Caring for Favites Corals

 What are Favites Corals?

Favites is a species of LPS coral, also known as War Corals or Moon Corals, that are a popular choice among aquarists. Favites are members of the Faviidae family and are found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters around the world. They are a large polyp stony (LPS) coral, with a variety of colors and a starburst pattern radiating from the center. Favites corals are easy to care for and can be a great entry-level coral for beginner aquarists. Favites corals require medium-high lighting and moderate to strong indirect water flow. They can be placed anywhere in the tank, so long as they are not in a high-traffic area. They require plenty of space, as they have a tendency to spread quickly and can easily overgrow other corals. They also benefit from weekly feedings of small, meaty foods, such as mysis shrimp or prepared coral foods. Overall, Favites corals are easy to care for and make a great addition to any reef tank. With the right care, they can thrive and provide a beautiful display of color and texture.

Favites are often confused with Favias

Telling Favia and Favites corals apart can be a bit tricky, as they both belong to the same family, Faviidae. However, there are a few key differences that can help distinguish between the two. The main thing to look for is that Favia polyps have separate walls between them, while Favites polyps have a shared or fused wall. Favia corals are typically larger, with thick, fleshy polyps that are arranged in a circular pattern. Favia corals also tend to be more solitary in nature, and do not form mixed colonies as easily as Favites. Favites corals, on the other hand, are smaller and have thin, delicate polyps that are arranged in a starburst pattern. They also tend to come in a greater variety of colors, from bright green to yellow, orange, and even purple. Favites corals are also much more likely to form large mixed colonies, with each colony consisting of many individual polyps. Overall, the key differences between Favia and Favites corals is style of polyp wall, the size of the polyps, and the pattern in which they are arranged. By looking closely at the coral, it should be easy to tell the two apart. Below is an excellent example of the polyp walls between the two.

Lighting for favites coral

Lighting is an important factor to consider when caring for Favites corals. Favites corals require medium-high lighting in order to thrive. They are best suited for reef tanks with metal halide or high-output LED lighting. This type of lighting should be set to a 12-14 hour light cycle, with the lights ramping up slowly over the course of the first several hours. In addition to the intensity of the lighting, it is important to ensure that the lighting spectrum is suitable for Favites. The ideal spectrum for Favites is mostly blue, with some white and some red. This will help to bring out the vibrant colors of the coral. It is also important to note that Favites corals can be sensitive to light changes, so it is best to keep the lighting cycle and intensity consistent once it is set up.

Water flow needs for favites coral

Water flow is an important factor to consider when caring for Favites corals. Favites corals require moderate indirect water flow in order to thrive. This will help to keep the coral clean, and also allow it to get the nutrients it needs. The best type of water flow for Favites corals is turbulent flow. This type of flow will help to keep the coral clean and also provide oxygenated water, which is necessary for the coral to survive. A wavemaker or powerhead is a great way to achieve turbulent flow. It is also important to note that Favites corals can be sensitive to changes in flow, so it is best to keep the flow consistent once it is set up.

Feeding Favites

Feeding Favites coral is an important factor to consider when caring for Favites corals. Favites corals benefit from weekly feedings of small, meaty foods, such as mysis shrimp or prepared coral foods. This will help to boost the nutrients it needs to survive and thrive. It is important to note that Favites corals can be sensitive to changes in food, so it is best to keep the food consistent once it is set up. It is also important to make sure that the food is small enough for the coral to consume. Overall, with the right care, Favites corals can thrive and provide a beautiful display of color and texture in any reef tank. With the right food, lighting, and water flow, they can be a great addition to any aquarium.

Propagation of favites

Favites corals can easily be propagated, or divided, making it an excellent candidate for aquaculture. Propagating Favites corals is a relatively simple process. The coral can be cut with a wet coral saw, separating it into two or more pieces. It is important to make sure that each piece has at least one polyp attached, as this is necessary for the coral to survive. Once the coral has been propagated, it should be placed in an area of the tank with moderate water movement and lower lighting for a few days to recover.

FAQ

Q: Are Favites Corals aggressive?

A: Yes, they can be quite aggressive towards other nearby corals if not given enough space to grow. As such, it’s important to provide plenty of room for your Favites coral when setting up an aquarium so as not to crowd them out or cause too much competition for resources like light and food within the tank. Additionally, keep an eye on any new additions you might add near your Favites coral as it could become territorial over its own space!

Q: Can I mix different types of Favia with each other?

A: Generally speaking, yes. Mixing different varieties of Favites works well in most cases, they will often grow and fuse together making a very unique colony of different colors. It’s always important to watch any new additions you add to your reef tank for competition with the existing inhabitants for nutrients or causing stress (or death) through aggressive behavior.

conclusion

In conclusion, Favites corals are a great choice for any reef tank. They are easy to care for and can provide a stunning display of color and texture in your reef aquarium. When caring for Favites corals, it is important to provide them with medium-high lighting, moderate water flow, and weekly feedings of small, meaty foods. It is also important to make sure that the lighting and water flow are consistent, as Favites can be sensitive to sudden changes. Overall, with the right care, Favites corals will turn your reef display into a work of art.