Plants

Plants in saltwater aquariums play a crucial role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. They provide shelter and breeding grounds for various marine species, help in nutrient uptake, and improve water quality by absorbing nitrates and phosphates. There are four main subcategories of plants that are commonly kept in saltwater aquariums: macroalgae, mangroves, microalgae, and seagrasses.

Macroalgae are large, photosynthetic algae that come in various shapes and sizes. They are often used in refugiums or as decorative elements in display tanks. Some popular types include Chaetomorpha, Caulerpa, Gracilaria, and Halimeda. Macroalgae help control nutrient levels and can outcompete nuisance algae for resources.

Mangroves are unique plants that can thrive in saltwater environments. They are often used in sump systems or dedicated mangrove tanks. Mangroves have extensive root systems that provide excellent filtration and habitat for small marine organisms. They also help stabilize the substrate and prevent erosion.

Microalgae are microscopic algae that form the basis of the marine food web. They are essential for the health of coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. In aquariums, microalgae can be cultured to feed filter-feeding invertebrates and larval fish. Common types include phytoplankton and zooxanthellae, the latter of which has a symbiotic relationship with corals.

Seagrasses are flowering plants that grow in shallow, sandy areas of the ocean. They provide habitat and food for a variety of marine life, including fish, crustaceans, and sea turtles. In aquariums, seagrasses can be challenging to grow but offer significant benefits, such as stabilizing the substrate and improving water quality through nutrient uptake.

1. 
   Common name: Mermaid's Wineglass

   Scientific name: Acetabularia crenulata
2. Common name: Manila Grass

   Scientific name: Actinotrichia fragilis
3. 
   Common name: Cryptic Branching Coralline Algae

   Scientific name: Amphiroa cryptarthrodia
4. Common name: Lime Green Algae

   Scientific name: Amphiroa fragilissima
5. 
   Common name: Red asparagus algae

   Scientific name: Asparagopsis taxiformis
6. Common name: Green Felt Algae

   Scientific name: Avrainvillea nigricans
7. Common name: Boodlea composita

   Scientific name: Boodlea composita
8. Common name: Botryocladia botryoides

   Scientific name: Botryocladia botryoides
9. Common name: Botryocladia pseudodichotoma

   Scientific name: Botryocladia pseudodichotoma
10. Common name: Botryocladia Skottsbergii

    Scientific name: Botryocladia skottsbergii
11. 
    Common name: Grape Caulerpa

    Scientific name: Botryocladia uvaria
12. Common name: hen pen

    Scientific name: Bryopsis plumosa
13. Common name: Caulerpa brachypus

    Scientific name: Caulerpa brachypus
14. Common name: Fern Caulerpa

    Scientific name: Caulerpa chemnitzia
15. Common name: Caulerpa floridana

    Scientific name: Caulerpa floridana
16. 
    Common name: Mexican Caulerpa

    Scientific name: Caulerpa mexicana
17. Common name: Caulerpa nummularia

    Scientific name: Caulerpa nummularia
18. Common name: Caulerpa Paspaloides

    Scientific name: Caulerpa paspaloides
19. 
    Common name: Leafy caulerpa

    Scientific name: Caulerpa prolifera
20. Common name: Razor Caulerpa

    Scientific name: Caulerpa scalpelliformis
21. 
    Common name: Sawblade Caulerpa

