Purple and Green Favia - Favia sp.

Purple and Green Favia (Favia sp.)

The Purple and Green Favia, Favia sp., is a colourful large polyp stony coral, admired for its contrasting purple and green tissue, rounded corallites and classic brain coral appearance. This coral adds bold pattern, texture and colour to a reef aquarium, with attractive fluorescence under suitable reef lighting. It is generally hardy once settled, but it should be kept in a stable, mature reef aquarium with moderate lighting, indirect flow and enough space from neighbouring corals.+

Common Name:
Purple and Green Favia, Favia Coral, Brain Coral, Purple Green Brain Coral.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Favia sp.

Coral Type:
LPS Coral

Growth Form:
Encrusting to massive brain coral growth form with rounded corallites and fleshy tissue.

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Favia-style brain corals are found on tropical reef habitats where they grow over hard reef surfaces, rocky structures and coral-rich areas. In aquariums, they are best placed on stable rockwork or a secure lower-to-middle area where they have enough space to expand and defend themselves from nearby corals.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–26°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: SG 1.024–1.026
Alkalinity: 7–10 dKH
Calcium: 400–450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
Nitrate: Low but detectable
Phosphate: Low but detectable

Lighting:
Medium
Purple and Green Favia generally does well under moderate reef lighting. Avoid placing it directly under very intense lighting without acclimation, as strong light can cause fading, bleaching or tissue stress. Lower-to-middle placement with gradual light acclimation is usually safest.

Flow:
Medium
Moderate, indirect flow is ideal. Flow should be strong enough to prevent detritus settling between the corallites, but not so harsh that the flesh is constantly blasted or unable to expand properly.

Placement:
Best placed on stable rockwork or a secure lower-to-middle area of the aquarium. Allow plenty of space around the coral, as Favia-style corals can extend sweeper tentacles at night and may sting neighbouring corals.

Temperament / Aggression:
Semi-aggressive
Purple and Green Favia can defend its space using sweeper tentacles, especially after lights out. Keep it away from neighbouring corals to reduce the risk of coral warfare and tissue damage.

Feeding:
Photosynthetic, but benefits from feeding
This coral receives much of its energy from lighting through its symbiotic zooxanthellae, but it can benefit from occasional target feeding. Suitable foods include fine coral foods, reef roids-style foods, small meaty coral foods, mysis shrimp, enriched brineshrimp and other suitably sized reef feeds. Feed when feeding tentacles are visible for the best response.

Growth Rate:
Slow to moderate
Growth is usually steady in stable reef systems with consistent alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, lighting and flow. Colour and expansion are best maintained when parameters remain stable and nutrients are not stripped too low.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature reef aquarium with stable parameters and consistent husbandry. Avoid sudden changes in lighting, salinity, alkalinity or flow. Give the coral enough space from neighbouring corals, especially aggressive LPS or fast-growing soft corals. Dip and acclimate carefully before adding to the aquarium, and monitor for tissue recession, pests or irritation from sand and detritus.

Suitable for:
Beginner to Intermediate reefkeepers

Availability:
Regularly available in the coral trade / Availability can vary depending on colour intensity, pattern, supplier and season.

All images are a visual representation of the coral you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns, colours and growth form will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.