Lobophora sp. - Ruffle Wafer Algae
🧵 Reef couture, all ruffles.
What You Get
A sculpted brown macroalga with firm, ruffled blades that fan out like tiny reef petals. Lobophora grows from a single holdfast, forming smooth, rigid discs that overlap in layered rosettes. Colors shift from golden brown to olive depending on depth and lighting. Unlike lookalike Padina, it is not calcified and keeps a flexible, rubbery texture that holds its shape. Collected seasonally from shallow Gulf and Caribbean habitats where it clings to hard bottom.
Why It Is Algaesome
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Highlights: Ruffled, fan-shaped blades that add warm, coral-like texture to aquascapes.
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Palatability: Commonly ignored by most herbivorous fish and invertebrates, so it lasts as a display piece.
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Care: Moderate to bright light and moderate flow. Attaches readily to rock, rubble, or sand and can spread quickly in ideal conditions.
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Nutrient uptake: Moderate to good nutrient uptake that helps reduce nitrates and phosphates while providing microfauna habitat.
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Color: Naturally warm browns, golds, and greens without calcification.
Sizing
Each order includes 1–2 clusters measuring approximately 2–3 inches across. Seasonal variation in thickness, shape, and color is normal.
Traits
Color Golden brown to olive
Ease Moderate
Classification Brown Macroalgae
Nutrient Uptake Moderate to Good
Availability Seasonal
Use Display & Refugium Macro
Lighting Moderate to Bright
Flow 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.
