense light and harsh flow meant for Acropora. That is not “premium placement.” That is fleshy coral bullying with equipment.

WATER PARAMETERS

Red Micromussa Lordhowensis is fairly forgiving for an LPS coral, but it still needs stable reef conditions. Stable parameters are more important than chasing exact numbers. Sudden swings can cause tissue recession, poor inflation, fading color, reduced feeding response, or polyp loss.

Temperature: 75-79°F
pH Level: 8.1-8.4
Salinity: 1.024-1.026 specific gravity
Alkalinity: 8-10 dKH
Calcium: 400-450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250-1350 ppm
Nitrate: 5-15 ppm
Phosphate: 0.03-0.10 ppm

Avoid ultra-low nutrient systems with this coral. Micromussa Lords often look better and inflate more fully with some available nutrients and regular feeding. Sterile water may sound clean, but to fleshy LPS it can feel like being asked to thrive inside a polished desert.

LIGHTING

Red Micromussa Lordhowensis prefers low to moderate lighting. A general target range of 50-100 PAR works well for many Micromussa Lords, though some may adapt slightly higher if acclimated slowly.

LIGHTING RECOMMENDATIONS

Low to Moderate PAR: Start around 50-75 PAR if newly added, especially if the coral is freshly shipped or coming from lower light.

Gradual Acclimation: If moving into stronger light, increase exposure slowly over several days to weeks.

Color Protection: Too much light can cause fading, bleaching, color morphing, or tissue stress. Red and rainbow-type Micromussa Lords may shift color under intense lighting.

Best Display: Red Micromussa Lords often show strong color under lower to moderate reef lighting with a blue-heavy spectrum.

Too Much Light: Signs may include shrinking, bleaching, faded color, tight tissue, exposed skeleton, or refusal to inflate.

Too Little Light: Signs may include dull coloration, stretching toward light, poor growth, or reduced overall energy.

Do not place a fresh Red Micromussa Lord directly under a light cannon because the red looked expensive. That is not reef keeping. That is using photons as a blunt instrument.

WATER FLOW

Red Micromussa Lordhowensis prefers low to moderate indirect flow. Flow should be enough to keep debris from settling on the coral, but not so strong that the fleshy tissue is pulled tightly against the skeleton.

FLOW RECOMMENDATIONS

Ideal Flow: Low to moderate, gentle, indirect flow that softly moves across the coral.

Avoid Direct Flow: Strong direct flow can cause tissue irritation, poor inflation, exposed skeleton, or recession.

Avoid Dead Spots: Too little flow can allow detritus to collect between polyps or around the skeleton, leading to irritation or algae growth.

Watch Polyp Inflation: Healthy Micromussa should look full and fleshy when settled. If the tissue stays tight or pulled, check flow and lighting.

Feeding Response: Slightly calmer flow during target feeding helps the coral capture food more effectively.

The goal is gentle movement, not a coral wind tunnel. If the polyps look like they are clinging to the skeleton for emotional support, the flow is probably too much.

DIET

Red Micromussa Lordhowensis is photosynthetic, but it benefits greatly from feeding. Regular feeding can improve growth, polyp inflation, coloration, and new head development.

PRIMARY DIET

Photosynthesis: Low to moderate reef lighting provides baseline energy through symbiotic zooxanthellae.

Target Feeding: Offer small meaty foods directly to the polyps when feeding tentacles are visible.

Frozen Food: Mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, reef blends, and small LPS-appropriate frozen foods work well.

Pellets: Small sinking coral pellets or LPS pellets may be accepted.

Amino Acids / Coral Nutrition: Amino acids and LPS coral foods can be used carefully in established systems.

Particle Size: Use appropriately sized food. Large chunks can be rejected or rot against the tissue, because apparently even coral can judge portion control.

FEEDING FREQUENCY

Feed 1-2 times per week for maintenance and growth. More frequent feeding may increase growth but can also raise nutrients if the system is not able to process the added food.

Turn down flow briefly during feeding if needed. Allow the coral time to grab and swallow food before restoring normal flow.

COMPATIBILITY

Red Micromussa Lordhowensis works well in mixed reef and LPS-focused aquariums when placed with proper spacing, gentle flow, and moderate lighting.

