JF Fox Flame Acropora

Overview

The JF Fox Flame Acropora is a premium SPS coral highly prized for its dramatic coloration and elegant branching growth. Under suitable reef conditions, it can develop a striking combination of yellow-green to golden branches with intense pink, red, or magenta growth tips, creating the distinctive flame-like appearance for which this coral is known.

As with other premium Acropora varieties, coloration can vary depending on lighting spectrum, nutrient levels, water chemistry, and aquarium conditions. The JF Fox Flame requires strong lighting, vigorous water movement, and highly stable reef parameters to maintain its best coloration and growth.

Care Requirements

Lighting and Water Flow

The JF Fox Flame Acropora performs best under strong reef lighting. A PAR range of approximately 250–400 is appropriate for many established specimens, with around 300 PAR providing a suitable starting point in many SPS systems.

Provide strong, turbulent, and variable water flow. Broad alternating movement helps deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the colony while preventing detritus from accumulating between its branches.

Avoid directing a concentrated pump stream continuously at the coral. Random or alternating high flow is preferable, especially as the colony becomes larger and denser.

Aquarium Placement

Place the JF Fox Flame Acropora in the middle to upper area of the aquarium where it can receive strong lighting and vigorous water circulation.

Allow enough open space around the coral for future branching growth. Avoid placing it directly beneath larger colonies that may eventually shade it or obstruct water movement.

Good polyp extension, strong coloration, and brightly colored growing tips are positive signs that the placement is appropriate.

Recommended Water Parameters

Feeding

The JF Fox Flame Acropora contains symbiotic zooxanthellae and obtains most of its energy through photosynthesis. Direct feeding is not essential, but very fine suspended foods and dissolved nutrients may support growth and overall health.

• Fine zooplankton-based coral foods.
• Small-particle SPS coral foods.
• Amino acid supplements formulated for reef aquariums.
• Fine suspended nutrients produced during regular fish feeding.

Broadcast feeding in small amounts is generally preferable to heavy target feeding. Avoid excessive supplementation, as elevated nutrients and declining water quality can negatively affect Acropora health and coloration.

Compatibility and Aggression

The JF Fox Flame Acropora is considered moderately aggressive. It does not produce long sweeper tentacles like many LPS corals, but direct contact with neighboring corals may result in tissue damage and competition for space.

Leave sufficient room around the colony to accommodate future branching growth and avoid placing aggressive LPS corals within reach of its branches.

Acclimation

Acclimate the JF Fox Flame gradually to both the aquarium’s water chemistry and lighting. Begin under moderately reduced light intensity and increase exposure gradually over several days or weeks.

Avoid immediately placing a newly introduced frag under maximum lighting, even if the intended final position receives strong PAR. Excessive light during acclimation can result in bleaching or loss of coloration.

When handling the coral, hold it by the frag plug or exposed skeleton whenever possible and avoid touching the living tissue directly.

Signs of Good Health

• Regular polyp extension.
• Strong yellow-green, golden, pink, red, or magenta coloration.
• Brightly colored active growth tips.
• Visible new skeletal growth at branch tips and the encrusting base.
• Healthy tissue completely covering the skeleton.
• No bleaching, tissue recession, RTN, STN, excessive mucus, or visible pests.