ECC Hypo Tango Favia

Quick facts

Handling caution: Can sting via nighttime sweeper tentacles; wear gloves when handling frags due to sharp calcareous skeleton

Identity

Also known as

Brain coral; Pineapple coral; Moon coral

Synonyms

Favites (closely related, formerly grouped together)

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea

Habitat

Reef flats and slopes, typically in areas of moderate light and water movement

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Coral type

LPS

Temperament

Semi-Aggressive

Growth form

Encrusting

Adult size

0.8 – 8 in (1.9 – 20 cm)

Spread

12 in (30 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Low, Middle

Water

Temperature

75 – 78 °F (24 – 26 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 9.5 dKH

Salinity

1.025 – 1.026 SG

PAR

75 – 200 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Alk/Ca uptake

Medium

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

4 in (10 cm)

Colors

Green, Red, Orange, Purple, Blue, Yellow, Multicolor

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Omnivore

Foods

Frozen, Coral food, Zooplankton

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

Crisp corallite eyes and scalloped ridges form a bold geometric pattern across the colony's surface. Growth is encrusting to dome-shaped, gradually covering rockwork in a dense, textured mass. Hardy and adaptable, it suits most mixed reefs under medium light but needs room for its nighttime sweeper tentacles.

Care

Favia is a hardy large polyp stony coral that tolerates a range of lighting and flow, making it a reasonable choice for reef keepers moving beyond softies into LPS. It does best under moderate lighting rather than intense light, since excessive PAR can cause fading or tissue recession over time. Stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium levels support steady encrusting growth, and new frags should be acclimated slowly by starting in a lower, shadier spot before moving upward.

Placement & acclimation

Mount frags on rubble rock or frag plugs using coral glue or epoxy, placing them on stable rockwork in the lower to middle sections of the tank away from other corals. Acclimate gradually to light by starting in a shadier position and moving the piece higher over several weeks if more intense lighting is desired. Leave at least three to four inches of open space around the colony to accommodate both growth and nighttime sweeper tentacles.

Feeding

Favia derives most of its energy from photosynthesis but responds well to occasional target feeding of small meaty foods such as mysis, chopped shrimp, or prepared coral blends. Feeding tentacles extend mainly after the lights dim, so offering food in the evening produces the best response. Regular feeding is optional but tends to speed growth and deepen coloration in mature colonies.

Neighbors

Favia is semi-aggressive and known for extending sweeper tentacles several inches at night, so it needs a few inches of clearance from neighboring corals, especially slower-growing or more delicate species. It is best kept away from SPS and other corals sensitive to stinging contact. Give newly placed frags room to grow into, since colonies expand outward as they encrust.

Fragging

Colonies are fragged by cutting or cracking the shared skeleton between corallites with a bandsaw, angle grinder, or bone shears, ideally leaving several polyps per fragment for faster recovery. Cut fragments should be given time to heal on a stable surface with gentle flow before returning to normal placement. Fragging is most successful when done on healthy, well-fed colonies rather than stressed or recently acquired specimens.

Pests & problems

Tissue recession or bleaching usually points to excessive light or unstable water chemistry rather than disease. Brown jelly infection can take hold quickly if tissue is damaged by pests, stinging neighbors, or physical injury during handling, so any wounded areas should be watched closely. Flatworms and Acropora-eating flatworm relatives occasionally target favia colonies, and a dip after acquiring frags helps catch hitchhikers early.

Sources

1. ECC Slightly Sinister Favia - Bulk Reef Supply
2. Favia Care Guide | Favia Brain Coral LPS Lighting, Flow & Feeding - Extreme Corals
3. Favia Coral Care Guide: Complete Setup and Tips
4. Favia Coral Care Guide - Lighting, Flow & Feeding

Varieties in the catalog

ECC Electric Daisy FaviaECC Flame Boy FaviaECC Glow Up FaviaECC Old Glory FaviaECC Rainbow Rim FaviaECC Slightly Sinister FaviaECC Wolverine Favia