royal purple shimmer

glenn37 · Dec 10, 2018

I am starting a new 40 breeder tank for nothing but macroalgea i have a 2 bulb t5ho with zoomeds flora sun bulbs in it and the tank is starting to cycle and a Hydor 1150 on it. I want to purchase Royal purple shimmer encrusting macroalgea what do i need to have for it to thrive and do i need lots of rubble or what does it grow on?

cristata.reef · Dec 10, 2018

royal purple shimmer? Never heard of it. What's its latin name?

glenn37 · Dec 11, 2018

unknown but here is the webapge i found it on https://333aquatics.com/live-frag-royal-purple-shimmer-macro-algae

cristata.reef · Dec 11, 2018

glenn37 said:
unknown but here is the webapge i found it on https://333aquatics.com/live-frag-royal-purple-shimmer-macro-algae

Ah Hypnea. Never kept it but I think moderate flow and moderate lighting. Mixed reports on success with these

Bob Loblaw · Dec 11, 2018

There is also Collospongia sp in the pic which would fit the encrusting description more than Hypnea imo. They don't list a Latin name so not sure which you will get. Hypnea can become somewhat invasive and be a pita to control. IME, Hypnea will grow everywhere unless there is absolutely zero light. It will grow so thick that the inside is starved of light and dies resulting in large chunks breaking off and establishing elsewhere. I've had Cowries eat it but nothing else.

Collospongia can be somewhat invasive but is easy to remove by simply peeling it off. I've had Tangs and Angels pick at the new white growth but never eat the established sections.

cristata.reef · Dec 11, 2018

Bob Loblaw said:
There is also Collospongia sp in the pic which would fit the encrusting description more than Hypnea imo. They don't list a Latin name so not sure which you will get. Hypnea can become somewhat invasive and be a pita to control. IME, Hypnea will grow everywhere unless there is absolutely zero light. It will grow so thick that the inside is starved of light and dies resulting in large chunks breaking off and establishing elsewhere. I've had Cowries eat it but nothing else.

Collospongia can be somewhat invasive but is easy to remove by simply peeling it off. I've had Tangs and Angels pick at the new white growth but never eat the established sections.

Agreed, however I assumed it was the Hypnea since it said macroalgae