Rainbow Favia (Dipsastraea) Coral Care Guide

Rainbow Favia is a photosynthetic Dipsastraea brain-coral morph with concentric multicolour rings; an LPS coral for the home reef.

Overview

Rainbow Favia is a designer colour morph of Dipsastraea, a genus of colonial stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It is zooxanthellate (photosynthetic) and forms a closed brain coral with rounded corallites; the 'Rainbow' shows multicolour concentric rings on each polyp. In the aquarium trade these corals are still widely called 'Favia'.

Taxonomy

Order: Scleractinia
Family: Merulinidae
Genus: Dipsastraea (established by Blainville, 1830)
Scientific name: Dipsastraea sp. 'Rainbow'
Taxonomic note: most Indo-Pacific corals formerly called Favia are now placed in Dipsastraea
Common names: Rainbow Favia, Master Favia

Habitat

Dipsastraea is native to the Indo-Pacific, occurring in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. The reclassification moved most former Favia species into Dipsastraea, Favites, Goniastrea and related Merulinidae genera; only the Caribbean species Favia fragum and Favia gravida remain in Favia.

Tank requirements

Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG
Temperature: 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
pH: 8.1–8.4
dKH (alkalinity): 8–11
Calcium: 400–450 ppm
Magnesium: 1280–1350 ppm
Nitrate: below 5 ppm; phosphate below 0.03 ppm
Lighting: medium (about 75–175 PAR)
Flow: medium
Minimum tank age: about 3 months

Feeding

It obtains much of its energy from photosynthesis via its zooxanthellae, and benefits from supplemental feeding for growth and colour. Suitable foods include mysis and reef-roids offered to the polyps, especially in the evening when feeder tentacles extend.

Compatibility

Rainbow Favia is moderately aggressive and has stinging sweeper tentacles, so it should be spaced away from other corals. With adequate spacing it is reef-, shrimp- and fish-safe and is considered an intermediate-level LPS coral.