Acanthastrea lordhowensis, often called Acan Lord, is one of the most colorful and rewarding LPS corals in the reef hobby because it combines bold coloration, fleshy polyp texture, and relatively manageable care in a stable aquarium. Known for its bright reds, oranges, greens, blues, and multicolor patterns, Acan Lord can become a real standout in a reef tank when it is given the right balance of placement, feeding, lighting, and water stability. This guide explains how to care for Acanthastrea lordhowensis in a reef tank so it can stay healthy, colorful, and growing long term.

For many reef keepers, Acan Lords are appealing because they offer the look of a premium coral without requiring the same kind of intense care as many SPS species. They respond well to good husbandry, often show a strong feeding response, and can become impressive colonies over time. With proper care, they can be one of the most satisfying corals to keep in a mixed reef or LPS-focused aquarium.

Looking to add colorful LPS corals to your reef tank? Browse our LPS corals for sale and explore healthy corals for your aquarium.

Why Acan Lords Are So Popular in Reef Tanks

• They come in a huge range of bright and collectible colors
• They have fleshy polyps that add texture and depth to the reef tank
• They are usually manageable in stable reef systems
• They respond well to feeding and can grow into beautiful colonies
• They work well in mixed reefs and LPS-dominant aquariums

Acan Lords are especially popular with hobbyists who want a coral that looks high-end and vibrant while still being realistic to keep in a well-maintained home reef tank.

What Is Acanthastrea Lordhowensis?

Acanthastrea lordhowensis is a fleshy large polyp stony coral prized for its thick tissue, round polyps, and striking multicolor patterns. In the hobby, it is often simply called Acan Lord or Lord coral. Healthy colonies can grow into impressive clusters of fleshy heads that stand out strongly against surrounding rockwork.

Because of its shape and color variation, Acan Lord is often used as a showpiece coral in lower and middle areas of reef tanks where its details can be appreciated easily.

Placement Comes First

One of the smartest ways to succeed with Acanthastrea lordhowensis is to focus on placement early. Good placement helps protect the coral from excessive flow, aggression, and lighting shock before any other factor becomes a problem.

• Place Acan Lords in lower to middle tank areas as a practical starting point
• Give them enough room from nearby aggressive corals
• Use a stable rock surface or secure area where the colony will not tumble
• Avoid placing them in direct blasting flow or harsh top-light zones immediately

Thoughtful placement usually makes the rest of Acan Lord care much easier because it reduces stress before it starts.

Water Parameters

Stable water chemistry is one of the biggest keys to keeping Acanthastrea lordhowensis healthy. Although this coral can tolerate a reasonable range, it performs best when the system stays steady and clean.

• Temperature: 75-80°F
• Salinity: 1.024-1.026
• pH: 8.1-8.4
• Alkalinity: 8-11 dKH
• Calcium: 400-450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250-1350 ppm
• Nitrate: below 5 ppm
• Phosphate: below 0.03 ppm

Regular testing is important because Acan Lords can become stressed by unstable salinity, alkalinity swings, or broader water quality decline. Stability usually matters more than constant small corrections.

If you are working on chemistry stability, read our guide on pH and alkalinity in reef tanks.

Lighting Requirements

Acanthastrea lordhowensis usually does best under moderate to moderately high lighting. Since it contains symbiotic zooxanthellae, it relies on light for much of its energy, but too much intensity can still cause stress or bleaching.

• Moderate to moderately high lighting is usually best
• LED lighting works very well when intensity is adjusted carefully
• Slow acclimation is safer than sudden exposure to stronger light
• Too much direct intensity can wash out color or stress tissue

If you are unsure where to start, place the coral in a moderate-light zone and only move it gradually if the coral responds well over time.

If you want to understand reef lighting better, read our guide on reef tank lighting.

Feeding Acan Lord Coral

Acanthastrea lordhowensis is a mixotrophic coral, which means it benefits from both photosynthesis and direct feeding. Supplemental feeding can help improve tissue fullness, coloration, and long-term growth.

• Offer small meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, or finely chopped seafood
• Target feeding can work very well with Acan Lords
• Feed once or twice a week as a practical starting point
• Avoid overfeeding because it can hurt water quality

Acan Lords often show a satisfying feeding response, which is one reason they are so enjoyable to keep. Balanced feeding supports the coral without pushing nutrients too high in the tank.

Water Flow

Acanthastrea lordhowensis prefers moderate water flow. Too little movement can allow debris to collect around the coral, while too much direct flow can damage tissue and keep polyps retracted.

