Potato Chip Pavona

Pavona corals (commonly known as cactus, lettuce, or potato chip corals) are small-polyp stony (SPS) corals recognized for their versatile growth forms, which can range from thin, plating sheets to upright, ruffled ridges or encrusting layers. Their surfaces are often textured with small, star-like polyps that give them a slightly rough or velvety appearance. Pavona typically display shades of green, brown, or tan, sometimes with fluorescent highlights under blue lighting, and can create a natural, layered look in reef aquariums.

For care, Pavona corals are considered relatively hardy for SPS and adapt well to a range of conditions. They thrive under moderate to high lighting and moderate, turbulent water flow, which helps keep their surface free of detritus. Stable water parameters are important (temperature ~76–80°F, salinity ~1.025, alkalinity 8–9 dKH, calcium 400–450 ppm, magnesium 1250–1350 ppm), though they tend to be more forgiving than many other SPS corals. Placement can vary depending on the growth form, but they are often positioned on rockwork where they have room to spread. While primarily photosynthetic, they may benefit from occasional feeding of fine particulate foods. Keep an eye on their growth, as they can encrust or plate outward and potentially overgrow nearby corals if given the opportunity.