GARF Bonsai
A variant of Acropora coral (Acropora sp.)
Representative Acropora coralphoto — a dedicated image of this exact morph isn't available yet.
A compact, twiggy 'bonsai' Acropora (most often considered *Acropora valida*) with blue-violet branches and neon green polyps, named for its dense, miniature growth form.
📜 Backstory
Named after GARF (the Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation), a pioneering reef-aquaculture organization in the early hobby. It is one of the oldest and most widely fragged hobby acros, still traded across Reef2Reef and vendor sites like Top Shelf Aquatics.
Keeper tips for this variant
Grows best in moderate-to-high light (PAR ~200-250) and moderate-to-high flow; acclimate carefully and leave it put, as it can take months to resume normal growth after a move.
Other SPS Corals variants
Staghorn / Table Acropora (growth forms)Named designer acros (e.g. ORA, Tyree, WWC morphs)Green Slimer (Acropora yongei)Tricolor / Tricolor Valida (Acropora valida)Pink/Purple Stylophora-tip 'Strawberry Shortcake' (Acropora microclados)Walt Disney (Acropora tenuis)Red Planet (Acropora millepora)Bali/German 'Slimer' & Staghorn forms (Acropora formosa/muricata)Garf Bonsai (Acropora sp.)Strawberry Shortcake (SSC) AcroporaOregon Tort (Oregon Blue Tortuosa)Rainbow TenuisRed Dragon AcroporaPink Lemonade AcroporaCali Tort (California Blue Tortuosa)Tierra del Fuego (TDF) AcroporaPikachu AcroporaJason Fox Homewrecker / Miyagi TortPink Cadillac AcroporaWalt DisneyStrawberry ShortcakeWWC Red ShortcakeOregon TortJason Fox HomewreckerTyree Pink LemonadeJackson's Rainbow TenuisRed PlanetMiyagi TortHawkins EchinataORA PearlberryCotton Candy TenuisVivid's Bali ShortcakeJF Fox FlameCC Pink Highlighter Tenuis