"Favia" growth question

[Northern Flicker]

I am not sure what my coral exactly is, but it is in the group that we usually just refer to as "Favia" for better or for worse.

For these types of corals (Favia, Dispsastraea, Favites, etc), will they grow outward if placed on the sand bed? Many coral will grow new polyps/heads outward, stretching on to the surrounding rock. I am wondering, if there is no rock around, will it continue to grow out it's core skeleton and increase outward on it's own?

 

[Northern Flicker]

Also, same question for Gonis - I have a nice little colony that seems happiest on an open part of the sandbed. The frag is quite small and will need to grow outward onto new skeleton.

 

[shadow_k]

I am not sure what my coral exactly is, but it is in the group that we usually just refer to as "Favia" for better or for worse.

For these types of corals (Favia, Dispsastraea, Favites, etc), will they grow outward if placed on the sand bed? Many coral will grow new polyps/heads outward, stretching on to the surrounding rock. I am wondering, if there is no rock around, will it continue to grow out it's core skeleton and increase outward on it's own?

Yes I have 2 favia on my sand bed it grows outward but it’s more sensitive since it’s not attached to anything it’s brittle

 

[Reef.]

I believe some favia can also encrust on rocks.

 

[encrustingacro]

Depends on the genus. In the wild, Dipsastraea (Indo-Pacific Favia) will have a massive (hemispherical) growth form, while Favites will be more encrusting/sub-massive. In captivity however, most massive (growth-form) corals will tend to encrust rather than growing into large domes.

 

[Pod_01]

Sample of mine in a sand.

original:

now:

Hope that helps.