Live Aquarium Filtration
Seaweed is a robust carbon dioxide processor, releasing dissolved oxygen into the water as a product of photosynthesis. By growing seaweed in your tank you are harnessing a macroalgal filter for your water! One of my tank favorites is coral weed.
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Live, Wet Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus)
Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus), also known as Sea Moss or Purple Irish Moss, is a beautiful red seaweed found along the rocky intertidal zones of Maine’s coast. Its branching, fan-like fronds range from deep maroon to wine red and are prized for their texture, resilience, and scientific importance. Collected fresh from cold Atlantic waters, Irish Moss is ideal for classroom studies, aquariums, and research in marine biology or phycology.
This species is well known for its high carrageenan content—a natural polysaccharide used in food science and cosmetics—as well as its role in coastal ecosystems as shelter for small invertebrates. Sustainably hand-harvested by cutting the fronds from their rocky holdfasts, each portion is shipped fresh and ready for use.
Key Facts:
Common names: Irish moss, sea moss, purple Irish moss
Scientific name:Chondrus crispus
Colors: Dark red, maroon, wine-colored; black when dried
Size: 2" – 6" long fronds
Collected: By hand, cut off rocks
Quantity: 1 pint volume
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.
*Overnight Express UPS Shipping is included in the price per pint volume*
This is a wet, live, science specimen
Common name: Sea Lettuce
Scientific name: Ulva lactuca
Locations: lower intertidal on low tide rocks & ledges in areas of lots dynamic current and water flow
Seasonality:available all year, best in spring - fall
Colors:bright red, maroon, burgundy, and sometimes almost black
Size: range from 6" - 12" fronds
Collected: by hand
Quantity :sold by the pint volume
Common or “Sugar” Kelp (Laminaria saccharina) – Wet, Live, Whole Leaf
Please note this is a live marine specimen.
Our Common or “Sugar” Kelp (Laminaria saccharina) is a wet, live, whole-leaf seaweed sustainably hand-harvested from the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf of Maine. This golden-brown kelp grows in the low intertidal and shallow subtidal zones, clinging to rocks, ledges, and moorings where water flow is strong. Its smooth, flexible blades and naturally sweet mineral scent make it a favorite for culinary use, skincare formulations, and marine research. Each specimen is freshly harvested and packed in seawater to preserve texture, color, and nutrient integrity for delivery.
Key Facts:
Common name: Common kelp, sugar kelp
Scientific name: Laminaria saccharina
Locations: Low tide beds, rocky ledges, docks, moorings, and floats
Seasonality: Available all year, with best growth in winter and spring
Colors: Brown to golden brown
Size: Whole leaves ranging from 3” to 12’+
Collected: By hand
Quantity: Sold wet, live, by the whole leaf or pint volume
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com
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Live Horsetail Kelp (Laminaria digitata)
Please note this is a live marine specimen.
Horsetail Kelp (Laminaria digitata), also known as Finger Kelp, is a long, dark brown seaweed recognized for its sturdy, finger-like blades that thrive in areas of strong tidal current and high water flow. Found attached to subtidal rocks and ledges along Maine’s coast, this kelp plays an important ecological role as a habitat and nutrient source within the nearshore environment. Sustainably hand-harvested from the Gulf of Maine, each live portion is freshly collected and shipped wet for marine biology study, aquaculture education, or live aquarium display.
Key Facts:
Common name: Horsetail kelp, finger kelp
Scientific name:Laminaria digitata
Locations: Subtidal on low-tide rocks and ledges; prefers strong current and water flow
Seasonality: Available all year
Colors: Dark brown
Size: 12” – 72”
Collected: By hand
Quantity: 1 pint volume
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com
Live Winged Kelp (Alaria esculenta)
Please note this is a wet, live, science specimen.
Overnight Express UPS Shipping is included in the price per pint volume.
