ECC Cookies & Cream Cauliflower Coral

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Red Grape Algae; Red Grape Kelp; Sea Grapes; Grape Macroalgae

Synonyms

Botryocladia occidentalis; Botryocladia botryoides; Botryocladia skottsbergii

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, including Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Atlantic coastal waters

Habitat

Attaches to rock and shell substrate in coastal and reef waters, often in shaded or moderately lit areas with some water movement

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Growth form

Branching

Adult size

2 – 6 in (5.1 – 15 cm)

Spread

6 in (15 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Middle

Water

Temperature

73 – 81 °F (23 – 27 °C)

pH

8.0 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.023 – 1.026 SG

PAR

20 – 100 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Target feeding

Not needed

Give it room

4 in (10 cm)

Colors

Red, Pink

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Photosynthetic

Foods

Coral food

Propagation

Cuttings

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Care guide

Overview

Clusters of translucent, grape-like vesicles bud from short branching stalks, slowly filling rockwork without turning invasive. Nutrient uptake happens directly through the bladders, so moderate nitrate and phosphate levels keep them plump, while moderate lighting and gentle flow prevent bleaching or tearing. Best housed in a refugium or fed off to herbivores, since grazing fish strip it quickly.

Care

This red macroalgae forms clusters of fluid-filled, grape-like vesicles on short branching stalks and holds up well in nano and reef tanks without becoming invasive. It does best under moderate lighting, since intense light can bleach or burn the delicate bladders, while very dim conditions slow growth and dull the color. Moderate water flow keeps the vesicles clean and intact without tearing them loose, and it tolerates the same temperature and pH range as most tropical reef setups.

Placement & acclimation

Attach fragments to live rock or rubble with cyanoacrylate gel glue or a small rubber band, positioning the holdfast in a spot with moderate rather than intense light. Acclimate gradually to tank lighting over one to two weeks since a sudden jump in intensity can bleach the vesicles. Placement in the midground or a shaded rock crevice shows off the grape-like clusters while protecting them from the most direct light.

Feeding

Nutrition comes almost entirely from nitrate and phosphate absorbed directly through the vesicle membranes rather than through roots or rhizoids anchored in substrate. Modest, steady nutrient levels keep the bladders plump and richly colored, while very lean systems can cause them to shrink or lose color over time. Occasional trace supplementation of iron and iodine is reported to help maintain vigor in low-nutrient reef systems.

Neighbors

Herbivorous fish and grazing invertebrates will readily eat the vesicles, so this algae is best confined to a refugium or sump if the goal is long-term display rather than fish food. It grows harmlessly alongside corals and live rock and does not sting or compete aggressively for space, though its brittle stalks can be dislodged by boisterous tankmates. Many hobbyists deliberately grow it as a renewable supplemental food source, trimming portions for herbivores in the main display.

Fragging

Propagation is simple: healthy branches can be cut or pinched off and reattached to a new piece of rock or rubble with glue or thread. Fragments left loose on the sand bed or tucked into rockwork will often reattach and continue growing on their own. Growth is slow to moderate, so regular but light trimming is usually enough to control spread and generate new frags.

Pests & problems

The main problem in captivity is bleaching or disintegration from excessive light or elevated temperature, which causes the vesicles to fade to white or rust and eventually rupture. Rough handling or strong flow can knock loose individual bladders, though detached fragments often reattach to rock on their own. Otherwise the alga is resilient and rarely troubled by disease when nutrient and light levels are kept stable.

Sources

1. Red Grape Algae Care (Botryocladia uvaria) | Atlarium
2. Red Grape Algae care: light, CO2 and placement · TankBud
3. Red Grape Caulerpa or Kelp (Botryocladia sp.) Macro Algae Refugium Super Rare! – Addictive Reef Keeping
4. Botryocladia Skottsbergii (Botryocladia skottsbergii) – Complete Care Guide | Reeflings