Gracilaria hayi Care Guide
Gracilaria hayi is a bright red Caribbean macroalga with rigid branching fronds, kept in marine refugiums as grazing food for tangs and angelfish.
Overview
Gracilaria hayi is a red marine macroalga in the family Gracilariaceae (phylum Rhodophyta). It forms a bright red, globular bush of rigid, irregularly shaped lobes, which gives it the aquarium trade name 'pom-pom' algae. The genus Gracilaria is the world's principal source of agar, producing over 90% of global supply, and several species are grazed by herbivorous fish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Gracilariaceae
- Genus: Gracilaria
- Scientific name: Gracilaria hayi
- Authority: Gurgel, Fredericq & J.N.Norris, 2004
Habitat
Gracilaria hayi is native to the Caribbean; its type locality is Galeta Point, Panama. It is found in shallow water and from moderately sheltered locations, and was among new macroalgae records documented on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The genus as a whole favours warm waters and cannot tolerate temperatures below about 10 °C.
Growth requirements
- Water type: marine (saltwater)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 8.0-8.4
- Lighting: medium
- CO2: not required
- Growth rate: medium
In aquariums the alga grows under moderate lighting and exports nutrients as it builds biomass, similar to other refugium macroalgae. It is grown both for nutrient control and as a continuous source of grazing food.
Placement
The KB record places Gracilaria hayi in the midground at a maximum height around 20 cm. Its rigid bushy form holds its shape well and can be tumbled in a refugium or anchored among rock.
Propagation
Like other refugium Gracilaria, it is propagated by fragmentation: pieces broken from the parent continue to grow independently. Regular harvesting both supplies grazing food for tangs and angelfish and exports bound nutrients from the system.