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Halimeda incrassata

A heavily calcified algae that is abundant in shallow habitats to 40 feet deep. It features stiff, segmented fronds that are irregular and flat shaped. It grows in different forms, some forming large clumps and others with just 5-6 branches. Mature plants can grow as tall as 8″ or so, but most will stay small in an aquarium. A large cluster of rhizoids holds the plant upright and securely in the substrate. The large root like structure can extend several inches below the substrate, where “shoots” form new plants from the parent colony. When conditions are favorable in the aquarium, this species will reproduce rapidly by producing new plants near the base. Like many of the calcareous algae that grow exclusively in substrate, it needs a deep sand bed of 4″ or more. Calcium supplementation is also needed to keep successfully in the aquarium. Not palatable to fish or invertebrates.

Scientific Name: Halimeda incrassata

Common Name: Halimeda

Origin: Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico

Depth Collected: 3-40 Feet

Maximum Height : 8″

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Moderate to High

Temperature: 76-86

Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation

Difficulty: Easy

Food Value: Not Palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Fair

Flow Rate: Moderate

Hydrolithon sp.

The species Hydrolithon is a calcareous encrusting algae that forms an irregular, knobby shaped crust on shallow rocks and coral reefs. Like many encrusting algae, they play an important role in building reef structures by cementing dead coral tissue and fragments together. Individual species of Hydrolithon come in many different shades of a red, pink and deep purple. It’s abundant on both the reef and near shore habitats in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Some species grow in very shallow water among the edge of seagrass beds in the Caribbean where they form large colonies of individual specimens. It does well in aquariums with good amounts of calcium.

Scientific Name: Hydrolithon sp.

Common Name: Corraline Algae

Origin: Caribbean, S. Pacific, Gulf of Mexico

Depth Collected: 1-60 feet

Maximum Height: 6″

Growth Rate: Slow

Light: Moderate to High

Temperature: 72-82

Propagation: Sporulation

Difficulty: Moderate

Food Value: Not Palatable

Nutrient Uptake: None

Flow Rate: Moderate to High

Halymenia elongata

Halymenia elongata features long, tubular branches, that are attached by a single holdfast to form tight symmetrical clumps. It’s both gelatinous and fleshy ranging in color from yellow to pinkish-red. The tips of each individual branch can be both rounded or split into multiple finger-like appendages. At first glance, it often resembles Gracilaria, as the appearance is very similar. It occurs in moderate to deep water habitats up to 100ft. In the aquarium, its needs are very similar to other varieties of Halymenia, but it can be more challenging to keep in the aquarium due to it’s large cell structure. This species is often encountered as drift algae, but grows attached to hard bottom, rocks and shells in high flow habitats. Individual specimens are rarely available for hobbyists, but are occasionally offered by some marine life collectors in Florida. Like most species of Halymenia it is palatable to fish and invertebrates.

Scientific Name: Halymenia elongata

Common Name: Red Finger Algae

Origin: Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico

Maximum Height : 12″

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Moderate to High

Temperature: 72-82

Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation

Difficulty: Moderate

Food Value: Palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Good

Flow Rate: Moderate to High

Halymenia durvillei

This popular species of Halymenia is native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean which was imported into the United States as an ornamental algae for the aquarium trade. It’s unclear when or how it was first introduced in the United States, but is widely cultivated today by numerous hobbyists and coral farmers. Unlike other species of Halymenia, the tissue on this particular macro algae isn’t as thin and is slightly rigid. It features a deep red coloration and a brilliant orange-yellow fluorescence at the tips of each individual frond. It’s a very hardy species once established but grows in cycles so should be divided regularly to preserve the algae. 

Scientific Name: Halymenia durvillei

Common Name: Dragon’s Breath

Origin: Indo Pacific

Maximum Height : 10″

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Moderate to High

Temperature: 76-82

Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation

Difficulty: Easy

Food Value: Somewhat Palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Good

Flow Rate: Moderate

Halymenia floridana

An interesting species of Halymenia that’s highly variable in color, ranging from bright yellow to red depending on the depth collected. Like all species of Halymenia, it’s gelatinous, slippery and smooth in texture and has no shape out of water. It’s thin fronds are very delicate and can break apart and tear when handled or subjected to high flow. This particular species stays rather compact and it’s blades are rounded and irregular similar to species of Ulva. Most Halymenia species grow in rather deep locations so do not require as much light as some other algae. Specimens are encountered either free floating or attached to rocks and protected ledges by a single holdfast. In the aquarium, it will seldom attach to anything on it’s own, so it must be anchored manually or allowed to tumble as a free floating specimen. H. floridana is very palatable and is readily eaten by both tangs, angels and herbivores.

