Dragon's Breathe Macroalgae Question

[ThunderGoose]

I have some red dragon's breath/tongue macroalgae. It looks good. It grows well. BUT it fragments constantly and ends up blowing all over the tank. Is this "fixable" or just to be expected? I love the color but I don't love the bits everywhere. Thanks.

 

[TheEngineer]

Hmmm. I don’t know let’s see if anyone else on #reefsquad knows.

 

[reef lover]

Mine never fragmented...is there anyone nipping at it?

 

[Big G]

I've heard of Clowns tearing it apart.

 

[JDtimk]

Mine doesn’t fragment either

 

[Subsea]

I have some red dragon's breath/tongue macroalgae. It looks good. It grows well. BUT it fragments constantly and ends up blowing all over the tank. Is this "fixable" or just to be expected? I love the color but I don't love the bits everywhere. Thanks.

Could you post a picture of your Halymenia? Is your Dragons Breath soft & slippery? I find the Pacific variety, Halymenia digitata, more durable compared to the Gulf of Mexico variety.

https://www.live-plants.com/redsealettuce.htm
“Species of Halymenia are gelatinous, smooth in texture and are very delicate. We collect two varieties, H. floresia & H. floridana. One features long flowing fronds while the other is more compact with rounded edges. They require good water quality and moderate to high flow to maintain their slippery, fleshy blades. This species is a bright red coloration with no iridescence at the tips as the Pacific halymenia species have. We ship a portion that is approx 6"- 8".”

 

[ThunderGoose]

Could you post a picture of your Halymenia? Is your Dragons Breath soft & slippery? I find the Pacific variety, Halymenia digitata, more durable compared to the Gulf of Mexico variety.

https://www.live-plants.com/redsealettuce.htm
“Species of Halymenia are gelatinous, smooth in texture and are very delicate. We collect two varieties, H. floresia & H. floridana. One features long flowing fronds while the other is more compact with rounded edges. They require good water quality and moderate to high flow to maintain their slippery, fleshy blades. This species is a bright red coloration with no iridescence at the tips as the Pacific halymenia species have. We ship a portion that is approx 6"- 8".”

I'll snap a picture this afternoon. And think about ordering a different species.

 

[ThunderGoose]

OK folks. Does this look like Dragon's breath macroalgae? Is it something else?

 

[Subsea]

Gracilaria Hayi is what you have. Is it somewhat brittle as opposed to fleshy & slippery like Halymenia


https://www.marineplantbook.com/marinebookgrachayi.htm

 

[ThunderGoose]

Gracilaria Hayi is what you have. Is it somewhat brittle as opposed to fleshy & slippery like Halymenia


https://www.marineplantbook.com/marinebookgrachayi.htm

Great, Thanks! Now I can order the less brittle version and get rid of all the small bits floating around the tank and clogging the pumps.