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Crayola Plana Live Aquacultured Tabletop Acropora SPS Coral

from $28.95

Crayola Plana – Aquacultured Tabletop Acropora (SPS Coral)

Scientific Name:Acropora plana
Classification: Premium SPS Coral

Why It’s Premium:

  • Highly sought-after table Acropora morphology—a rarity in aquaculture

  • Dynamic coloration shifts under varying spectrum and intensity

  • Distinct skeletal architecture adapted for laminar flow and light optimization

  • Each specimen grown from stabilized, disease-free coralSLover® broodstock

The Crayola Plana is one of the most captivating Acropora species in modern reef aquaculture, admired for its breathtaking coloration and unique tabletop growth form. Known for forming broad, plate-like colonies with thin, delicate branches, this coral develops an expansive, layered structure that instantly becomes a centerpiece in any marine aquarium.

At coralSLover®, our Crayola Plana exhibits a stunning mix of rich purple, deep blue, and emerald green hues, interlaced with touches of pink and pristine white. Depending on placement and lighting intensity, the coral’s tones shift beautifully — under high light, its bright pigments intensify to near-fluorescent levels, while under actinic blue spectrum lighting, it reveals subtle, iridescent shades that shimmer with movement.

The Crayola Plana is remarkable not only for its beauty but for its scientific and structural characteristics. This Acropora plana has a brittle skeleton — a signature feature of colonies originating from calm, lower-energy reef environments. Its open branch spacing and larger polyp structure allow moderate water flow to pass through the colony efficiently. Unlike Acropora millepora, its branches are thinner and more widely spaced, and although its tentacles are shorter, the polyps themselves are larger, giving the coral an elegant, airy appearance.

The Crayola Plana demonstrates two distinct coloration types:

  1. The classic morph — a white to pale body with brilliant purple tips (Our coralSLover® The Crayola Plana)

  2. A vivid variant featuring green fluorescent polyps, which add an entirely different dimension of glow under blue or UV reef lighting.
    Both types are unmistakably gorgeous and display high contrast between the core and tips of the colony.

We acquired our original Crayola Plana in 2016 as a small frag for our private coral collection. Since then, we have grown and propagated it into large, healthy colonies entirely within our aquaculture systems — never wild-collectedat any stage. Each coral offered by coralSLover® is aquacultured in a controlled, sustainable environment using modern reefing methods that ensure health, color stability, and environmental responsibility.

Over the years, this coral has proven itself to be one of the most stable SPS species in our systems. It has shown consistent coloration, reliable growth, and exceptional tolerance to variations in water parameters. It also naturally displays minimal or no visible polyp extension, a normal trait for this species and not a sign of stress — rather, it reflects its adaptation to calm, clear reef zones where food particles are captured directly from the passing current.

Scientific Observations:

  • Genus/Species: Acropora plana

  • Growth Form: Tabletop / plating structure with brittle, open branches

  • Polyp Extension: Minimal; polyps are short but large and adapted for passive filtration

  • Habitat Simulation: Performs best in moderate to strong light and variable flow; tolerant of mixed SPS environments

  • Feeding & Flow: Functions similarly to gorgonian-like passive filtration rather than aggressive particulate capture

  • Origin: coralSLover® aquaculture system – originally grown from a frag acquired nearly a decade ago

The Crayola Plana thrives in stable reef conditions with strong, balanced lighting and consistent flow. Its striking coloration, combined with the elegant growth structure, makes it a favorite among serious SPS collectors and aquaculture professionals alike.

At coralSLover®, we are proud to offer this coral as part of our Premium SPS Collection — representing nearly a decade of sustainable propagation and refinement. The Crayola Plana is not just a coral; it’s a living testament to long-term aquaculture success, resilience, and beauty.

Great For:
Advanced reef keepers and SPS collectors seeking architectural coral growth and extreme color contrast. Ideal for showcasing dynamic lighting interplay in modern reef displays.

Free Shipping: When qualified

Size:

Crayola Plana – Aquacultured Tabletop Acropora (SPS Coral)

Scientific Name:Acropora plana
Classification: Premium SPS Coral

Why It’s Premium:

  • Highly sought-after table Acropora morphology—a rarity in aquaculture

  • Dynamic coloration shifts under varying spectrum and intensity

  • Distinct skeletal architecture adapted for laminar flow and light optimization

  • Each specimen grown from stabilized, disease-free coralSLover® broodstock

The Crayola Plana is one of the most captivating Acropora species in modern reef aquaculture, admired for its breathtaking coloration and unique tabletop growth form. Known for forming broad, plate-like colonies with thin, delicate branches, this coral develops an expansive, layered structure that instantly becomes a centerpiece in any marine aquarium.

At coralSLover®, our Crayola Plana exhibits a stunning mix of rich purple, deep blue, and emerald green hues, interlaced with touches of pink and pristine white. Depending on placement and lighting intensity, the coral’s tones shift beautifully — under high light, its bright pigments intensify to near-fluorescent levels, while under actinic blue spectrum lighting, it reveals subtle, iridescent shades that shimmer with movement.

The Crayola Plana is remarkable not only for its beauty but for its scientific and structural characteristics. This Acropora plana has a brittle skeleton — a signature feature of colonies originating from calm, lower-energy reef environments. Its open branch spacing and larger polyp structure allow moderate water flow to pass through the colony efficiently. Unlike Acropora millepora, its branches are thinner and more widely spaced, and although its tentacles are shorter, the polyps themselves are larger, giving the coral an elegant, airy appearance.

