Caulerpa Erradication Help

[Salty Waffles]

A little over a month ago, I had to pull all the rock and corals from my tank to catch the last surviving fish from an outbreak of Velvet. Since then I have been fighting an outbreak of what I think is blue Caulerpa and I'm hoping to get some ideas to get rid of this stuff. It's spreading fast and I'm losing the battle.

I got a hair algae outbreak the same time the Caulerpa took off.

My approach to this point has been manual removal but it getting in areas I can't get to.

I had/have a thriving colony of Chaeto in my fuge, but it took a hit when all the fish left the system. It's still growing but doesn't seem to have the nutrient resource it had with the fish.

Can I possibly get the Chaeto to outcompete the Caulerpa with a lights out in the display?

What about fish that will go after this stuff? I've read Two Barred Rabbitfish will go after it. Any truth to this? Any others?

I prefer a non-chemical approach.

Any pointers would be much appreciated!

Edit: The fish that survived and are back in today are: Yellow Tang, Engineer Goby, Yellow Watchman Goby, Blue Chromis, and 2 Coris Wrasses.

 

[mcgyvr]

Looks more like a bryopsis...
Try Fluconazole (Reef Flux,etc...)

 

[homer1475]

+1
Bryopsis, not calurpa.

 

[Subsea]

https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

Yes to turning out lights in display to allow refugium chaetomorphy to outcompete nuisance algae. I suspect spores of your nuisance algae are in water column. Consider using UV sterilizer at this time until your nuisance algae is terminated with prejudice.

 

[rvareef]

+1
bryopsis, not calurpa.

+2

 

[lapin]

What about fish that will go after this stuff? I've read Two Barred Rabbitfish will go after it. Any truth to this? Any others?
I prefer a non-chemical approach.
Any pointers would be much appreciated!

My lawnmower loves the stuff.(I pay her well) She will not touch the hair algae but looks for the bryopsis. I also have 2 urchins that keep the hair in check, when i cant find time to pull it out. This may not work for you.
Also the sea hare is know to do a good job on algae. (disclaimer) I have never owned one

 

[Salty Waffles]

Looks more like a bryopsis...
Try Fluconazole (Reef Flux,etc...)

+1
Bryopsis, not calurpa.

+2

10-4. Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Salty Waffles]

https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

Yes to turning out lights in display to allow refugium chaetomorphy to outcompete nuisance algae. I suspect spores of your nuisance algae are in water column. Consider using UV sterilizer at this time until your nuisance algae is terminated with prejudice.

I suspect you are correct given how quickly it is spreading. Its from one end to the other in a 6 foot tank.

I just might put the UV sterilizer I have collecting dust to work.

My lawnmower loves the stuff.(I pay her well) She will not touch the hair algae but looks for the bryopsis. I also have 2 urchins that keep the hair in check, when i cant find time to pull it out. This may not work for you.
Also the sea hare is know to do a good job on algae. (disclaimer) I have never owned one

My lawnmower (RIP) must have been keeping it in check without me realizing it. Another is one of the first fish I will be restocking ASAP.

I'm quite sure I know when and what corals it came in on. I'm naively thought it was some sort of monofilament line to tie the bases down to something. There was no foliage until the lawnmower and 30 or so other fish left the system.

 

[Salty Waffles]

Thank you for all the input!!

 

[davocean]

I'm not normally a fan of chems and quick fixes, but I just did the flucanzole treatment for bry myself and could not be more surprised or happier w/ the results.