{"id":6273,"date":"2026-02-17T06:40:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:40:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/grass-hard-coral-pavona-sp\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T06:40:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:40:08","slug":"grass-hard-coral-pavona-sp","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=grass-hard-coral-pavona-sp","title":{"rendered":"Grass Hard Coral Pavona Sp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grass Hard Coral (Pavona sp.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Also known as Cactus Coral, Lettuce Coral, or Potato Chip Coral)<\/em><\/p>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Grass Coral (Pavona<\/em> sp.) is a hardy and uniquely textured small-polyp stony (SPS) coral<\/strong>, easily recognised by its fine ridged surface<\/strong> and grass-like polyp structure<\/strong> that gives it a softly rippled, living texture. Often forming encrusting, plating, or leafy vertical sheets<\/strong>, Pavona<\/em> displays vibrant hues of green, tan, brown, or orange<\/strong>, often glowing vividly under actinic or blue LED lighting. Known for its resilience and adaptability, this coral is an excellent choice for aquarists transitioning from LPS to SPS systems, offering beautiful motion and structure with less demanding care requirements.<\/p>\n

Origin<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Native to the Indo-Pacific region<\/strong>, including the Coral Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Tonga, and Indonesia<\/strong>. Found in shallow reef slopes, lagoon areas, and outer reef walls<\/strong>, where it thrives under strong light and turbulent flow.<\/p>\n

Feeding<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Grass Coral is photosynthetic<\/strong>, housing zooxanthellae<\/strong> that provide most of its nutritional needs through photosynthesis. While direct feeding isn\u2019t essential, occasional supplementation encourages growth and deeper coloration. Offer weekly feedings<\/strong> of:<\/p>\n

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    Marine snow or fine coral plankton blends<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Phytoplankton or microplankton<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Amino acid supplements for SPS corals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Lighting<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Moderate to high lighting.<\/strong> Pavona<\/em> thrives under bright, full-spectrum illumination from LED, T5, or metal halide<\/strong>systems.<\/p>\n

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      PAR range: 150\u2013300 \u00b5mol\/m\u00b2\/s<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Gradual acclimation to high light prevents bleaching.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Blue-spectrum lighting highlights the coral\u2019s fluorescence and enhances its surface texture.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Water Flow<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Moderate to strong, variable flow.<\/strong> Ensure good water circulation to prevent detritus buildup in folds and crevices while allowing polyps to extend and feed naturally. Avoid direct, laminar flow that could stress tissue.<\/p>\n

      Placement<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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        Ideal placement is on mid to upper rockwork<\/strong>, where it can receive sufficient light and flow.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Allow room for horizontal spreading or plating growth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Avoid shaded areas that can limit growth and colour vibrancy.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Pavona<\/em> can encrust rock surfaces or form vertical plates depending on conditions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Tank Mates<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Reef safe.<\/strong> Compatible with:<\/p>\n

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        • \n

          All peaceful reef-safe fish (tangs, wrasses, gobies, clownfish, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Shrimp, snails, and other invertebrates<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Other SPS and peaceful LPS corals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Avoid:<\/p>\n

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          • \n

            Aggressive or stinging corals (e.g., Galaxea, Euphyllia, Hydnophora)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Butterflyfish and large angelfish that may nip coral tissue<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Aggression<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Mildly aggressive.<\/strong> Pavona<\/em> can extend short sweeper tentacles<\/strong> to defend space. Maintain at least 5\u201310 cm (2\u20134 inches)<\/strong> of clearance from neighbouring corals.<\/p>\n

            Experience Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Intermediate.<\/strong> Pavona<\/em> is one of the hardiest SPS corals and tolerates moderate parameter fluctuations, making it ideal for reef keepers progressing beyond LPS species. It adapts well to various tank conditions if light and flow remain stable.<\/p>\n

            Water Parameters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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            • \n

              Temperature:<\/strong> 24\u201327\u00b0C (75\u201381\u00b0F)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              pH:<\/strong> 8.1\u20138.4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Salinity:<\/strong> 1.024\u20131.026 SG<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Hardness (dKH):<\/strong> 8\u201312<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Calcium:<\/strong> 400\u2013450 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Magnesium:<\/strong> 1250\u20131350 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Nitrate:<\/strong> <5 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Phosphate:<\/strong> <0.03 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Tank Size:<\/strong> Minimum 100 litres (25 gallons)<\/strong>; larger systems provide greater stability for SPS growth<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium are key to maintaining strong skeletal structure and vibrant colouration.<\/p>\n

              Reef Compatibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              Fully reef safe.<\/strong> The Grass Coral is a tough yet elegant coral that provides natural texture and depth to reef aquariums. Its rippled, leafy plates and shimmering polyps add dynamic movement and contrast to both SPS-dominated and mixed reef systems. With its adaptability and hardy nature, Pavona<\/em> is an ideal coral for aquarists looking for beauty and resilience in one species.<\/p>\n

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              Interesting Fact<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              Unlike most SPS corals, Pavona<\/em> polyps extend both day and night, giving it a constantly \u201calive\u201d appearance \u2014 earning it the nickname \u201cCactus\u201d or \u201cGrass Coral\u201d for its dense, organic texture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Grass Hard Coral (Pavona sp.) (Also known as Cactus Coral, Lettuce Coral, or Potato Chip Coral) Overview The Grass Coral (Pavona sp.) is a hardy and uniquely textured small-polyp stony (SPS) coral, easily recognised by its fine ridged surface and grass-like polyp structure that gives it a softly rippled, living texture. Often forming encrusting, plating, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6272,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[74],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6273","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-hard-corals","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/6273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=6273"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=6273"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=6273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}