    Scientific name: Caulerpa serrulata
22. Common name: Feather Algae

    Scientific name: Caulerpa sertularioides
23. Common name: Killer alga

    Scientific name: Caulerpa taxifolia
24. 
    Common name: Red Algae

    Scientific name: Centroceras clavulatum
25. 
    Common name: Chaeto

    Scientific name: Chaetomorpha aerea
26. 
    Common name: Spaghetti algae

    Scientific name: Chaetomorpha linum
27. Common name: Turtle Weed

    Scientific name: Chlorodesmis fastigiata
28. Common name: Green Hair Algae

    Scientific name: Cladophora herpestica
29. 
    Common name: Green Hair Algae

    Scientific name: Cladophora prolifera
30. 
    Common name: rock-weed

    Scientific name: Cladophora rupestris
31. 
    Common name: Velvet Horn

    Scientific name: Codium adhaerens
32. Common name: Codium arabicum

    Scientific name: Codium arabicum
33. Common name: Green Fleece Algae

    Scientific name: Codium decorticatum
34. Common name: Green Felt Algae

    Scientific name: Codium edule
35. 
    Common name: Dead Man's Fingers

    Scientific name: Codium fragile
36. Common name: Green Felt Algae

    Scientific name: Codium intertextum
37. Common name: Green Felt Algae

    Scientific name: Codium vermilara
38. Common name: Derbesia

    Scientific name: Derbesia marina
39. 
    Common name: Mermaid's Wine Glass

    Scientific name: Dichotomaria apiculata
40. 
    Common name: Scroll Algae

    Scientific name: Dichotomaria marginata
41. 
    Common name: Green Bubble Algae

    Scientific name: Dictyosphaeria cavernosa
42. Common name: Dictyota bartayresiana

    Scientific name: Dictyota bartayresiana
43. 
    Common name: forkweed

    Scientific name: Dictyota dichotoma
44. 
    Common name: Green Fern Algae

    Scientific name: Flabellia petiolata
45. 
    Common name: An Chasfheamainn

    Scientific name: Fucus spiralis
46. 
    Common name: Bladder Wrack

    Scientific name: Fucus vesiculosus
47. 
    Common name: Gelidium Seaweed

    Scientific name: Gelidium microdon
48. Common name: Dwarf Red Algae

    Scientific name: Gelidium pusillum
49. Common name: Red Seaweed

    Scientific name: Gelidium spinosum
50. 
    Common name: Gracilaria

    Scientific name: Gracilaria curtissiae
51. Common name: Warty gracilaria

    Scientific name: Gracilaria gracilis
52. 
    Common name: Red Algae

    Scientific name: Gracilaria parvispora
53. Common name: Ogo

    Scientific name: Gracilaria salicornia
54. Common name: Gracilaria tikvahiae

    Scientific name: Gracilaria tikvahiae
55. Common name: Halimeda copiosa

    Scientific name: Halimeda copiosa
56. 
    Common name: Halimeda Algae

    Scientific name: Halimeda discoidea
57. 
    Common name: Halimeda Plant

    Scientific name: Halimeda incrassata
58. Common name: Large leaf coralline algae

    Scientific name: Halimeda macroloba
59. Common name: Halimeda Micronesica

    Scientific name: Halimeda micronesica
60. 
    Common name: Halimeda opuntia

    Scientific name: Halimeda opuntia
61. 
    Common name: Calcareous Green Seaweed

    Scientific name: Halimeda tuna
62. 
    Common name: Fine sea grass

    Scientific name: Halodule uninervis
63. Common name: Shoal Grass

    Scientific name: Halodule wrightii
64. 
    Common name: seagrass

    Scientific name: Halophila ovalis
65. Common name: Species code: hn

    Scientific name: Halophila spinulosa
66. 
    Common name: Red Sea Lettuce

    Scientific name: Halymenia duchassaingii
67. 
    Common name: Dragon's Tongue Algae

    Scientific name: Halymenia floresii
68. 
    Common name: Dragon's Tongue Algae

    Scientific name: Halymenia floridana
69. Common name: Hydrolithon boergesenii

    Scientific name: Hydrolithon boergesenii
70. Common name: Dragon's Breath

    Scientific name: Hypnea musciformis
71. Common name: Hypnea Spinella

    Scientific name: Hypnea spinella
72. 
    Common name: Jania rubens

    Scientific name: Jania rubens
73. 
    Common name: white mangrove

    Scientific name: Laguncularia racemosa
74. 
    Common name: Oarweed

    Scientific name: Laminaria digitata
75. 
    Common name: An encrusting coralline alga

