Favia Coral

Favia corals are a well-established part of the reef aquarium hobby, known for their interesting textures and a wide range of colours. While many species have been reclassified over the years into genera like Dipsastraea, the common name "Favia" has stuck for these familiar and hardy brain corals. They are characterized by their fleshy polyps, each housed in its own distinct corallite, giving them a bumpy, textured surface. In a home reef, Favia typically grows in an encrusting or submassive boulder shape, gradually covering the rockwork it is placed on. At night, its polyps will extend for feeding, which can be an interesting sight to observe. This genus is known for a wide array of colour combinations, commonly displaying greens, reds, oranges, and purples, often with contrasting colours between the oral disc and the surrounding polyp wall. For best results, place Favia corals in the lower to middle sections of the aquarium where they will receive low to moderate lighting, somewhere in the 75-150 PAR range. They appreciate moderate, indirect water flow that is strong enough to keep their surface clean but not so strong that it prevents polyp extension. While photosynthetic, they benefit from target feeding once or twice a week with small meaty foods. Like other LPS corals, they require stable alkalinity (8-9 dKH), calcium (420-440 ppm), and magnesium (1300-1400 ppm). Be sure to give them adequate space, as they can extend potent sweeper tentacles at night that will sting neighbouring corals. Favia are generally quite hardy and make a great addition for adding colour and a classic brain coral texture to the aquascape. Their steady, predictable growth makes them a rewarding coral to keep long-term in a well-maintained mixed reef system. Their care requirements are straightforward for a hobbyist who has a handle on stable water parameters. This is a WYSIWYG item, so you'll receive the exact specimen pictured.