Lobophora

Lobophora · also called Brown Ruffles, Brown Wafer Algae

Lobophora is a brown macroalga with thin, fan-shaped lobes that overlap and fold into ruffles. It often reaches tanks as a hitchhiker on rock or coral, and keepers disagree on whether it is an ornament or a nuisance. Lab extracts can bleach some corals, so keep it from touching them.

Educational only. Some KinStation entries are reviewed by licensed veterinarians, but none can replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.

Quick facts

Category	Marine & Algae
Family	Dictyotaceae
Native origin	Caribbean and the tropical to subtropical Atlantic and Pacific
Care difficulty	Intermediate
Light	Medium light
Pet toxicity	Toxicity unknown

Light

Moderate reef lighting is adequate, and it turns up across a wide range of natural light, from reef flats to deep drop-off walls. No firm figures have been published for tanks, so start at a moderate level. If the lobes thin or break up, review water quality before changing the light.

Water

Standard reef parameters: 23-27 C (74-80 F), salinity ~1.025 SG, pH 8.1-8.4. It is common at nutrient-rich natural sites, yet it can fall apart in very clean, well-run tanks, so a low-nutrient display may not hold it for long. Nutrient control is also the main way to rein it in if it spreads.

Soil & potting

Grows flat on rock and other hard surfaces rather than in sand, and it tends to arrive already attached. Keep it on its own piece of rock, not on a coral base. If you must remove it, take out the rock, wipe it clean and flush the area before putting the rock back.

Environment — humidity, temperature, placement

Natural habitats include reef flats, bays and deep walls, so it tolerates varied conditions. Moderate flow at standard reef temperature, 23-27 C (74-80 F), suits it in a display or macroalgae tank. Site it well away from corals, since contact is where any damage would occur.

Propagation

It spreads over rock and by fragments, and even a very small piece can drift and take hold elsewhere. It can grow fast once settled. To keep it in check, trim lobes back regularly and lift cuttings out of the tank rather than letting them drift. Reseat wanted pieces on rubble.

Toxicity detail

No source covers cats or dogs, so the rating stays unknown. In field bioassays, Lobophora extracts bleached some corals on direct contact, though wild plants rarely did, and one species has overgrown and killed corals in New Caledonia. Most herbivores find it unpalatable, but some keepers report Naso tangs and Diadema urchins eating it.

Varieties & cultivars

Natural forms are the wild species; cultivars are selectively-bred colour or variegation forms of the same plant.

Natural forms1

Brown Ruffles

Lobophora sp. A brown alga with fan-like lobes that fold into ruffles. Lab extracts of Lobophora bleached some corals on contact, though wild plants rarely did.

Keep it from touching corals, since contact is where any damage would occur.