    Scientific name: Lithophyllum incrustans
76. 
    Common name: giant kelp

    Scientific name: Macrocystis pyrifera
77. 
    Common name: Coralline Algae

    Scientific name: Mesophyllum mesomorphum
78. 
    Common name: Nannochloropsis oculata

    Scientific name: Nannochloropsis oculata
79. 
    Common name: Green Cactus Algae

    Scientific name: Neomeris annulata
80. 
    Common name: Red Ribbion Seaweed

    Scientific name: Nitophyllum punctatum
81. 
    Common name: Peacock's Tail

    Scientific name: Padina australis
82. 
    Common name: Funnelweed

    Scientific name: Padina gymnospora
83. 
    Common name: Peacock's Tail

    Scientific name: Padina pavonica
84. 
    Common name: Shaving Brush Alga

    Scientific name: Penicillus capitatus
85. 
    Common name: Mermaid's Wine Glass

    Scientific name: Penicillus dumetosus
86. Common name: Phormidium corallyticum

    Scientific name: Phormidium corallyticum
87. 
    Common name: Red Sea Lettuce

    Scientific name: Platoma gelatinosum
88. Common name: Polysiphonia elongata

    Scientific name: Polysiphonia elongata
89. 
    Common name: Red Algae

    Scientific name: Pyropia leucosticta
90. 
    Common name: Red Mangrove

    Scientific name: Rhizophora mangle
91. 
    Common name: Red Grape Algae

    Scientific name: Rhodymenia holmesii
92. 
    Common name: Dulse

    Scientific name: Rhodymenia pseudopalmata
93. Common name: Sargassum filipendula

    Scientific name: Sargassum filipendula
94. 
    Common name: Gulfweed

    Scientific name: Sargassum fluitans
95. 
    Common name: Sargassum Shrimp

    Scientific name: Sargassum hystrix
96. Common name: Sargassum johnstonii

    Scientific name: Sargassum johnstonii
97. Common name: gulf weed

    Scientific name: Sargassum natans
98. Common name: Sargassum polyphyllum

    Scientific name: Sargassum polyphyllum
99. 
    Common name: Gulfweed

    Scientific name: Sargassum sinicola
100. 
     Common name: Sargassum Weed

     Scientific name: Sargassum vulgare
101. Common name: Scinaia complanata

     Scientific name: Scinaia complanata
102. 
     Common name: Red Algae

     Scientific name: Solieria robusta
103. Common name: Peacock's Tail

     Scientific name: Stypopodium zonale
104. 
     Common name: manatee grass

     Scientific name: Syringodium filiforme
105. 
     Common name: Turtle Grass

     Scientific name: Thalassia testudinum
106. Common name: Red Mangrove

     Scientific name: Tricleocarpa cylindrica
107. Common name: Mermaid's Fan

     Scientific name: Udotea flabellum
108. Common name: Mermaid's Fan

     Scientific name: Udotea spinulosa
109. 
     Common name: Gutweed

     Scientific name: Ulva intestinalis
110. 
     Common name: Green Laver

     Scientific name: Ulva lactuca
111. Common name: Sea Lettuce

     Scientific name: Ulva linza
112. 
     Common name: Sea Lettuce

     Scientific name: Ulva prolifera
113. 
     Common name: Sea Lettuce

     Scientific name: Ulva rigida
114. 
     Common name: Bubble Algae

     Scientific name: Valonia macrophysa
115. 
     Common name: Bubble Algae

     Scientific name: Valonia utricularis
116. 
     Common name: Bubble Algae

     Scientific name: Valoniopsis pachynema
117. 
     Common name: Sailor's Eyeball

     Scientific name: Ventricaria ventricosa
118. 
     Common name: Blue Axil Chromis

     Scientific name: Wrangelia argus
119. 
     Common name: common eel-grass

     Scientific name: Zostera marina
120. 
     Common name: dwarf eelgrass

     Scientific name: Zostera noltii