Augophyllum wysorii
| Care Level | Easy |
| Lighting | Low to moderate |
| Water Flow | Moderate |
| Placement | Display or refugium, anchored to rock or rubble |
| Aggression | Peaceful |
| Coloration | Deep red with orange speckling |
Overview
The Atomic Broccoli is a vibrant, hardy red macroalgae that grows in dense, branching, bush-like clusters — the resemblance to a head of broccoli is exactly where the trade name comes from. Rich red overlaid with orange spotting, it is among the more decorative macroalgae available, and has become a favourite for display refugiums and for adding natural texture and colour to a reef.
Care & Placement
Easy and undemanding. Anchor it to a piece of rock or rubble in moderate flow under low to moderate light — unlike purely utilitarian Chaetomorpha it is handsome enough for the display tank itself. It grows steadily and takes trimming well, and those trimmings are how you propagate it.
Feeding
Photosynthetic. As it grows it draws nitrate and phosphate straight out of the water column, which is the real reason most people keep macroalgae. Note that the export only actually happens when you harvest and remove the growth — algae left to grow and die back simply returns those nutrients to the tank. Iron and trace element dosing helps it hold its deep red colour.
Propagation
Easy. Divide a cluster or snip a branch and secure the fragment to a piece of rubble; it takes hold and grows on from cuttings readily.
Cautions
Not compatible with dedicated herbivores — tangs, rabbitfish, some angelfish and larger urchins will graze it to nothing. Trim it back if it starts shading corals beneath it. Like all macroalgae it wants stable parameters: a sudden nutrient crash can leave it pale or cause it to melt back.