Winged Kelp (Alaria esculenta), also known as edible kelp or wakame, is a golden-brown seaweed found growing subtidally on rocky ledges and low-tide outcrops throughout the Gulf of Maine. This broad-bladed kelp thrives in areas with strong currents and clean, cold water, where it forms graceful underwater forests. Its long, winged fronds—ranging from one to four feet—are highly valued for both their ecological importance and their culinary uses. Sustainably hand-harvested and shipped fresh in seawater, our Winged Kelp is ideal for classroom study, aquaculture demonstrations, and research on macroalgae or coastal ecology.
Key Facts:
Common name: Winged kelp, edible kelp, wakame
Scientific name: Alaria esculenta
Locations: Subtidal on low-tide rocks and ledges; prefers areas with strong current and water flow
Seasonality: Available spring–summer; occasionally found in winter and early spring but often withered or vestigial
Colors: Brown to golden yellow-brown
Size: Ranges from 12” – 48” long, occasionally larger
Collected: By hand
Quantity: 1 pint volume (2–3 plants)
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com
Live Nori (Porphyra spp.)
This is a wet, live, science specimen.
Nori (Porphyra spp.), also known as Purple Laver, is a delicate red seaweed found in the mid-tidal zones of Maine’s rocky shores. This soft, paper-thin alga ranges in color from deep plum to dusky purple, fading to yellow with sun exposure. Because of its fragile, translucent structure, a single pound represents a large volume of living material.
Commonly studied for its photosynthetic efficiency, cell wall composition, and ecological role in intertidal communities, Porphyra is also of commercial interest as a food-grade species used worldwide in sushi and sea vegetable products. Each specimen is hand-harvested at low tide from clean, unpolluted coastal areas of the Gulf of Maine.
Common name: Nori, Purple Laver, Laver
Scientific name: Porphyra spp.
Locations: Mid-tidal on bare rocks in spaces where rockweed has not colonized
Seasonality: Available all year (2–3 subspecies available in rotation during the year)
Colors: Dark plum or purple color, yellows with sun exposure
Size: 3" – 12"
Collected: By hand
Quantity: Sold in 1 pint increments
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.
Live Sea Colander Kelp (Agarum cribrosum)
Please Note This Is a Wet, Live Science Specimen
The Sea Colander Kelp (Agarum cribrosum) — locally known as Shotgun Kelp by Maine’s sea urchin fishermen — is a distinctive brown seaweed recognized by its perforated, leathery fronds. This hardy kelp species thrives in strong current zones on subtidal rocks and ledges, where constant water flow delivers the nutrients it needs to grow.
Sea Colander Kelp serves as important habitat for small invertebrates and juvenile fish, and its unique texture and structure make it a fascinating specimen for classroom study, marine ecology research, or public aquarium display. When held to the light, the natural holes in its blade give it the appearance of a “colander,” hence its common name.
Common name: Sea Colander Kelp (Shotgun Kelp)
Scientific name: Agarum cribrosum
Locations: Subtidal rocks and ledges, prefers strong currents and water flow
Seasonality: Available year-round; most abundant where sea urchins have not grazed it down
Colors: Dark brown
Size: 12” – 24” long
Collected: By hand
Quantity: 1 pint volume (1–2 plants)
Uses: Ideal for marine biology labs, seaweed identification courses, or aquarium habitat enrichment.
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.
Live Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)
Please note this is a live marine specimen.
Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum), also known as Norwegian Kelp or Egg Wrack, is one of the most common and ecologically important seaweeds found along Maine’s rocky intertidal shores. Recognized by its long, olive-green fronds with distinctive air bladders, this durable brown alga provides critical habitat for countless marine species and helps stabilize the coastal ecosystem.
Sustainably hand-harvested from the mid-tidal range of the Gulf of Maine, Rockweed is ideal for aquaria, classroom demonstrations, and marine biology studies. Its variable coloration—from deep green to golden brown—reflects the natural effects of sunlight and tide exposure.
