ECC Red Pom Pom Gracilaria Macro Algae

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Ogo; Red Ogo; Gracilaria Ball

Synonyms

Gracilaria hayi

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Caribbean, Tropical Western Atlantic

Habitat

Shallow reef flats and rubble zones, growing attached to rock or rolling loosely along the seafloor

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Growth form

Macroalgae

Max height

2 – 6 in (5.1 – 15 cm)

Spread

6 in (15 cm)

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Midground, Background

Water

Temperature

72 – 78 °F (22 – 26 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.023 – 1.025 SG

PAR

50 – 150 PAR

Flow

Moderate-High

Light

Medium

CO₂

Not needed

Planting

Substrate

Not needed

Feeds from

Water column

Fertilizer needs

Medium

Colors

Red

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings

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Care guide

Overview

Clumps into a dense, springy ball rather than trailing loose strands, holding its rounded bushy shape as it packs on new growth. Sold as a tennis-ball-sized portion, this deep red form of Gracilaria tumbles well in a refugium or sump for nutrient export and doubles as cut forage for tangs and other grazers. It tolerates a range of flow and lighting once established.

Care

Pom pom gracilaria is a hardy, fast growing red macroalgae well suited to refugiums, sumps, or display tanks with herbivore-tolerant tankmates. It holds up under moderate to strong lighting and moderate to high flow, and does best when tumbled gently so light reaches all sides of the clump and detritus does not settle inside the fronds. Unlike softer ogo types it stays in one dense mass rather than breaking apart, which makes it easy to manage and harvest.

Planting & trimming

It can be left loose to roll along the substrate or wedged among rock so its holdfast can grip naturally; many aquarists prefer to keep it unattached and tumbled in a refugium so all sides receive even light. No true planting or burying is required since it is a free-living macroalga rather than a rooted plant.

Fertilizing

This algae draws most of its nutrition directly from the water column, consuming dissolved nitrate and phosphate as it grows, so no substrate fertilizing is needed. In nutrient-poor systems growth can slow or fronds can thin out, so dosing trace elements, magnesium, and occasionally iron can help maintain color and growth rate. It generally needs no supplemental feeding beyond good light and adequate dissolved nutrients.

Propagation

Propagation is simply done by cutting or pinching off healthy branch tips and placing them in flow with adequate light; the fragments will attach or continue growing loose and bulk up into new clumps over a few weeks. Regular harvesting of the outer growth encourages continued branching and prevents the mass from shading its own interior.

Problems

Healthy specimens hold a deep red to burgundy color and a firm, springy texture; fading toward pale pink or yellow usually signals insufficient light or nutrient deficiency. Poor flow or being left untumbled can let detritus accumulate within the dense fronds, leading to localized dieback or fouling. Rinsing new arrivals in clean saltwater before introduction helps avoid introducing hitchhikers or pests.

Sources

1. A Look at the Pom Pom Macroalgae | AlgaeBarn
2. Pom Pom Gracilaria | Macro Algae | Aquacultured Macroalgae - AlgaeBarn
3. Red Macroalgae For Refugiums | AlgaeBarn
4. PomPom - Live PomPom Gracilaria Algae - Bulk Reef Supply

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