Favia growth, or lack of.

[Pennywise the Clown]

I purchased my first favia a couple of months ago. It has really not shown any signs of growth at all. It has also not shown any signs of deterioration either.
I have placed it in the bottom third of the display where it receives moderate flow.

It is under Hydra 26 lights running the BRS AB+ schedule.

Being my first favia, I'm not sure how they actually grow.

Nitrates 20
Phosphates 0.1
Alk 8.0
Calcium 410
Magnesium 1300

 

[VSVP bet]

in my experience, favia species are slow initial growers, meaning, the slowest growth is the start, where the corals flesh grows around its existing skeleton and onto surrounding structures. Once the flesh has gone over the skeleton and onto the surrounding area, its usually game on. This is at least my experience. I keep all my favias on the sand bed, glued onto larger flat rocks, this gives them ample space to grow, while still keeping them off of direct sand.

They like med light and med flow, maybe try putting it lower in the tank, and feeding it weekely. After the lights shut off in your tank, shine a flash light on the favia, look for its sweeper tentacles to be out. Put some mysis of fish flakes and let the coral eat.

 

[Pennywise the Clown]

in my experience, favia species are slow initial growers, meaning, the slowest growth is the start, where the corals flesh grows around its existing skeleton and onto surrounding structures. Once the flesh has gone over the skeleton and onto the surrounding area, its usually game on. This is at least my experience. I keep all my favias on the sand bed, glued onto larger flat rocks, this gives them ample space to grow, while still keeping them off of direct sand.

They like med light and med flow, maybe try putting it lower in the tank, and feeding it weekely. After the lights shut off in your tank, shine a flash light on the favia, look for its sweeper tentacles to be out. Put some mysis of fish flakes and let the coral eat.

Thank you.

It is actually still sat on the frag plug, perched on a rock. I wonder if I might be better attaching it straight to the rock work, a little lower as you say.

 

[VSVP bet]

Yes, lower, and on a flat rock. Just think of how much clearance there is between the skeleton and the next rock, would be very difficult for the coral to grow in that direction. A flat rock with plenty of space for the coral to grow would likely help, as would putting lower in the tank, paired with weekly feedings.

Also, gently remove it from the frag plug, glue the physical skeleton to whatever flat rock you are planning on using.

 

[Kal93]

Some favia, like other coral, are just slow growers.

What are your parameters? Do you feed? My favia is growing ridiculously fast; I target feed 2-4x per week and have 8-18 ppm nitrate and 0.05-0.1 ppm phosphate.