Live Red Ogo Gracilaria hayi macroalgae with soft red branches for a reef refugium

Red Ogo Gracilaria Macroalgae - Reef Genetics

Softball
$59.99
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Live Red Ogo Gracilaria hayi macroalgae with soft red branches for a reef refugium

Red Ogo Gracilaria Macroalgae - Reef Genetics

$59.99
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Description

Red Ogo macroalgae (Gracilaria hayi) is a fast-growing red Gracilaria used for nutrient export and fresh herbivore forage. Its soft branching growth takes up nitrate and phosphate, adds red color, and gives pods a complex refuge. It can be gently tumbled in a refugium and harvested for tangs, rabbitfish, and other grazing fish.

Red Ogo macroalgae quick care facts

Scientific name Gracilaria hayi
Algae group Red branching macroalgae
Care level Easy
Light Moderate to high
Water flow Moderate to high
Growth rate Fast
Best placement Refugium, macroalgae display, or temporary feeding culture
Nutrient export High
Food value High for tangs, rabbitfish, angelfish, and other herbivores
Portion Golf Ball, Tennis Ball, or Softball

Why keep Red Ogo macroalgae?

  • Fast growth supports active nitrate and phosphate export.
  • Soft branches are readily accepted by many herbivorous marine fish.
  • Provides refuge for copepods and amphipods.
  • Adds natural red color to refugiums and macroalgae displays.

Lighting, flow, and nutrients

Provide moderate-to-strong refugium or horticultural light for 10–16 hours daily and broad moderate-to-high flow. A gentle tumble improves exposure and prevents detritus buildup, though the algae can grow without constant rotation. Many reef keepers run the light opposite the display photoperiod to help reduce overnight pH movement.

Refugium or display tank?

A refugium protects Red Ogo from grazers and allows a renewable crop. It can also be secured in a macroalgae display. In a reef display, tangs, rabbitfish, and angelfish may remove it rapidly, so treat exposed portions as feeding material unless the fish consistently ignore them.

Harvesting and pruning

Remove a portion whenever growth becomes dense or fills the chamber. Keep the firmest, cleanest branches as the parent culture. Harvesting removes stored nitrate and phosphate. Rinse feeding portions in tank water and attach them to a clip so uneaten pieces do not drift behind rockwork.

Troubleshooting Red Ogo macroalgae

Pale, translucent, or soft branches indicate stress from light shock, depleted nutrients, unstable salinity, weak flow, or shipping. Detritus between branches calls for more circulation or a smaller clump. Remove deteriorating tissue and test nitrate and phosphate before increasing light or adding supplements.

How Red Ogo macroalgae compares

Pom Pom Gracilaria stays in denser clumps and is easier to harvest cleanly. Red Ogo has softer, looser branches and is an excellent direct feeding algae. Sea Lettuce also feeds herbivores but grows as broad green sheets and requires closer control of fragmentation.

Portion sizes, shipping, and acclimation

Choose a Golf Ball starter portion, a Tennis Ball portion, or a Softball amount. Temperature-acclimate the sealed bag, rinse in discarded aquarium water, and inspect. Start under reduced intensity and good broad flow. Exact branch density, shape, and red shade vary naturally between harvested portions.

Pairs well with

Neptune GRO Refugium Light for refugium lighting, Ocean Nutrition Seaweed Clip for feeding, Live Mixed Copepods for biodiversity, and nitrate/phosphate test kits.

Expert buying guidance

Red Ogo Gracilaria Macroalgae FAQs

What is Red Ogo macroalgae?

Red Ogo is a red Gracilaria macroalga, identified for this culture as Gracilaria hayi. Reef keepers grow it in refugiums for nutrient export, pod habitat, and fresh herbivore forage. Its soft branches are attractive in a macroalgae display but may be quickly consumed by tangs, rabbitfish, and angelfish.

How do I grow Red Ogo in a refugium?

Give it moderate-to-strong light for roughly 10–16 hours, broad moderate-to-high flow, and measurable nitrate and phosphate. Let the portion tumble slowly when possible or turn it by hand. Harvest before the clump becomes dense, and acclimate new algae gradually instead of placing it immediately under maximum light.

Can I feed Red Ogo to tangs and rabbitfish?

Yes. Red Ogo is commonly used as fresh supplemental forage for tangs, rabbitfish, angelfish, and other grazers. Rinse a clean harvested portion in aquarium water and offer it on a clip. Maintain the parent culture in a fish-free refugium and continue feeding a varied complete diet alongside fresh macroalgae.

Does Red Ogo need to tumble?

Tumbling is helpful but not essential. Slow rotation exposes all sides to light, moves detritus out of the branches, and promotes even growth. If the chamber cannot tumble it, maintain broad flow through the clump, turn it during maintenance, and harvest before the center becomes tightly packed or shaded.

Why is my Red Ogo turning pale or translucent?

Pale or clear tissue is stressed or deteriorating. Check for an abrupt light increase, zero nitrate or phosphate, unstable salinity, weak flow, shipping stress, or heavy grazing. Remove soft tissue, improve circulation, and reduce light temporarily. Test before dosing supplements, then make one correction at a time.

Red Ogo vs Pom Pom Gracilaria: which should I choose?

Choose Red Ogo for soft, readily grazed branches and a strong fresh-food crop. Choose Pom Pom when you want dense clumps that are especially easy to handle and harvest. Both can grow quickly, export nutrients, and shelter pods. Many refugiums use one as the main crop and the other for diversity.

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