Macroalgae for Aquascaping

C. prolifera is a wonderful, versatile specimen. It has a gorgeous lime green color, and long fronds that move in the current. It’s appearance is very similar to seagrass.

Fronds are approximately 4-5 inches long. This alga can be a gorgeous background plant. If placed in the foreground, it could be kept thin enough to allow the viewer to look through it, to increase a sense of depth.

Macroalgae is a joy to work with: It grows quickly enough to keep our interest, it comes in wonderful textures and colors, and if we make a mistake in pruning, it forgives quickly. When pruning these specimens, some common traits arise. Macroalgae can easily be trained to stay in a general area. Turn the runners toward the way you want them to grow, push the end under the substrate or place a shell or rock on the end. When clipping a stalk, pinch the area between your thumb and forefinger to break the cell wall. This can decrease the release of the alga’s inner contents. Running activated carbon during and after pruning is good practice.

Here’s are a few algae specimens that make great additions to a planted tank:

C. articulata is a medium quick grower, slower than some. It’s beautiful lime green color, and long fronds make it an excellent fore or background plant. On the side of a tank, it can make a

wonderful frame to an aquatic garden. Fronds are approximately 2 inches.

C. peltata has a wonderful trailing growth pattern. It’s medium green color looks striking covering a rock, or substrate.

There are a few species with a similar texture and differing sizes of “suction cups”. A medium growing macroalgae, if it has competition in a planted tank.

Miscellaneous Genera

Hypnea viridis is a low, slow growing species. It is great for a foreground plant. An unusual color, different lighting spectrums make it appear in shades of blue and purple.

Halymenia saccata’s flamboyant color makes a strong showing in any tank it inhabits. Growth pattern is upright, can be “trained” to provide coverage for any situation a hobbyist could request.

It does have a bright, light red color that makes it serve well as an interesting focal point.

Botryocladia, a large genus with similar textured algae.

This genus can make a good accent, background or fore ground plant.

Acrosorium :

This gorgeous dark red alga can be a wonderful background accent to any planted tank. A strong grower, this alga is accepted readily by herbivores and is usually accepted by local fish stores for credit for future purchases. This alga can have many uses for the aquatic hobbyist.

The genus Caulerpa can be used safely in a closed system if a few general traits are acknowledged. Caulerpas species have a strong ability to continue their life cycle when conditions are not optimal for growth. When nutrients become low, this genus will go into a dormant cycle where it will release it’s spores into the water column, along with other toxins and high amounts of nutrients. This is referred to in the hobby as “going sexual”. In my experience, I have found a simple way to avoid having an issue and still enjoy the wonderful advantage and beauty of this genus. Consider that the entire portion of the macroalgae is one cell. I only let each portion grow into a 10 inch long piece. This way, if one piece decides to act up, the other pieces are easily able to consume any nutrients that are released. I have also found that we get hints before the alga “goes sexual”. A frond or two will go clear, losing all it’s substance a few days before the entire unit does. At that point, I can easily harvest some, or add some of the lacking nutrient. Usually, this is iron in my closed system. I have gotten to a point where there is little nitrate. This will be discussed in a future blog.