Favia and Favites Coral Care Guide
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The short answer: Favia and Favites are beginner-to-intermediate brain-type LPS corals that do well under low to moderate light, roughly PAR 80–180, with moderate flow. Place them on lower to mid rockwork with generous space, because they extend long sweeper tentacles at night that sting nearby corals. They are photosynthetic, and target feeding meaty foods 1–2x weekly after lights out supports them well. Plan spacing for their reach at night, not their size by day.
Quick facts
| Topic | Favia & Favites |
|---|---|
| Care level | Beginner to Intermediate |
| Lighting | Low to Moderate |
| PAR guidance | PAR 80–180 |
| Flow | Moderate |
| Placement | Lower to mid rockwork; extends sweepers at night |
| Behavior | Fleshy polyps may extend feeding or sweeper tentacles after lights out. |
| Compatibility | Allow generous spacing to prevent nighttime sweeper contact. |
| Feeding | Target feed meaty foods 1–2x weekly |
Favia, Favites, Dipsastraea and Platygyra
These are massive or encrusting stony corals with a hard skeleton covered in tissue and many small mouths, which is why they are often grouped with brain corals.
- Favia (often called moon coral): each polyp sits in its own round cup with its own wall, so you can see small gaps between neighboring corallites. Scientists moved most Indo-Pacific corals once called Favia into the genus Dipsastraea, so you will see both names in the trade for the same kind of coral.
- Favites: neighboring polyps share their walls, giving a tighter, honeycomb-like surface with no gaps between cups.
- Platygyra (maze or brain coral): the mouths run together in long winding valleys instead of separate cups. It is sold in the same group because its care is very similar.
Telling these apart from a photo is not always possible, and many pieces are sold under collector names. The care below suits all of them.
Light and placement
Low to moderate light suits this group, with a fairly wide comfort range. Lower to mid rockwork is the usual spot. Mount the frag securely on rock rather than wedging it into a gap, since these corals tend to spread outward as they encrust.
For a new frag, start at the lower end of the PAR range or in a partly shaded spot, then move it higher in small steps over a few weeks only if it stays healthy. Tissue that turns pale or pulls back from the edges is a sign the light increased too fast. Daytime polyps that look full and puffy are a good sign.
Before you place it, think about the night. Sweeper tentacles can reach well past the edge of the skeleton, so the open space around the coral matters more than its daytime size suggests.
Flow
Moderate flow works best: enough to keep detritus from settling on the surface and between the cups, but not a strong jet hitting one spot all day. If debris collects on the coral or the polyps look deflated, add some indirect movement; if the tissue on the pump side looks thin or receding, reduce it.
Feeding
These corals get much of their energy from light, but they also feed well. Their feeding tentacles usually come out after lights out, so that is the best time to target feed. Offer small meaty foods (finely chopped seafood, mysis or a fine coral food) 1–2x weekly, released gently over the surface with the pumps off for a few minutes. Feed lightly and let each polyp take what it can hold.
Shrimp and hermit crabs often steal food from the mouths of LPS corals. Feeding the crustaceans first, or covering the coral briefly during feeding, helps.
Water parameters
- Temperature: about 76–80°F
- Salinity: about 1.025–1.026 SG
- Alkalinity: about 7–11 dKH
- Calcium: about 400–450 ppm
- Magnesium: about 1250–1400 ppm
- Nitrate and phosphate: low but not zero; this group generally does better with measurable nutrients than in an ultra-low system
Stability matters more than a perfect number. These corals are usually forgiving, but repeated swings in alkalinity, temperature or salinity show up as receding edges and smaller polyps.
Neighbors and spacing
This is the most important section for this group. Favia, Favites and Platygyra look peaceful by day, but after lights out they can extend long sweeper tentacles, and Favites in particular is known for long sweepers. These tentacles sting and can kill tissue on corals within reach, including other LPS and SPS corals.
- Allow generous spacing on all sides, and plan for the coral's future size.
- Check the tank once after lights out with a dim light to see how far the sweepers actually reach.
- Be careful placing them near other aggressive LPS such as Euphyllia, chalices and acans; both sides can be damaged.
- Two of these corals placed side by side can also fight where they meet.
Common problems
- Tissue receding at the edge or base: often night contact with a neighbor, detritus collecting around the base, or parameter swings. Check spacing at night first, then flow and stability.
- Dead or bare patches near another coral: usually sweeper contact, from this coral or from the neighbor. Move one of them away.
- Pale or white tissue: usually too much light after a move or a temperature spike. Lower the coral or reduce intensity, and keep temperature stable.
- Polyps staying small and tight: often flow that is too direct, a recent swing in parameters, or a fish picking at the tissue.
- Tissue loss that keeps spreading: can follow injury or infection. Many reefers remove the coral, give it a coral dip, and keep conditions steady while it recovers.
How our listings work
TIA listings come in three kinds:
- WYSIWYG: The photo is taken individually, and you will receive the exact coral shown.
- Stock: The photo is a stock reference image; yours will be very similar.
- Cut to order: You receive a fresh-cut frag of about 1–2 inches from the colony shown; it will be very similar. Fresh-cut frags need at least 2 weeks to heal before they ship.
See the Help Center for shipping and arrival details.
FAQ
Are Favia corals good for beginners?
They are rated beginner to intermediate. They tolerate a fairly wide light range and are forgiving in a stable tank. Plan for how far they can sting at night.
What is the difference between Favia and Favites?
In Favia, each polyp has its own separate cup wall; in Favites, neighboring polyps share their walls, so the surface looks like a tight honeycomb.
Why do some Favia say Dipsastraea?
Scientists moved most Indo-Pacific corals once called Favia into Dipsastraea. The trade uses both names, and the care is the same.
How far apart should I place a Favia from other corals?
Allow generous spacing, ideally several inches, and check after lights out to see how far the sweepers reach in your tank. Adjust from what you see.
Is a maze coral the same as a Favia?
No. A maze or brain coral (Platygyra) has long winding valleys instead of separate cups, but its care is very similar, so it is covered here.