Scientific Name: Halymenia floridana

Common Name: Red Sea Lettuce

Origin: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic

Maximum Height : 18″

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Moderate to Low

Temperature: 76-82

Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation

Difficulty: Easy

Food Value: Very palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Good

Flow Rate: Moderate to High

Halymenia floresia

This species features attractive, flattened, flame shaped appendages with a coloration ranging from pink to dark red. Like all species of Halymenia, it’s very thin, gelatinous and smooth in texture and loses it’s form when removed from the water. It’s delicate and can break apart and tear easily when handled or subjected to high flow. It’s sometimes encountered as free floating specimens in seaweed mats, but it naturally grows attached to hard bottom in depths of up to 60ft or so. Single plants can grow very large and reach heights of almost 20″ or more. H. floresia requires a large amount of nutrients to keep successfully in the aquarium and moderate to high flow to maintain its slippery, fleshy blades. In the aquarium it will seldom attach to anything so specimens can be anchored or allowed to tumble free floating. It’s very palatable and is readily eaten by both tangs, angels and other herbivores.

Scientific Name: Halymenia floresia

Common Name: Red Sea Lettuce, Dragons Tongue

Origin: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Tropical Atlantic

Depth Collected: 20-130 feet

Maximum Height: 20″

Growth Rate: Slow

Light: Moderate to Low

Temperature: 78-84

Propagation: Fragmentation, sporulation

Difficulty: Moderate

Food Value: Very palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Good

Flow Rate: Moderate to High

Gracilaria tikvahiae

All species of Gracilaria are highly variable depending on the environment collected, which can make proper identification difficult. G. tikvahiae features a orange to deep red coloration with long, slender, somewhat flattened branches attached by a single holdfast. This species is found in depths of 10ft to about 40ft, attached to hard bottom and rock outcroppings. Species of tikvahiae can also be encountered as free floating specimens, lacking any holdfast, composed of a large circular clump. This particular red algae does very well in the marine aquarium or refugium and is a great food source for fish. It’s growth is slow to moderate depending on the availability of light and nutrients. Most species of Gracilaria will do well in captivity under a variety of conditions as long as there are sufficient nutrients present. Tumbling the algae aids in keeping the tissue in constant suspension with the water for optimum health. This species is very palatable to tangs and angels as well as other herbivores.

Scientific Name: Gracilaria tikvahiae

Common Name: Red Gracilaria

Origin: Gulf of Mexico. Atlantic, Caribbean

Maximum Height : 16″

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Moderate to High

Temperature: 78-86

Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation

Difficulty: Easy

Food Value: Palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Good

Flow Rate: Moderate

 

Gracilaria parvisipora

This species of Gracilaria features long, cylindrical, alternating branches that are attached by a single holdfast to rubble, shells and hard bottom habitats. The coloration varies depending on the depth collected and ranges from bright red to yellow or green. Gracilaria parvispora is a very popular species of macro algae used among marine aquarists and cultivated commercially. It’s easily grown under a variety of conditions and provides an excellent food source to many herbivorous fish and invertebrates. It’s typically not as attractive in the aquarium as some other species of Gracilaria, but has enjoyed a long history of use in the refugium and reef aquariums worldwide.

Scientific Name: Gracilaria parvisipora

Common Name: Red Gracilaria

Origin: Gulf of Mexico. Atlantic, Caribbean, S. Pacific

Maximum Height : 14″

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Moderate to High

Temperature: 78-86

Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation

Difficulty: Easy

Food Value: Very palatable to Fish and Invertebrates

Nutrient Uptake: Good

Flow Rate: Moderate to High

Gracilaria hayi

An attractive species of Gracilaria featuring rigid, lobe shaped branches that form a tight symmetrical bush. It’s lightly calcified so the addition of calcium is recommended. It grows mainly in shallow, protected, high nutrient habitats attached to sponges, shell and rocks. It often hosts other algae species and is frequently covered in colonial tunicates or encrusted with epiphytic bryozoans. The coloration varies between deep crimson red to bright orange depending on the amount of light provided. It’s found attached by a single holdfast or found tumbling in drift algae mats. Overall it’s one of the easiest marine macro algae to keep and will grow well under a variety of conditions. Due to it’s lightly calcified branches this species isn’t known to be very palatable to fish or invertebrates.

Scientific Name: Gracilaria hayi

Common Name: Red Bush, Fire Algae

Origin: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Tropical Atlantic

Maximum Height : 10″

Growth Rate: Medium

Light: Moderate to Low

Temperature: 78-82

Propagation: Fragmentation, sporulation

Difficulty: Easy

Food Value: Not very palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Excellent

Flow Rate: Moderate

Galaxaura sp.

A striking and very beautiful species of red macro algae that features heavily calcified branches attached by a single holdfast to rocks, coral fragments and hard bottom. It has flattened ends on each branch that are usually bright pink or white. Depending on the species, they’re found in a variety of colorations ranging from orange, red to reddish-purple. They’re many species of Galaxaura distributed worldwide with only two species from Florida (Galaxaura rugosa and Tricleocarpa fragilis) entering the aquarium trade. This slow grower is fairly hardy in the aquarium, but needs good water circulation to keep successfully. Like most red macroalgae it will turn a brilliant deep red color in captivity.

Scientific Name: Galaxaura sp.

Common Name: Pom Pom Algae

Origin: Indonesia, Caribbean, S. Pacific

Maximum Height : 8″

Growth Rate: Slow

Light: High

Temperature: 75-82

Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation

Difficulty: Moderate

Food Value: Not Palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Fair

Flow Rate: Moderate to High