Acan Lord (Micromussa lordhowensis)
Looking for the ultimate collector's coral to build a jaw-dropping, multicoloured mosaic on your sandbed? The Acan Lord (formerly known as Acanthastrea lordhowensis) is arguably the most heavily collected Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral in the reefing hobby, famous for its massive, fleshy polyps and absolutely unbelievable colour variations.
Unlike the tight, encrusting habit of the Acan Echinata, the Acan Lord grows distinct, individual corallites (heads) that puff up enormously during the day. Available in nearly every colour of the rainbow—from deep metallic reds and toxic greens to highly prized, multi-coloured "rainbow" morphs—their thick, textured flesh completely hides their stony skeleton. Under blue actinic lighting, a healthy colony of Acan Lords looks like a glowing, alien cushion.
At UKReef Hampshire, we absolutely love Acan Lords because they are incredibly rewarding to feed and grow. Best of all, different colour morphs of Micromussa lordhowensis will not sting each other, meaning you can pack them tightly together on the sandbed to create a stunning, high-contrast "Acan Garden"!
Quick Care Guide:
Care Level: Easy to Moderate. They are very forgiving and hardy, making them a fantastic entry into LPS corals, but they do require stable Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium levels to grow new stony heads.
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive. While they are peaceful towards other Acan Lords, they will deploy mesenterial filaments (stomach tissue) at night to sting competing species. ⚠️ Important: Keep them far away from their cousin, the Acan Echinata, which will quickly overpower and eat them!
Placement: Bottom. They belong strictly on the sandbed or on very low, flat pieces of rock rubble.
Lighting: Low to Moderate. This is the absolute secret to keeping high-end Acans looking their best. If blasted with intense LEDs, their intricate "rainbow" patterns will quickly wash out into a solid, muddy red or orange. Keep them in the lower, dimmer sections of your tank.
Water Flow: Low to Moderate. They only need a gentle, sweeping breeze. Direct, heavy wavemaker flow will cause their thick, fleshy heads to retract tightly against their sharp skeletons, stopping them from opening and feeding.
Feeding: Highly Recommended. Acan Lords are absolute gluttons and thrive on regular meals! Turn off your flow 1-2 times a week and target-feed each individual head with meaty foods like Mysis shrimp, Krill, or high-quality LPS pellets. Feeding them consistently will result in massive, puffy polyps and rapid splitting.