Yellow Pavona

Pavona sp

Saltwater Coral Species Group: Pavona Family: Agariciidae

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Water parameters

Temp 76-80 F Temperature

Maintaining a stable and appropriate temperature is critical for the survival of aquatic life.

 pH 7.8 - 8.4 potential of Hydrogen

Measuring the acidity or alkalinity of water on a 0–14 scale, where 7 is neutral, 7 is alkaline.

 NO3 1-20 ppm Nitrate

While less toxic than ammonia, high nitrate levels (above 40–80 ppm) are important to monitor because they can cause fish stress, stunted growth, and harmful algae blooms.

 NO2 <0.0001 ppm Nitrite

It is a highly toxic, intermediate compound in the nitrogen cycle produced from broken-down ammonia

 PO4 0.01 - 0.1 ppm Phosphate

It is essential for plant development but must be managed, as excess levels trigger nuisance algae blooms and inhibit coral calcification.

 NH3 <0.1 ppm Ammonia

It is the primary killer of aquarium fish, causing gill damage, stress, and death

 Ca 380 - 450 ppm Calcium

Supporting the growth, skeletal structure, and shell formation of corals, mollusks, crustaceans, and coralline algae

 KH 8 - 12 dKH Alkalinity

It acts as a shield, neutralizing acids to prevent dangerous pH "crashes" that can harm fish, corals, and plants.

 Mg 1200 - 1400 ppm Magnesium

It enables coral growth by supporting skeletal formation, assists in metabolic processes, and ensures that calcium is available for corals, clams, and coralline algae.

 SG 1.023 - 1.026 SG Salinity

Essential for maintaining stable, natural water parameters, proper osmoregulation, and stress-free environments for marine fish and corals

 ORP 250 - 400 mV Oxidation-Reduction Potential

A higher positive mV indicates clean, oxygen-rich water with high water quality, while low readings indicate high pollution.

About Yellow Pavona

General information

In general, corals from the genus Pavona takes different coral lifeforms like massive, columnar, leaf-like or plate-like where this can be influenced by current, wave action, depth and lighting condition. Pavona can easily be identified since they have no corallite walls. Instead, their corallites have a shallow depression where each is clearly delineated by a septocostae.

For the Yellow Pavona, they are predominatly colored yellow. This are the water parameters for cultivating Yellow Pavona:

  • Calcium: 400 – 450 ppm
  • Alkalinity: 2.86 – 3.93 MEQ/L (8 – 11 dKH)
  • Phosphates: 0
  • Magnesium: 1200 – 1350
  • Strontium: 8 -10
  • Temperature: 72° – 78° F (22° – 26° C)
  • Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 – 1.025
  • pH: 8.1 – 8.4

Diet & nutrition

The Yellow Pavona get its primary nourishment from the symbiotic zooxanthellae living within their tissues. But despite this, we still recommend you do supplemental feeding by adding brine shrimp and mysis.

Determining sex

A mature tank is highly recommended in propagating Yellow Pavona. They need to be set at the bottom portion of the tank where lighting and flow rate are in moderation.

Breeding & spawning

Yellow Pavona requires moderate lighting and moderate waterflow.

Origination

Yellow Pavona can be found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean and usually thrive in vertical reef ledges and overhang wall that is free from strong current. They are now a vulnerable species and has been listed under Appendix II of the CITES list, which means that their international trade is monitored.

Cautions

Yellow Pavona is not aggressive an aggressive species. However, we still recommend you give them ample space with other corals. This is due to fact that they grow fast and may overshadow corals underneath it.

Acclimation process

Since Yellow Pavona is a marine species, salinity must be entirely maintained at 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.

All photos

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