Why does my RR Spicy Lemon Favia shift from neon yellow with red eyes to dull green or washed-out colors?

This morph is sensitive to spectrum and intensity. Too much blue/UV can push it toward green; excessive PAR bleaches the yellow. Aim for moderate PAR (100–150), add some balanced white, and keep nutrients detectable (NO3 5–15 ppm, PO4 0.03–0.08). Stable alkalinity and low organics help. Color rebounds slowly over weeks; avoid rapid light changes and heavy carbon that can strip trace organics.

How aggressive are its sweeper tentacles, and how should I place it to avoid stings?

Favia favus can extend sweepers 2–4 inches at night, sometimes longer in higher flow. Give 4–6 inches of clearance from fleshy LPS and chalices, and avoid directing flow that whips sweepers into neighbors. If space is tight, place it slightly down-current from sensitive corals. Feeding before lights-out can reduce nightly foraging reach.

My colony inflates at night but won’t accept food—what’s the workaround?

Train feeding response. About 10–15 minutes after lights out, dose a small amount of fine particulate food to trigger feeder tentacles. Then target-feed tiny portions of mysis or reef roids. Keep flow low to moderate so food settles but detritus won’t. Consistency (2–3 times weekly) improves capture; avoid overfeeding, which can cause bacterial film and tissue irritation.

Tissue recession started from one edge after a minor alkalinity swing—how do I halt it?

Stabilize parameters first (alk changes <0.3 dKH/day). Gently turkey-baste detritus from valleys, perform an iodine dip, and increase indirect flow to the affected edge. If recession progresses, create a small safety cut in dead skeleton ahead of the necrotic line. Reduce light slightly for a week, and feed lightly to support recovery. Watch for vermetids or hidden irritation points.

RR Spicy Lemon Favia Coral

Favia

Overview

RR Spicy Lemon Favia Coral displays yellow-green, hexagonal corallites with raised walls and distinct mouths. Favia favus is a large-polyp stony brain coral; provide moderate light and low to moderate, indirect flow. It is photosynthetic with symbiotic algae and will accept small meaty foods; periodic target feeding can support growth and color stability. Place on stable rock or sand with several inches of space, as nighttime sweeper tentacles can sting nearby corals.

Quick Facts

Care Moderate

Lighting Low–Moderate

Flow Moderate, indirect

Placement Low–Mid

Temperament Semi-aggressive (3–6 inches spacing)

Recommended Parameters

Temp 76–80°F

pH 8.1–8.4

Salinity 1.025–1.026

Calcium 400–450 ppm

AlkAlkalinity 8–10 dKH

Magnesium 1280–1350 ppm

Feeding photosynthetic (primary), mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, zooplankton, microplankton, marine snow, powdered coral foods

Care & Placement

RR Spicy Lemon Favia Coral (Favia favus) prefers stable, moderate conditions. Provide moderate light (PAR ~75–150); start low or shaded and increase slowly over 2–3 weeks using a dimmer or screen to prevent bleaching. Give moderate, varied flow strong enough to keep dust off the skeleton but not so direct that tissue whips. Target feed 1–3 times weekly at dusk with small meaty foods (mysis, finely chopped shrimp) or coral foods; feeding supports growth and color. Maintain temp 75–78°F (24–26°C), salinity 1.025–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, alkalinity 8.0–9.5 dKH, calcium 400–450 ppm, magnesium 1280–1350 ppm, nitrate 2–15 ppm, phosphate 0.03–0.10 ppm. Use reliable test kits and adjust slowly; this species dislikes rapid swings, especially in alkalinity and light.Place low to mid in the tank, on stable rock with room to grow. Leave 3–6 inches from neighbors; Favia is semi‑aggressive and extends sweeper tentacles at night. Keep sand off tissue to avoid irritation. Acclimate new pieces with a dip, pest inspection, and lights-down introduction; quarantine if possible. Common issues: bleaching (too much light too fast—reduce PAR and re‑acclimate), tissue recession (check alkalinity stability, flow, and nutrients; look for vermetid snails or brown jelly), and detritus buildup (increase crossflow, gently turkey-baste). If disease appears, frag away affected areas and use an iodine dip. Stability and moderate feeding are the keys to long-term success.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the RR Spicy Lemon Favia Coral

Why does my RR Spicy Lemon Favia shift from neon yellow with red eyes to dull green or washed-out colors?

This morph is sensitive to spectrum and intensity. Too much blue/UV can push it toward green; excessive PAR bleaches the yellow. Aim for moderate PAR (100–150), add some balanced white, and keep nutrients detectable (NO3 5–15 ppm, PO4 0.03–0.08). Stable alkalinity and low organics help. Color rebounds slowly over weeks; avoid rapid light changes and heavy carbon that can strip trace organics.
How aggressive are its sweeper tentacles, and how should I place it to avoid stings?

Favia favus can extend sweepers 2–4 inches at night, sometimes longer in higher flow. Give 4–6 inches of clearance from fleshy LPS and chalices, and avoid directing flow that whips sweepers into neighbors. If space is tight, place it slightly down-current from sensitive corals. Feeding before lights-out can reduce nightly foraging reach.
My colony inflates at night but won’t accept food—what’s the workaround?

Train feeding response. About 10–15 minutes after lights out, dose a small amount of fine particulate food to trigger feeder tentacles. Then target-feed tiny portions of mysis or reef roids. Keep flow low to moderate so food settles but detritus won’t. Consistency (2–3 times weekly) improves capture; avoid overfeeding, which can cause bacterial film and tissue irritation.
Tissue recession started from one edge after a minor alkalinity swing—how do I halt it?

Stabilize parameters first (alk changes <0.3 dKH/day). Gently turkey-baste detritus from valleys, perform an iodine dip, and increase indirect flow to the affected edge. If recession progresses, create a small safety cut in dead skeleton ahead of the necrotic line. Reduce light slightly for a week, and feed lightly to support recovery. Watch for vermetids or hidden irritation points.