about favias

[mhills16]

Well, i have decided to go mostly LPS in my tank and wanted to know your experiences on these, favias. I have great water flow in my tank, it is 22" deep with a 250 watt MH. Do these do best in the sand bed? how is their growth rate?

Also, i would love recommendations on your favorite LPS corals and where they like to be placed in the tank, ie, sandbed, middle, top, etc. thanks! Mike

 

[andywe]

Favias are great in a tank, and survive at various light levels. it has been suggested (by sprung) that lighter colored like to be higher and darker colored to be lower position in the tank, but I have several and they thrive all over seemingly.

One thing to keep in mind is that they can extend tendrils up to several inches so you want to give a little room around them in relation to other corals in the tank. They are easy to keep and typically like moderate waterflow.

 

[mhills16]

can you place several favias next to each other or will they sting each other? do they recognize same species and dont sting?

 

[mhills16]

i am going to give reef empire a shot on ebay, they have the best!!!!! prices i have ever seen on corals, and, 25 shipping overnight, no matter how many items and where it is going in the US. here is a link i found to their feedback/shipping from a buyer. Mike, check them out tonight on ebay, they have a large, large selection, all ending on sunday and will be shipping out on monday, just thought id try to save you guys some oney on something awesome i found. mike

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f291/reef-empire-ebay-auctions-127954.html

http://shop.ebay.com/reefempire1/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

 

[ai-reefer]

You wont be disappointed. Reef Empire Rocks ! I got my shipmet couple of days ago.

Best part is the overnight shipping. $25 for everything + packaging is perfect

 

[NicoleC]

Many species of corals are sold as "favia" or "brain" or even "Acanthastrea" (which is a genus in an entirely different family.) They are very hard to accurately identify by genus, let alone species, without microscopic examination of the (dead) skeleton.

They can sting with surprisingly long sweeper tentacles and they are quite aggressive chemically. If you have more than one or two of them, I recommend attempting a tank specifically for them. You'll likely not manage to do it 100% due to misidentification, but it will help and there are many fabulous favites to choose from.

They like good flow, but not directly on their flesh, and will respond with impressive growth if you give them the calcium and alk they need and target feed a few times per week. Nighttime feeding is natural for them, but they can be "trained" to send their tentacles out for feeding with a small dose of food in the tank -- followed by target feeding a few minutes later.

(Favites is a genus, not a species.)

 

[poolkeeper1]

Well Said, +1 on having ample room and regular feedings. I feed only once a week but feed heavy for my regular fish feedings due to Vodka dosing. I have two different ones In my tank both are healthy, One Is growing quite well while the other seems to be stagnant looks good but don't seem to be growing at all. They will definitely let you know when they are hungry with tentacle extension and accept most foods offered in the right size range. Mine have already become aware of feeding time and take full advantage of any stray food that comes their way. One of the prettiest species when healthy and happy and easy to care for. Just my 2cents...
Bill

 

[mhills16]

thanks for all the information!! Yes, i love how it is $25 shipping over night no matter how many you order, if any of you are thinking of getting anything anytime soon, and want to save money, lfs seem to be so much higher thn websites, click the second link i put in. The auctions end tomorrow night for monday shipping. Mike

 

[mhills16]

are they potent enough stings to feel them as humans or to kill fish?

 

[NicoleC]

Normally, no, they are fish safe as well as human safe. The feeding tentacles of a healthy coral will feel sticky but not painful -- sweepers can be another story. I've never been stung by a favia but I did get tagged one day by a sweeper of a particularly large and healthy Euphyllia -- ouch! You could see the mark for a week and it itched like crazy.

But anyone, at any time, can become sensitive to coral stings and have a potentially life threatening reaction. The more you are exposed to them the more likely it is that it may happen. For your health -- as well as that of the corals -- you should always wear gloves when your hands are in the tank. Or at least when touching corals.

(And that goes double if you have kids around.)

 

[mhills16]

Lol, good, because I just made a large order from empire reef, and i will be calling my wife from afghanistan when it arrives and will be guiding her through how and where to put it in the tank...and, if she were to get stung, she would never touch that tank again! might not even want to take care of it anymore lol! I am surprised as to how well she has done with it while i have been gone though!!!