Favites sp.

Favites is a striking LPS coral, with individual corallites forming a dense growth with shared walls. The growth pattern is often encrusting and gradually thickening or domed. The coloration varies greatly depending on the individual, and multiple colors and patterns can appear in the same coral.

Favites closely resembles Favia corals in appearance. The clearest difference is in the structure of the corallites: Favites corallites have shared walls, while Favia-type corals have separate walls for individual corallites. In small frags, distinguishing them can still be challenging.

Characteristics

• LPS coral with large and clearly distinguishable corallites
• Corallites have shared walls
• Grows as an encrusting coral, often later forming thick or dome-shaped growths
• Available in numerous different colors and patterns
• Relatively easy to care for in a stable reef aquarium
• Can extend long sweeper tentacles and sting nearby corals

Care

Light: Moderate, about 100–150 PAR. Favites can adapt to stronger lighting, but new coral should be acclimated to light gradually.

Flow: Moderate and indirect. Water movement should keep the coral's surface clean without strong direct flow stressing the soft tissue.

Placement: Leave adequate space around it. Favites can extend sweeper tentacles, especially at night, which can damage nearby corals. A good starting point is at least about 8–10 cm distance from other corals, but more space may be necessary depending on the individual.

Feeding: Obtains much of its energy from its symbiotic algae-containing tissues and nutrients in the water. Separate feeding is not essential, but small protein-rich coral food, mysis, or other suitable zooplankton-like food can support growth.

Recommended Water Parameters

• Temperature: 24–26 °C
• Salinity: 34–35 ppt
• KH: 7–9 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 mg/l
• Magnesium: 1250–1400 mg/l
• Nitrate: 2–15 mg/l
• Phosphate: 0.03–0.15 mg/l
• pH: 8.0–8.4

More important than achieving a precise target for a single value is maintaining water parameters as stable as possible.

Additional Information

• Scientific Name: Favites sp.
• Coral Type: LPS
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Difficulty Level: Easy–Medium
• Light: Moderate, about 100–150 PAR
• Flow: Moderate, indirect
• Aggressiveness: Strong