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AlgaehardSaltwater

Dictyota

Dictyota sp.

ChromistaOchrophytaPhaeophyceaeDictyotaceae

📍 Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas

Flat, iridescent brown-olive blades that spread over rockwork and corals. Beautiful under certain lighting — shimmers blue-green — but highly invasive in reef tanks. Produces chemical deterrents that most fish avoid. Very difficult to eliminate; manual removal stimulates regrowth. Sea urchins (Diadema) and Thalassoma wrasses occasionally graze it.

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Quick Facts

role
nuisance — persistent
cause
high nutrients, low herbivore pressure
control
Diadema urchin, manual removal, reduce nutrients
warning
extremely difficult to eradicate once established; chemical deterrents repel most fish

Water it likes

ph
8.1–8.4
hardness
8–12 dGH
temperature
72–81°F (22–27°C)

Legality

No state or federal restrictions on record for this species.

Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — always confirm the current regulations with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping, or shipping this species.

Stats

Community tips0
Kept by0 hobbyists