‘Red Flame’ Dragon’s Breath

Colour	Red
Fluorescence	None
Branching Pattern	Branched
Thallus Shape	Flame-like
Surface Features	Smooth
Flexibility	Very High
Edge	Smooth

'Red Flame' (Halymenia pseudofloresii), also known as 'Dragon's Flame', 'Dragon's Tongue', or 'Dragon's Breath', is a resilient and visually striking red macroalgae characterized by its flexible, flame-shaped thallus. Valued for its vibrant coloration and dynamic form, 'Red Flame' is well-suited for both display tanks and refugiums. This species exhibits rapid growth when provided with optimal lighting and nutrient levels, contributing to its popularity among marine aquarists. 'Red Flame' can be cultivated by attaching it to rockwork, with a preference for moderate to high water flow to thrive.

Nutrient Export

'Red Flame’ is one of our favourite macroalgaes for keeping your tank clean and healthy. This beautiful red algae is great at soaking up extra nutrients like nitrates (NO₃⁻) and phosphates (PO₄³⁻), which helps to keep unwanted algae in check and your aquarium looking its best. Whether you're putting it in your display tank or refugium, 'Red Flame' is a fantastic natural filter that will make your tank's water healthier for your fish, corals, and other critters.

Lighting

'Red Flame' loves moderate to bright light, ideally with a PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) level between 100-150. If your lights are a bit stronger, don't worry; this algae can adapt to higher light over time if you ease it in slowly. It does best under lighting that leans more on the blue side, so full-spectrum LED lights with a good blue output or T5 lights meant for coral growth work great. Aim for about 8-10 hours of light each day. Just keep an eye on it: if it's looking a little pale, it might be getting too much light too soon.

Nutrients

For 'Red Flame' to really thrive, it needs a bit of nitrate and phosphate in the water. Ideally, you want at least 5 ppm nitrate (NO₃⁻) and 0.1 ppm phosphate (PO₄³⁻). It's great at using these nutrients to fuel its growth, but make sure to keep an eye on the levels so they don't get too low or too high. In a low-nutrient tank, you might need to add a little extra nitrate or phosphate to keep it happy and growing strong.

To give 'Red Flame' an extra boost, we recommend dosing a macroalgae growth mix. Here at Raving Reefs, we personally use Continuum's Basis Chaeto Grow, but any good-quality macroalgae supplement will do the trick. These mixes provide essential trace elements and nutrients that help your 'Red Flame' grow faster and stay vibrant, making it an even better filter for your tank!

Placement and Attachment

When placing 'Red Flame' (*Halymenia pseudofloresii*) in your tank, securing it to rockwork or another stable surface is the best approach. To attach 'Red Flame,' we recommend using a small amount of aquarium-safe superglue or a rubber band to gently secure it in place. Another easy method is to tuck it into a crack or crevice in your live rock, where it can naturally attach over time. This method works great for creating a stunning focal point in your display tank while keeping the algae anchored in one spot.

Flow Requirements

'Red Flame' loves a moderate flow to keep it healthy and looking its best. You'll want to aim for a gentle, consistent flow that allows the algae to sway lightly in the water. Think of it like a gentle back-and-forth dance rather than a strong current. This movement helps keep the algae clean by preventing detritus from settling on it.

Avoid placing 'Red Flame' directly in front of a powerhead or in areas with high flow, as this can cause damage to its delicate fronds or even detach it from its attachment point. If you notice the algae isn't moving at all, it might be in too low of a flow area—try adjusting its placement to find that sweet spot where it's gently swaying.

Moderate flow not only supports the health of 'Red Flame' but also helps it serve its role as a natural filter by ensuring water with nutrients is constantly moving around it, allowing the algae to efficiently absorb and utilise those nutrients for growth.

Care and Maintenance

'Red Flame' is pretty low-maintenance, but a little bit of care will help it thrive and stay beautiful. First off, keep an eye on its growth. This macroalgae can grow quickly under the right conditions, so if it starts to get too big or overcrowded, don’t be afraid to trim it back. Just use a pair of clean, sharp scissors to snip off the excess. Regular trimming not only keeps it looking neat but also encourages new growth.

Compatibility

'Red Flame' is generally a peaceful addition to most marine aquariums, but it's important to consider its tank mates. This macroalgae can coexist happily with most fish, corals, and invertebrates. However, be mindful of herbivorous species like tangs, rabbitfish, urchins, sea hares, and certain snails, as they may find 'Red Flame' quite tasty and munch on it if they get the chance.

If you have herbivores in your tank, you might need to keep a close eye on their behaviour to make sure they’re not feasting on your 'Red Flame.' Alternatively, you could place it in a refugium or a section of the tank where it’s less accessible to hungry mouths.

Keep your reef raving and your macros waving!