Chaetomorpha aerea

(Dillwyn) Kützing 1849

Tall Hair Alga

Range: Tropical and Sub-tropical Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Natural Environment: Inhabits intertidal rocky areas where currents are fairly strong.

Aquarium Suitability: Actually fairly easy to maintain in aquaria under moderate light and current, and these 6 inch (15 cm) tufts can serve as a food for herbivorous fishes.

Potential Control Species: Fish: Acanthurus achilles, Acanthurus japonicus, Acanthurus leucosternon, Acanthurus lineatus, Acanthurus olivaceus, Acanthurus pyroferus, Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis, Ctenochaetus striatus, Naso brevirostris, Naso lituratus, Zebrasoma desjardinii, Zebrasoma flavescens, Zebrasoma scopas, Zebrasoma veliferum, Zebrasoma xanthurum, Siganus corallinus, Siganus guttatus, Siganus magnifica, and Siganus vulpinus

Crabs: Calcinus tibicen, Clibanarius digueti, Clibanarius tricolor, Paguristes cadenati and Phimochirus operculatus

Slugs: Elysia diomedea and Elysia ornata

Urchins: Diadema setosum and Mespilia globulus

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Chlorophyta

Class: Ulvophyceae

Order: Cladophorales

Family: Cladophoraceae

Genus: Chaetomorpha

FYI: One of the few 'hair algae' species that can be considered acceptable in home marine aquariums.