The Crayola Plana demonstrates two distinct coloration types:

  1. The classic morph — a white to pale body with brilliant purple tips (Our coralSLover® The Crayola Plana)

  2. A vivid variant featuring green fluorescent polyps, which add an entirely different dimension of glow under blue or UV reef lighting.
    Both types are unmistakably gorgeous and display high contrast between the core and tips of the colony.

We acquired our original Crayola Plana in 2016 as a small frag for our private coral collection. Since then, we have grown and propagated it into large, healthy colonies entirely within our aquaculture systems — never wild-collectedat any stage. Each coral offered by coralSLover® is aquacultured in a controlled, sustainable environment using modern reefing methods that ensure health, color stability, and environmental responsibility.

Over the years, this coral has proven itself to be one of the most stable SPS species in our systems. It has shown consistent coloration, reliable growth, and exceptional tolerance to variations in water parameters. It also naturally displays minimal or no visible polyp extension, a normal trait for this species and not a sign of stress — rather, it reflects its adaptation to calm, clear reef zones where food particles are captured directly from the passing current.

Scientific Observations:

  • Genus/Species: Acropora plana

  • Growth Form: Tabletop / plating structure with brittle, open branches

  • Polyp Extension: Minimal; polyps are short but large and adapted for passive filtration

  • Habitat Simulation: Performs best in moderate to strong light and variable flow; tolerant of mixed SPS environments

  • Feeding & Flow: Functions similarly to gorgonian-like passive filtration rather than aggressive particulate capture

  • Origin: coralSLover® aquaculture system – originally grown from a frag acquired nearly a decade ago

The Crayola Plana thrives in stable reef conditions with strong, balanced lighting and consistent flow. Its striking coloration, combined with the elegant growth structure, makes it a favorite among serious SPS collectors and aquaculture professionals alike.

At coralSLover®, we are proud to offer this coral as part of our Premium SPS Collection — representing nearly a decade of sustainable propagation and refinement. The Crayola Plana is not just a coral; it’s a living testament to long-term aquaculture success, resilience, and beauty.

Great For:
Advanced reef keepers and SPS collectors seeking architectural coral growth and extreme color contrast. Ideal for showcasing dynamic lighting interplay in modern reef displays.

Free Shipping: When qualified

SPS Corals – Build a Vibrant, Thriving Reef

SPS Corals, or Small Polyp Stony Corals, are some of the most eye-catching and rewarding corals you can add to your reef tank. Known for their tiny polyps and strong, rigid skeletons, SPS corals like Acropora, Cyphastrea, Digitata, Pocillopora, Leptastrea, and Montipora create striking shapes and structures that make your aquarium look like a miniature reef landscape. Their delicate polyps often show vivid colors—bright greens, purples, blues, and oranges—that shimmer under blue or actinic lighting, adding movement and life to your display.

SPS corals are slightly more advanced to care for, but their rewards are unmatched. They thrive under high-intensity light and strong water flow, which helps keep their polyps clean and encourages healthy growth. Because they grow on calcium-rich skeletons, they contribute structure and dimension to your reef, creating natural hiding spots for fish and other invertebrates. With proper care, branching Acropora can spread into intricate “tree-like” colonies, while encrusting Montipora and Cyphastrea form colorful plates and mounds that make your tank look vibrant and full.

Despite being higher-maintenance than soft corals or mushrooms, SPS corals are extremely rewarding for hobbyistswho enjoy building complex reefscapes. They respond beautifully to stable water parameters and occasional feeding, and their color intensity often improves under the right conditions. SPS corals are perfect for aquarists who want dynamic texture, bold color, and a living sculpture effect in their tanks.

At coralSLover®, we offer a carefully curated selection of aquacultured SPS corals, sustainably grown to ensure vibrant colors, strong growth, and healthy specimens. Because our corals are grown in controlled aquaculture systems, they have a higher chance of successfully adapting to home reef tanks, providing hobbyists with greater stability and resilience. Each coral is nurtured to thrive in a variety of aquarium conditions, giving you confidence that your SPS collection will flourish and bring lasting beauty to your reef.

Care at a Glance – SPS Corals

Lighting: High and stable PAR levels are crucial for SPS health and vibrant coloration. These corals thrive best under strong, consistent lighting provided by high-quality LED, T5, or hybrid fixtures. Proper acclimation to light intensity helps prevent bleaching and promotes steady growth.

Flow: Strong, turbulent water movement is essential to keep delicate tissues clean, deliver nutrients, and encourage healthy polyp extension. A random, alternating flow pattern works best to mimic natural reef conditions.

Placement: Position SPS frags or colonies on mid to upper rockwork to maximize both light and flow exposure. Secure mounting is important, as SPS corals often encrust rapidly before branching outward. Strategic placement also allows room for future growth without shading neighboring corals.

Water Quality: Pristine and stable water parameters are non-negotiable. Maintain balanced alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium levels, with low but detectable nutrients to sustain healthy growth and coloration. Even small parameter fluctuations can affect SPS polyp extension or lead to color loss, so consistent monitoring and dosing are key.

Feeding: While SPS corals derive most of their energy from photosynthesis via their symbiotic zooxanthellae, they also benefit from occasional broadcast feeding of fine particulate coral foods to enhance growth, coloration, and overall vitality.

Difficulty: Best suited for intermediate to advanced hobbyists. SPS corals thrive in well-established reef systems where conditions remain stable over time and regular testing is part of the routine.

Sustainability: All SPS corals offered by coralSLover are fully aquacultured with zero wild collection, making them eco-conscious, tank-hardy, and better adapted to aquarium life.