Dragons breath algae

[Fredrik Andersson]

Yesterday I bought some Dragons breath algae, which I thinks really great! But I cant see any of that oreange tips that I was hoping for. What can I do to improve the orange color?

I have a reefmax aquel 30g with its inbuilt original lights. The majn reason why I bought it was to reduce my nitrate levels that is really high at the moment, around 40 ppm But I also started to use nopox so hopefully I will see some reduced levels soon.

 

[lapin]

Perhaps iron and a stronger light

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Yesterday I bought some Dragons breath algae, which I thinks really great! But I cant see any of that oreange tips that I was hoping for. What can I do to improve the orange color?

I have a reefmax aquel 30g with its inbuilt original lights. The majn reason why I bought it was to reduce my nitrate levels that is really high at the moment, around 40 ppm But I also started to use nopox so hopefully I will see some reduced levels soon.

Hi Fredrik,

Can you post a photo of the dragons breathe you bought? I have see some people (accidentally?) sell various species of macroalgae as dragons breathe (Halymenia).

 

[Waters]

I had some in a small seahorse tank that I couldn't kill if I tried.....the lights weren't strong at all. There were elevated nutrients though.....maybe that contributes to the orange tips and growth?

 

[Subsea]

Orage tips indicate intense light .

 

[Subsea]

I had some in a small seahorse tank that I couldn't kill if I tried.....the lights weren't strong at all. There were elevated nutrients though.....maybe that contributes to the orange tips and growth?

Is this the orange tips you are referring to? It doesn’t look orange tip to me. Halymenia can grow fast and not have orange tips. There are many differrent species of Halymenia. Your shrub is very healthy looking. I think it is a Pacific variety, Halymenia dilatata. Halymenia should be gelatinous and smoth in texture, almost slippery to the touch.