• Moderate indirect flow is usually ideal
• Avoid strong or turbulent direct blasting
• Use gentle surrounding movement to keep the coral clean
• The coral should look relaxed and expanded, not flattened or constantly withdrawn

A powerhead or wavemaker can be used to create a gentle circulating pattern around the coral without aiming a strong stream directly at it.

If you want to learn more about circulation, read our guide on water flow and coral health.

Compatibility With Other Corals and Fish

Acanthastrea lordhowensis is usually considered a peaceful coral, but placement still matters because nearby corals can sting it or crowd it over time.

• Keep it away from aggressive LPS corals with long sweeper tentacles
• Avoid placing it where territorial fish may constantly bother it
• Leave enough room for the colony to expand outward as it grows
• Watch neighboring corals closely in mixed reef layouts

Acan Lords generally do well in mixed reef tanks when spacing is planned carefully from the beginning.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

Good maintenance habits make a big difference in long-term Acan Lord health. Most problems are easier to prevent than fix later.

• Test water parameters regularly
• Perform routine water changes
• Keep pumps and equipment clean so flow remains stable
• Monitor the coral for changes in color, tissue, and feeding response

Routine observation is especially useful because Acan Lords often show visible signs when something in the environment is off.

Common Signs of Stress in Acanthastrea Lordhowensis

• Tissue recession
• Loss of color or faded appearance
• Poor feeding response
• Polyps remaining tightly retracted
• Damage from nearby corals or excessive flow

If these signs appear, check recent changes in lighting, water chemistry, flow patterns, and neighboring coral placement before the problem becomes more severe.

How to Tell If Your Acan Lord Is Healthy

• Polyps remain fleshy and inflated
• Color stays rich and stable
• The coral responds to feeding
• There is no visible recession around the skeleton
• The colony looks settled and comfortable in its placement zone

A healthy Acan Lord usually looks bright, fleshy, and calm in the aquarium. A colony that stays withdrawn too long is usually signaling that something should be adjusted.

Best Tank Setup for Acan Lord Coral

Acanthastrea lordhowensis usually does best in reef tanks with:

• Stable water chemistry
• Moderate to moderately high lighting
• Moderate indirect flow
• Regular supplemental feeding
• Enough room away from aggressive coral neighbors

It is a strong choice for hobbyists who want a colorful, fleshy LPS coral that can become a major visual highlight in the reef tank.

Related Corals You May Also Like

If you are interested in Acanthastrea lordhowensis, you may also want to explore other colorful LPS corals and related reef tank guides:

• Browse LPS corals for sale
• Acanthastrea Echinata care guide
• Micromussa coral care guide
• Scolymia coral care guide
• LPS corals overview

Ready to add a colorful Acan Lord to your reef tank? Browse our LPS corals for sale and explore healthy additions for your aquarium.

Shop Acan Lords and LPS Corals

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Final Thoughts

Acanthastrea lordhowensis is a beautiful and hardy coral that can add strong color and personality to a reef tank when lighting, feeding, water flow, placement, and chemistry are all handled properly. With stable care and regular observation, Acan Lords can grow, expand, and remain one of the most rewarding LPS corals in the aquarium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Acanthastrea lordhowensis beginner friendly?
A: Yes, often. It is usually considered a manageable LPS coral in a stable reef tank.

Q: What lighting does Acan Lord need?
A: Moderate to moderately high lighting is usually a strong starting point, with careful acclimation.

Q: Does Acan Lord need feeding?
A: Yes, supplemental feeding can help. Small meaty foods once or twice a week often support fuller tissue and better growth.

Q: What flow is best for Acanthastrea lordhowensis?
A: Moderate indirect flow is usually best because it keeps the coral clean without damaging fleshy polyps.

Q: Why is my Acan Lord losing color or tissue?
A: Common causes include unstable water quality, poor placement, too much flow, lighting stress, or irritation from nearby corals.

About the Author

Scott Shiles is the owner of ExtremeCorals.com, which he has operated for over 25 years and is recognized as one of the early dedicated live coral websites on the internet. A lifelong reef keeper since 1984, Scott has decades of hands-on experience maintaining marine aquariums and previously owned and operated a brick and mortar aquarium retail store for 10 years, including five years alongside Extreme Corals. He holds a degree in Marine Biology and has personally selected and sold hundreds of thousands of live corals. An avid scuba diver who has explored reef systems around the world, Scott shares practical coral care and husbandry knowledge based on real world reef experience.