ECC Ring of Fire Favites

Quick facts

Handling caution: Can sting via nighttime sweeper tentacles; handle with gloves to avoid skin irritation

Identity

Also known as

Favites Brain Coral; Pineapple Coral; Moon Coral

Synonyms

Goniastrea sp. (partial); formerly classified under Faviidae, now Merulinidae

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific, Western Pacific, Japan

Habitat

Reef flats and slopes in the Indo-Pacific, typically on stable substrate in moderate light and flow zones

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Coral type

LPS

Temperament

Aggressive

Growth form

Encrusting

Adult size

1 – 12 in (2.5 – 30 cm)

Spread

12 in (30 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Low, Middle, Sand bed

Water

Temperature

75 – 80 °F (24 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 9.5 dKH

Salinity

1.024 – 1.026 SG

PAR

75 – 150 PAR

Flow

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, Cream, Purple, Multicolor

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Photosynthetic

Foods

Frozen, Freeze-dried, Coral food, Zooplankton

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

Favites sp. is an encrusting LPS coral from the brain coral family, spreading in a uniform mounded pattern over rock or frag plugs. It tolerates low to medium light and moderate flow, making it manageable for both new and experienced LPS keepers. Steady water parameters and spacing from neighboring corals help it encrust without stinging or overgrowth conflicts.

Care

Favites tolerates a broad range of reef conditions and is a reasonable choice for hobbyists moving beyond soft corals into LPS. It does best under low to medium light and gentle, indirect flow that keeps its tissue clean without folding it against the skeleton. Stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium support steady skeletal growth, and sudden parameter swings should be avoided since shifted tissue can recede along the shared corallite walls.

Placement & acclimation

Acclimate gradually to light by starting in a lower or shaded position and moving it up over several weeks, since sudden bright exposure can bleach the tissue. Mount frags securely on rockwork or a frag plug with reef-safe epoxy or glue, leaving generous open space around the colony for both growth and sweeper tentacle activity. It can also be placed directly on the sand bed in a stable position where it will grow into a mounded form.

Feeding

Most of its nutrition comes from photosynthetic zooxanthellae, but it extends feeder tentacles at night to capture meaty foods drifting past. Offering small pieces of mysis, chopped seafood, or LPS pellets once or twice a week can improve coloration and growth over time. New colonies should settle in for a couple of weeks before target feeding begins.

Neighbors

This coral is capable of stinging with sweeper tentacles that extend mostly at night, so at least 4 inches of clearance from neighboring corals is recommended. It is not well suited to close-packed frag gardens with acans, zoanthids, or other LPS, since contact can damage both colonies over time. Favia, brain corals, and chalice corals in particular should be kept at a safe distance given their similar growth habits and potential for confusion during placement.

Fragging

Colonies can be fragged by cutting or cracking the skeleton between corallites with a band saw or coral cutters, ideally leaving at least one intact corallite per fragment. Cut edges should be handled carefully and placed in low flow until tissue recovers and covers the exposed skeleton. Fragging is best done on healthy, well-extended colonies to reduce stress and infection risk.

Pests & problems

Bleached or pale patches usually indicate excess light exposure, since this genus prefers subdued lighting compared to many other LPS. Exposed white skeleton near the tissue margin can signal flow that is too strong or direct, causing localized recession. Brown jelly infections and tissue necrosis can occur after physical damage or shipping stress, so newly acquired frags should be monitored closely during acclimation.

Sources

1. ECC Silent Night Favites - Bulk Reef Supply
2. Favites Coral Care and Identification Guide | Coral Identifier
3. Favites Care Guide | Favites Brain Coral LPS Lighting, Flow & Feeding - Extreme Corals
4. Favites Coral - Reef Casa

Varieties in the catalog

ECC Multidimensional FavitesECC Silent Night Favites

More Brain corals

ECC Firewater PlatygyraMulti Colors Open Brain Coral