Key Facts:
Common names: Rockweed, Norwegian kelp, egg wrack
Scientific name: Ascophyllum nodosum
Location: Rocks and ledges in the mid-tidal range
Seasonality: Available year-round in great abundance
Colors: Ranges from deep dark green to brown to sun-bleached yellow
Size: 3” up to 6’ long (larger available upon request)
Collected: Hand-harvested
Quantity: 1 pint volume
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com
Mermaid’s Hair (Cladophora spp.) – Live Green Algae from Maine
This is a wet, live, science specimen.
Hand-harvested from the rocky intertidal zones of the Gulf of Maine, Mermaid’s Hair (Cladophora spp.) is a delicate, bright-green filamentous algae often found growing on rocks, ledges, and boulders in clean, sunlit waters. Its fine, hair-like fronds give it a soft, flowing appearance—making it a stunning and functional addition to aquariums, marine touch tanks, and classroom study collections.
Common Name: Mermaid’s hair
Scientific Name: Cladophora spp.
Location: Hard substrate—boulders, rocks, ledges
Seasonality: Available all year (best from spring through fall)
Color: Green
Size: Fronds 1”–3"
Collected: Hand-harvested
Quantity: 1 pint volume
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.
Corallina is a unique type of macroalgae or seaweed. As it grows, it adds parts like a string of tiny beads. Taking calcium from the seawater, it uses this mineral to reinforce its frond structure. Because it has calcium in the growing fronds, this makes it tougher and keeps it from being eaten by ordinary bottom grazers like sea urchins or snails.
When we collect Corallina we often put the clusters into a pail of seawater alone. Over time the coral weed fronds will reveal an entire host of isopods, worms, larval fish, and other organisms that have been feeding and taking shelter in this seaweed. Very interesting to see how this fauna supports a medley of other marine life. Our best specimens are supplied attached to horse mussels and small rocks. These look great in any aquarium because of their color and longevity.
Their branching structure lends itself well to the positive functions of seaweed in aquatic systems. Seaweeds take up heavy metals and excess nutrients from the water it lives in while providing dissolved oxygen to the tank. Coral weed combs the water, refreshing the tank.
Tidepool Tim
Molly Sheehan is the Head of Marketing and PR at Gulf of Maine, Inc.—and a proud second-generation steward of the sea. Born and raised in the family business, she grew up tide pooling with her dad Tim and started her first job as a clam digger. From seaweed science to sustainable sourcing, Molly brings a deep-rooted passion (and muddy boots) to everything she does. When she’s not writing about red algae or packaging orders, you can find her sewing clothes for her small handmade clothing brand or walking the beach with Poppy the GOM mascot! .
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Live Dulse (Palmaria palmata)
Please note this is a wet, live, science specimen.
Hand-harvested from the pristine, nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf of Maine, Dulse (Palmaria palmata) is a vibrant, deep-red seaweed known for its rich color, delicate texture, and ecological importance. Found growing on low-tide rocks and ledges in areas of strong current and clean water flow, this red alga adds striking color and movement to marine aquariums while providing valuable biological filtration. Sustainably collected by hand, our live Dulse is ideal for aquaculture systems, classroom demonstrations, and marine biology research.
Key Facts:
Common name: Dulse
Scientific name:Palmaria palmata
Locations: Lower intertidal on low-tide rocks and ledges in areas of dynamic current and water flow
Seasonality: Available all year; best in spring–fall
Colors: Bright red, maroon, burgundy, and sometimes almost black
Size: Fronds range from 6” – 12”
Collected: By hand
Quantity: 1 pint volume
Shipping: Overnight Express UPS Shipping is included in the price per pint volume
Sustainably Wild-Crafted and Handpicked:
Our Dulse is collected by hand from intertidal zones, where it thrives in dynamic Gulf of Maine currents. Each specimen is handled with care and shipped in seawater to preserve its structure and color for live display or research.
Scientific and Educational Use:
Dulse is a model species for studying red algal physiology, nutrient uptake, and intertidal ecology. Its adaptability and resilience make it an excellent live specimen for classroom and aquarium use.
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com