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Datasheet
| Care Description | When it comes to diversity, it is hard to think of a more visually diverse group of corals than Favia. These brain corals develop multiple growth forms and come in just about every color and pattern imaginable. The diversity however is a little bit deceptive. Have you ever got the feeling that the term Favia covered a lot of corals that looked somewhat different? You are not alone.Favia brain corals were one of the largest categories of large polyp stony corals in the reef aquarium hobby. At one time there were nearly 100 species of Favia but now that number dwindled down to only two, Favia fragum, and Favia gravida, both of which are Caribbean species. That means that there are essentially zero Favia brains in the reef aquarium hobby because stony corals from the Caribbean are illegal to collect. So what happened to all these species of Favia? Coral taxonomists over the years reclassified them into other genera as more information was uncovered. Most of the corals that were once classified as Favia are now Dipsastraea, Goniastrea, Coelastrea, or Favites. |
| Water Flow | Low to Moderate |
| Temperature | 22.2°C / 71.96°F - 25.6°C / 78.08°F |
| Specific Gravity | 1.023-1.026 |
| Carbonate Hardness | 8-12 |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
General Description
Favia corals exhibit a wide array of growth forms and vibrant colors, making them visually diverse within the reef aquarium hobby. While once numerous, the species of Favia have now been reduced to two Caribbean species due to reclassification by coral taxonomists into other genera such as Dipsastraea, Goniastrea, Coelastrea, or Favites.
Demands and Hardiness
Setup: Favia corals are known for their surprising fast growth and exceptional hardiness, making them relatively easy to care for in a reef aquarium environment.
Water Flow: Favia corals are tolerant of a range of flow patterns, thriving in low to medium water flow conditions.
Water Conditions: These corals prefer a stable environment with a temperature ranging between 22.2 to 25.6 degrees Celsius, a pH level of 8.1-8.4, a specific gravity of 1.023-1.026, and a carbonate hardness (KH) of 8-12.
Lighting
Favia corals thrive under low to moderate lighting conditions, typically around 50 to 100 PAR. Higher lighting intensities can lead to bleaching and stress for the corals, necessitating a move to a shadier area of the tank.
Water Flow
Favia corals benefit from a moderate water flow setup. Excessive flow can damage the corals, while inadequate flow may lead to detritus settling on the colonies, creating dead spots. Spot feeding with temporary flow shutdown aids in food consumption and prevents wastage.
Feeding
Favia corals primarily rely on their zooxanthellae for nutrition, but direct feeding is beneficial. A variety of frozen fish foods, such as shrimp, fish, and squid with vitamin additives and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), can serve as excellent meals for Favia corals. Feeding particles should be small enough for the polyps to ingest fully, with Favites corals generally having smaller mouths compared to Favia.
Propagation
Propagation of Favia corals varies among different genera, with some varieties growing rapidly while others exhibit slower growth rates. Although Favia corals can be easily cut and heal well from propagation, the differing growth rates pose a challenge for long-term commercial aquaculture efforts.
Localization & Habitat
Favia corals are found in the islands of the Indo-Pacific region, including Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. Due to certain legal restrictions, Caribbean Favia species are not present in the current reef aquarium hobby scene.