Category: Calcareous

A very beautiful calcified algae that’s spherical in shape, resembling a pinecone or christmas tree. It’s native to the reef flat, it grows in sandy substrate among sea grass beds and Halimeda forests. There are several distinct species, including brevifolius and longifolius that are similar in shape and characteristics. Its root-like structure is a large bulb with a series of rhizoids that anchor it to substrate, and sometimes rocks. Mature plants only reach a height of about 6″. Like most calcareous stem plants, it needs a deep sand bed of 4″ or more to grow in the aquarium. Calcium supplementation is needed. Not palatable to fish or invertebrates.

Scientific Name: Rhipocephalus phoenix

Common Name: Pinecone Algae

Origin: Atlantic, Caribbean

Depth Collected: 3-50 Feet

Maximum Height : 6″

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

A unique species of Penicillus that features a tall thin stem with fine tapered filaments and a flattened top. This particular species can grow much taller than other species of Penicillus, up to about 8″ . It’s abundant on the reef flat and among sea grass beds.  Its root-like structure is a large bulb with a series of rhizoids that anchor it to substrate and sometimes rocks. It occurs in shallow calm protected water, but is also found as deep as 100 ft. In the aquarium the mature plant often dies to produce new plants at its base. Like most calcareous stem plants, it needs a deep sand bed of 4″ or more to grow in the aquarium. Calcium supplementation is needed. Not palatable to fish or inverts.

Scientific Name: Penicillus pyriformis

Common Name: Shaving Brush

Origin: Atlantic, Caribbean

Depth Collected: 1-30 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: Low to Moderate

An abundant, heavily calcified species of Halimeda that’s a major producer of carbonate sand throughout the Caribbean. It features tight segments of calcified discs that form rather large mounds with several holdfasts anchoring each colony to rocks, sand and hard bottom. It’s abundant in sea grass beds and the edges of channels mixed with other calcareous algae. In the aquarium it requires large amounts of calcium supplementation to grow, as it is very dense in composition. Given the right conditions for growth, it can be used as a ground cover in large marine aquariums for a beautiful effect. This species is readily available and does very well in the aquarium. Not palatable to fish.

Scientific Name: Halimeda opuntia

Common Name: Unknown

Origin: Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico

Depth Collected: 4-70 Feet

Maximum Height : 10″

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

A calcareous algae that is very popular in the aquarium. It features a broad, dark green, fan shaped top that can grow as large as 12″ or more. A cluster of rhizoids holds the plant upright and securely in the substrate. The large base (rhizoids) 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 needed and will provide optimum growth of up to 1″ per day. Not palatable to fish or invertebrates.

Scientific Name: Udotea flabellum

Common Name: Mermaid’s Fan

Origin: Atlantic, Caribbean

Depth Collected: 3-60 Feet

Maximum Height : 12″

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

An attractive, calcareous algae that is abundant on the reef flat and among sea grass beds commonly referred to as a pencil cap. It features a thick stem with a rounded, fine filament top. Its root-like structure is a large bulb with a series of rhizoids that anchor it to substrate and sometimes rocks. Mature plants reach a height of about 8″ and 2″-3″ in diameter. It occurs in shallow calm protected water to depths of 30 ft. In the aquarium the mature plant often dies to produce new plants at the base. Like most calcareous stem plants, it needs a deep sand bed of 4″ or more to grow in the aquarium. Calcium supplementation is needed. Not palatable to fish or invertebrates.

Scientific Name: Penicillus capitatus

Common Name: Pencil Cap

Origin: Atlantic, Caribbean

Depth Collected: 1-30 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: Low to Moderate

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

This beautiful species of Penicillus is very similar in appearance to P. capitatus, but it’s more heavily calcified and features a short stem, with coarse bristle-like filaments. These particular plants grow much larger than other species of Penicillus, up to 8″ tall. A distinct characteristic of this calcareous algae is that the top is more tapered and flat like a shaving brush which is the common name for this algae. It’s abundant on the reef flat and among sea grass beds in sandy substrate.  It’s root-like structure is a large bulb with a series of rhizoids that anchor it to substrate and sometimes hardbottom. It occurs in shallow calm protected water to depths of 40 ft. In the aquarium the mature plant often dies to produce new plants at it’s base. Like most calcareous stem plants, it needs a deep sand bed of 4″ or more to grow in the aquarium. Calcium supplementation is needed. Not palatable to fish or invertebrates.

Scientific Name: Penicillus dumetosus

Common Name: Mermaid’s Shaving Brush

Origin: Atlantic, Caribbean

Depth Collected: 1-30 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: Low to Moderate

A heavily calcified algae that’s abundant in both shallow and deep water habitats to depths of 100 feet or more. It features large, calcified segments with irregular disc shaped formations. It has the largest individual segments of all Halimeda species. Discoidea has a single holdfast that typically attaches to rocks, shells and hard bottom. Unlike other species of Halimeda, it grows exclusively on hard surfaces and not in sand substrate. This particular species is most often associated with collected and aqua cultured live rock. Like all species of calcareous algae it needs regular calcium supplementation for growth in the aquarium. It does not grow as quickly in the aquarium as other varieties, but is very hardy and attractive.

Scientific Name: Halimeda discoidea

Common Name: Money Plant

Origin: Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico

Depth Collected: 3-100 Feet

Maximum Height : 10″

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Moderate to High

Temperature: 76-86

Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation

Difficulty: Easy

Food Value: Not Very Palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Fair

Flow Rate: Moderate