Care requirements for Favia/favites?

[esmithiii]

Anyone with experience keeping this coral? Hardiness? Care instructions? I am planning for the future and it is a coral I have wanted for a while.

180G RR w/ 50G sump, DSB, 270 lbs LR, 2x400W MH, 2x96W PC Actinic, Reverse daylight refugium in sump w/ caulerpa. Tank is 3 months old w/ coraline growth really taking off.

Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Ca 450 Alk 2.25 and rising. Salinity 1.025

E

 

[davelin315]

Just drop it somewhere it will get light, and you're done. It's a very easy coral to keep. Not much different from keeping a piece of calustrea coral. Just watch out for the edges receding from not getting light. Not that this will kill it, but it will produce unsightly edges.

 

[Roach]

I have one favite in my system and it is one of my favorit corals. It look like mint chip because it is brownish-black with mint green spots. The only thing I really do for this coral is make sure to blow off the rocks right before the lights go out. Then you can see it's little feelers come out and grab stuff out of the water column. Other then placing under a good light their pretty hardy.

 

[esmithiii]

How about placement? High close to the lights or lower? Do they need allot of water movement?

Thanks in advance,

Ernie

 

[phoenix1]

I have 3 pieces and all are placed low in the tank or on the substrate. Light is low to moderate with low to moderate flow. Be cautious of sweeper tentacles which can sting other corals. I feed the tank 2-3x daily with homemade food (Borneman's recipe) and DT phytoplankton 2-3x/week. Easy corals to keep and they look great when the actinics are on. If you are looking for one -check out Dr Mac & Sons - he has a couple of nice pieces in his top pick section. You may also want to consider a closely related species - monastrea. Cquarium has also had several nice pieces of brain corals. Also, blastomussa may be another coral to consider.

 

[DKKA]

I believe they need to be fed more than some other corals. I read an article a while back by Toonen (I think) that said zooxanthellae only provide 60% of their energy requirements.
Also, be careful not to one with your 400 watters. Place it low in the tank and not directly under.
good luck,
Dan

 

[esmithiii]

Thanks!

E