来自澳大利亚Ultra Coral Australia的NIC使我们有机会参观Micromussa lordhowensis, or ‘Acans land’ and boy, this place didn’t disappoint us. We got lucky to see in their habitat, all the most popular varieties of ‘Lords’ & Micros – Rainbow, Ultra, Pink, Gold, Yellow and of course the classic reds and green, you name it, we saw it!
It’s well known that the bestMicromussa lordhowensiscome from Australia but they don’t exactly come from the same place as most other Aussie corals. Where they are the most abundant is on subtropical, swell pounded, soft corals and sea fan dominated rocky shores. This is the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef.
Soft corals such asSarcophyton sp,叶植物, and Sea Fans are better adapted to heavy swell due to their flexible structure. But the dominant hard coral specie on these rocky reefs isTurbinaria mesenterina. It is growing there, everywhere. Probably that its very dense hard skeleton, and cup shape, helps it to resist in this harsh environment.
Micromussa lordhowensis生活在这座岩石海岸上，以海藻为主。它们只是在岩石上方形成一个薄的包裹层，而收集可能只是刮擦这个珊瑚层而不会破坏它可能很棘手。它们在膨胀破裂的后面往往更丰富。营养成分沉入水柱中，氧气高，就在能量爆破区域后面。
They can only be collected when the swell and wind are down. Visibility is usually just few meters on this shores, due to the proximity of many creeks. The water is heavily charged with sediments and plenty of food available for corals.
即使大多数Micromussa lordhowensis, are collected in quite shallow water, between 3 m (10 ft) and 15 m (45ft), it’s where they are the most abundant. They don’t really like very strong lighting. Probably due to the high turbidity and constant white water at the surface. But for sure they wouldn’t mind being blasted with heavy flow every once in a while.
So the natural habitat of this coral, is nothing close to the really classicAcroporadominated reef tank. But due to this very specific environment, with heavy swell and turbid water, this coral is probably able to adapt well to any kind of environment. If the light is not too strong and the food available, it should do well, in almost any reef tank.
