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AlgaemediumSaltwater

Shaving Brush Plant

Penicillus capitatus

PlantaeChlorophytaUlvophyceaeBryopsidalesHalimedaceae

📍 Caribbean — Florida to Brazil, Bermuda

Unmistakable calcified macroalgae resembling an old-fashioned shaving brush — white stalk topped with a tuft of fine green filaments. Anchors in sandbed. Relatively short-lived (months to a year); when it dies it releases calcium into the water. An endearing curiosity for Caribbean reef displays.

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Quick Facts

note
calcified; lifespan 6–12 months before naturally dying back
role
beneficial — display
placement
deep sandbed (3+ inches)
lightLevel
medium to high

Water it likes

ph
8.1–8.4
hardness
8–18 dGH
temperature
73–81°F (23–27°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Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date.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

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Kept by0 hobbyists