Red Macro Algae! Beautiful for the display tank!

Red Macroalgae!  Beautiful for the display tank!  Have a refugium?  Start there.... Red Grape or Botryocladia is a beautiful specimen that does very well in the marine aquarium. It features stiff, lightly calcified branches with bright red air bladders. It resembles a cluster of grapes and is sometimes referred to as Red Grape Caulerpa, although it is not a species of Caulerpa at all. Depending on the species, it can grow in rather large clumps attached to rocks and coral fragments in depths of up to 30 feet or more. It is very hardy and seems to do well in aquariums with good water quality and low to medium lighting. There are several varieties available in the aquarium trade, but identification can be difficult as they all have the same basic characteristics.

My Scopas Tang LOVES this stuff!        What is your favorite red macroalgae?  Do you know what  you can get for your tank?

Aquarium Care Information Scientific Name: Botryocladia Sp. Common Name: Red Grape, Red Berries Origin: Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Pacific Depth Collected: 15-130 feet Maximum Height : 18" Growth Rate: Slow - only if you watch it! Light: Moderate Temperature: 78-84 Propagation: Fragmentation, sporulation Difficulty: Easy Food Value: Very palatable, is readily eaten by Tangs and other herbivores               Nutrient Uptake: Good               Flow Rate: Moderate

Sea Hare flying

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QUICK STATS
Care Level: Expert Only
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size: 1'
Color Form: Black, Tan
Diet: Herbivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Aplysidae


The Sea Hare is actually a marine slug that gets its name from its oral tentacles, which give it the look of a rabbit, hence its common name. The Sea Hare's body is a combination of patterns and speckles that give it a very unique appearance. One potentially very hazardous defense mechanism of the Sea Hare is its ability to release deadly toxins in the water if threatened or killed. Thus, it is very important to not keep this species with others that would attempt to do it harm and it is important to make sure that the Sea Hare cannot get sucked into any filter apparatus that could also kill it. If the Sea Hare is to release its toxic dye into the water, chemical filtration along with a partial water change should be able to remove it, or at least to non-toxic levels. If left alone the Sea Hare is simply an interesting herbivore that will gladly snack on Caulerpa and other similar vegetable items.

The Sea Hare prefers to forage for food in shallow areas of water with shaded areas of sea grass or coral rubble. In the aquarium environment, covered areas without direct lighting should be provided. The Sea Hare can reach a large size (12 inches) and also requires a wide area in which to roam, and therefore is only suitable for larger aquariums kept by expert marine aquarium hobbyists. The aquarium setup should contain live rock and large shaded areas of sandy or fine rubble where the Sea Hare can graze on algae and Caulerpa. It is also important to make sure that all filtration or anything that could suck in or cause harm to the Sea Hare are covered to prevent the Sea Hare from injuring itself.

If regular feedings of Caulerpa are not possible, the Sea Hare will need a supplemented diet of parboiled lettuce and dried kelp.


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Dream Bedroom!!

Underwater bedroom at Poseidon Undersea Resort located in Fiji