COMMON TANK MATES

Fish: Reef-safe fish such as clownfish, gobies, blennies, wrasses, cardinalfish, firefish, tangs, anthias, and other peaceful to semi-peaceful community fish.

Avoid: Fish known to nip fleshy LPS corals, such as some angelfish, butterflyfish, puffers, filefish, and certain triggers.

Invertebrates: Generally safe with cleaner shrimp, snails, hermit crabs, and other common reef invertebrates. Some shrimp may steal food during target feeding because apparently theft is also part of the reef ecosystem.

Coral: Keep away from aggressive corals such as torches, hammers, frogspawn, galaxea, favias, chalices, hydnophora, and other stinging LPS.

Micromussa / Acan Gardens: Micromussa Lords can often be placed near other Micromussa Lords, but leave room for tissue expansion and growth. Different colonies should not be forced to touch unless you enjoy slow coral negotiations conducted through stinging.

BEHAVIORAL NOTES

Temperament: Semi-aggressive. Micromussa Lords can extend feeding tentacles and may sting nearby corals.

Growth Pattern: Forms fleshy, rounded polyps over a hard calcium carbonate skeleton. New heads may develop around the colony edge over time.

Name Note: This coral may be listed as Micromussa lordhowensis, Acanthastrea lordhowensis, Acan Lord, or Acan. In most hobby contexts, these names are referring to the same lord-style coral.

Coloration: May show red, cherry red, crimson, burgundy, orange-red, pink-red, dark red, or contrasting accent colors depending on lighting, nutrients, feeding, and photography conditions.

Polyp Inflation: Healthy polyps should look full and fleshy once settled. Poor inflation can be caused by too much light, too much flow, pests, irritation, hunger, or unstable parameters.

Feeding Tentacles: Feeding tentacles may appear at night or when food is in the water. This is normal and useful for target feeding.

Skeleton Safety: Avoid placing the coral where fleshy tissue is pressed against sharp rock or exposed skeleton edges.

Tissue Recession: Receding tissue can result from excessive light, harsh flow, unstable alkalinity, starvation, aggression, pests, or physical damage.

Color Shifts: Micromussa Lords can change coloration under different lighting intensity and spectrum. A coral that was red in one system may shift slightly in another, because apparently even LPS corals have lighting opinions.

Dipping: Coral dipping before introduction is strongly recommended. Use coral-safe dips according to product directions and inspect the frag plug and skeleton closely.

Pest Awareness: Inspect carefully for flatworms, nudibranchs, algae, vermetid snails, sponge overgrowth, and other hitchhikers before placing into the display.

Frag Handling: Handle by the plug, base, or skeleton whenever possible. Avoid touching or squeezing the fleshy polyps.

Placement Reality: This coral can become a bright red LPS showpiece, but it needs gentle flow, moderate light, and space. Micromussa Lords look soft and polite, then sting their neighbors like tiny decorative goblins.

ACCLIMATION PROCESS

This acclimation method helps reduce stress by gradually introducing the coral to your aquarium’s temperature, lighting, and water chemistry.

1. DIM THE LIGHTS

Turn down aquarium lights or place the coral in a shaded lower area at first. This helps reduce stress while the coral adjusts.

2. FLOAT THE BAG

Float the sealed bag in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes to allow the temperature in the bag to equalize with the tank.

3. OPEN BAG, ADD CORAL TO CONTAINER

Carefully open the bag and transfer the coral and shipping water into a clean container. Handle the coral by the plug, base, or skeleton rather than touching or squeezing the fleshy polyps.

4. ACCLIMATE USING TANK WATER

Add small amounts of tank water to the container every few minutes for 20-30 minutes. Avoid exposing the coral tissue to air longer than necessary.

5. CORAL DIP

Use a coral-safe dip according to the product instructions. Inspect carefully for pests, algae, sponge growth, vermetid snails, and hitchhikers before the coral enters your aquarium.

6. TRANSFER CORAL TO AQUARIUM

Place the coral in a lower-light area with gentle indirect flow at first. Discard the shipping and dip water. Do not pour shipping water or dip water into your aquarium.

7. LIGHT ACCLIMATE

Allow the coral to adjust gradually over several days to weeks before moving it into brighter light. Watch for polyp inflation, feeding response, coloration, tissue health, and new head growth before making major placement changes.