Hidden Favites Coral
Favites abdita
This coral forms cerioid to subplocoid colonies with polygonal corallites 5–10 mm in diameter. Septa are regular and walls are thick. Coloration ranges from brown to green, sometimes with purple or red hues. Polyps are retractile and extend at night to capture prey. It is often confused with other Favites species. Growth is slow to moderate. It can reach 30 cm in diameter in aquaria.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–28 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 |
| GH | 7–9 |
| KH | 8–12 |
| Salinity | 1.023–1.025 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 10 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.1 |
Care
Care notes
Maintain temperature 24-28°C, pH 8.1-8.4, and salinity 1.023-1.025. Moderate lighting (PAR 100-200) and moderate flow are recommended. Nitrates should stay below 10 ppm and phosphates below 0.1 ppm. Minimum calcium 400 ppm and magnesium 1200 ppm are required. It can be fed phytoplankton and zooplankton 1-2 times per week. A minimum tank volume of 100 liters is advised. Avoid overly aggressive fish or invertebrates that may damage the polyps.