Caulerpa prolifera — Sea Blade Caulerpa
Collecting turtle grass is illegal. Collecting Caulerpa prolifera is macrokeeping done right.
What You Get
A hardy, bright-green, flat-bladed Caulerpa that mimics the look of turtle grass. Smooth oval blades sprout from a creeping rhizome, often producing new blades directly from existing fronds. It is a growth habit that makes it true to its name, prolifera. It adapts easily to sand beds and live rock, and its fast growth rate makes it ideal for new and established systems alike.
Blade width and height vary naturally by habitat: energetic, turbulent zones produce wider blades, while calmer grass-flat environments create taller, narrower growth. Color remains a consistent, vibrant green under aquarium lighting.
Why It Is Algaesome
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Turtle-grass aesthetic: Seagrass bed look without using an illegal to collect species
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Fast nutrient export: Excellent nitrate and phosphate uptake. It is a refugium favorite.
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Forgiving and adaptable: Easy to keep, spreads steadily, and tolerates a wide temperature range (but best below 80°F).
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Low on the menu: Most herbivores ignore it, though some tangs may sample lightly.
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Easy upkeep: Trim, replant, or propagate simply by cutting the rhizome.
Sizing & Availability
Includes 2–3 rhizome runners (~5–7" each), ready to root in sand or tuck into rock. Blade shape, thickness, and curvature vary by season and collection depth. Generally available year-round, though prolonged summer heat can temporarily reduce abundance.
Traits
Color Bright to deep green
Ease Easy
Classification Green Macroalgae
Nutrient Uptake Excellent
Availability Best during cooler months
Use Display & Refugium
Lighting Moderate
Flow Low–Moderate
A Note from the Collectors:
Every macroalga we offer is hand-collected, acclimated, and observed by our team before shipping. While we carefully try to remove other algae, sponges, and tiny hitchhikers, it’s possible that a few “goodies” from the reef may tag along. It's a natural part of receiving genuine wild-collected specimens!
Many species may arrive paler or whitish in color. This is completely normal. Macroalgae shift their pigments inward during transport to protect from light and stress; color returns within a few days under good aquarium lighting and flow.
We ship via 2-Day service on Mondays and Tuesdays only to ensure specimens arrive healthy. You’ll receive a notification with tracking information as soon as your order ships.
