The Genera Caulerpa
The Genera Caulerpa
Macroalgae for Aquascaping

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:

I have been able to find 3 species very similar to this specimen. We can use these different morphs of the same texture to add depth, by putting smaller “grapes” behind, and using colors variations to increase the illusion.



Miscellaneous Genera







Portieria
Ventricaria
Ahnfeltia plicata
Gymnogongrus
Laurencia
Cryptopleura ramosa
Bryopsis plumosa
Caulerpa lentillifera
Mychodea terminalis
Ptilocladia pulchra
Helminthocladia australis
Galaxaura cliftonii
Udotea