Macro algae : Hypnea pannosa

Hypnea pannosa ("Blue Hypnea")

CARE : Moderate, undemanding under normal reef conditions once settled.

GROWTH : Medium once settled.

INVASIVE? : Whilst not invasive and easy to remove should it grow where not appreciated it can grow from fragmented fronds.  Being very brittle it is not uncommon to find a piece has been broken off by CUC and begun to slowly attach where it has settled.

LIGHTING : Medium to high

FLOW: Medium to High, requires good movement to stop debris settling between the tight knit fronds

VARIATION : high flow results in much thicker fronds with a less tight knit physiology. Colour varies greatly dependant upon lighting. Strong light gives rise to its deep blue colour, whilst low light results in a more purple/pink colouration.

HOLDFAST ATTACHMENT TIME : Fast

NUTRIENT UPTAKE :  Moderate

SPECIES INFORMATION:

Found in both the Indo Pacific and tropical Atlantic oceans this species is relatively rare and sporadically distributed, prefering warm shallow sub tidal zones.

Highly sort after in the hobby for its vivid blue colouration, especially under a white light spectrum, when viewed from slightly above.

Its tight knitted fronds provide a haven for microfauna, especially 'micro' brittlestars, that flock to feed on trapped detritus amongst its fronds.

Our mother colonies often seem to be swaying in the flow due to the sheer number of brittlestar legs waving in the current, housed within the algae fronds!

Great for pairing with 'pod' feeding fish, providing a feeding station for them!

CUTTING INFORMATION:

Cuttings are taken from mature holdfast growth of an F1 colony and will measure around 3cm x 3cm. Taken from this location they will quickly differentitate into holdfasts and attach to your rockwork, before growing fresh new growth (which is much more 'pristine' looking and develops the lovely blue colour).

Please note this species whilst shipping well and been hardy does not appreciate moving aquaria or postage. It more often than not looses it's vivid blue colour during shipping, arriving, appearing a translucent grey colour. This is nothing to worry about! Once the cutting differentiates holdfast and attaches to rockwork you will notice all new growth has the characteristic bright blue colouration.(The time taken for this settlement and transition is usually only a week or 2)