Acan Bowerbanki

Known in the hobby as "Acan bowerbanki," this species forms colonies that spread over rock and usually stay small. The corallites are irregular and angular; a larger main corallite often stands out in the center. Its tissue is not as thick as that of the Acan lord. In the wild it is mostly gray, brown or rust-colored; colorful forms from Australia are sold in the trade. With a 2016 revision it was moved from Acanthastrea to the genus Homophyllia. Its trade is subject to CITES Appendix II; choose an aquacultured frag.

• Light: Low to moderate, about 50–150 PAR.
• Flow: Low to moderate and indirect.
• Placement: The lower zone of the rockwork. Because it is of subtropical origin, avoid temperatures above 26°C.
• Water parameters: Salinity 1.024–1.026, KH 7–10 dKH, calcium 400–450 mg/L, magnesium 1250–1350 mg/L; do not strip nutrients to zero.

It is photosynthetic; feeding fine-grained LPS food or chopped mysis once or twice a week to the tentacles that open at night supports growth.

It can digest a coral it touches with its mesenterial filaments; leave 5–10 cm between it and its neighbors. It is itself easily harmed by aggressive LPS. Dwarf angelfish and hermit crabs may pick at the tissue.