Macro algae : Rhodopeltis spp

Rhodopeltis spp.

CARE : Moderate, under normal reef conditions, can take a while to fully settle.

GROWTH : Moderate, once settled

INVASIVE? : Not invasive due to long period of time required to form holfasts and moderate growth rate.

LIGHTING : Medium 

FLOW: Medium to strong, requires good movement to stop diatoms or biofilm growing on its thallus, also requires good movement through it once grown out.

VARIATION : Higher light results in very light almost pink colouration, deeper maroon undet loer light,  but slower growth.

HOLDFAST ATTACHMENT TIME : Long (months)

NUTRIENT UPTAKE : Moderate

SPECIES INFORMATION:

An extremely rare species nothing in the wild and the aquarium trade. Only a very limited number if cuttings a year are made available.

Extremely thick rigid, yet only lightly calcified fronds show uniform dichoenous branching. These fronds randomly knit together forming a "Birds nest" like colony. Absolutely stunning form that rivals many sos corals.

CUTTING INFORMATION:

The final image in the series with the 20p piece  for reference shows an example cutting.

You will receive a rested, healed thallus around 4cm in length with at least one dichotenous branch. This species is extremely high in alginic acid content, it will have been cut and rested for at least 2 weeks prior to shipping, ensuring no cell sap leakage is occuring.

This species must never be glued to rockwork. Simply, GENTLY, and loosely attach the cutting to a piece of rock, ensuring as much of the cutting touches the rock as possible. The thallus will differentiate holdfast spikes wherever it touches rockwork, anchoring itself to the rock (in optimal conditions this can happen is as little time as a month). From here, fresh dichotenous branches will grow. Great care must be take not to attach the cutting too tightly and cut into its flesh, it struggles to recover from such damage.

Once holdfasts have formed growth is strong, assuming other parameters are met.