This unique red macro algae is highly variable in coloration depending on the depth collected. Colors range from pale red to pink, with some iridescence. The main branches are cone shaped with soft, fine filaments that are attached firmly to rocks and coral with multiple rhizomes to form dense clusters. It is collected in very shallow, turbulent water and grows rather compactly. This particular algae is rarely seen in the aquarium industry, but shows up occasionally attached to imported live rock from the Pacific. It’s a popular and favorite delicacy in Hawaii, as well as other Pacific islands, and is often imported into the U.S. as a food product. Asparagopsis can be difficult to keep long term in the aquarium and seems to grow in cycles.
Scientific Name: Asparagopsis taxiformis
Common Name: Limu
Origin: Caribbean, S. Pacific
Maximum Height : 6″
Growth Rate: Slow
Light: Moderate to High
Temperature: 72-82
Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation
Difficulty: Advanced
Food Value: Palatable
Nutrient Uptake: Good
Flow Rate: Moderate to High