Caulerpa help!

[Newreefer2107]

Hi guys, have a nano that has become overrun with caulerpa. Every rock is covered and it's beginning to smother corals. Tried manual removal, had a mine urchin that ate some but then decided soft corals was it's thing, even so the stuff just grows back as fast as its eaten. Question is would a peroxide dip kill it? And how would the corals and mini maxi nems cope with said dip? I can get the corals off if needed but the nems will not budge!

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[zachfishman]

Curious that an urchin went after your soft corals. Try another species?

 

[Daddi0]

We had it so bad that we couldnt manually remove it fast enough. We ended up pulling the affected rocks out and giving them a soak for 2 days in straight vinegar followed by a week of R/O and a week of drying. No critters could survive this.
Cheers! Mark

 

[Newreefer2107]

Curious that an urchin went after your soft corals. Try another species?

Tried long spine and tuxedo too, they won't touch it. I don't think the mine urchin intentionally went for the leathers but rather ploughed through as he was eating. 2nd one that's done it so won't be doing that again

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[Newreefer2107]

We had it so bad that we couldnt manually remove it fast enough. We ended up pulling the affected rocks out and giving them a soak for 2 days in straight vinegar followed by a week of R/O and a week of drying. No critters could survive this.
Cheers! Mark

That's what I think we'll end up having to do.....no idea how to get these nems off though! Tried powerheads blasting them, hanging them upside down over a bucket, ice cube to the foot....nothing

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[CAPT_Dave]

Caulerpa help!

Cover the nems with something that will block their light. I use a short piece of 2" pvc pipe but you could also use a bowl or anything you can rig to block the light. After a couple days they get hungry and go looking for light. Scoop them up while they're "walking." I usually catch them stuck to the PVC. Easy.

Alternatively, you can take the rock out and hang them upside down above a bucket of saltwater. They'll eventually tire and let go. It's best if their tentacles can just touch the water so they know it's there. Shouldn't take a stubborn one more than 10 or 15 minutes. Five is more likely. No need to worry about him hanging there out of the water. He'll let go when he needs to.


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[CAPT_Dave]

Caulerpa help!

Ah. Should have read your post more carefully. I see you tried the hanging method. If light deprivation doesn't work, try the hanging method again with his tentacles just touching the water and give him more time. I just can't imagine him "choosing" to hang there until he dies if he knows there is good water within reach.


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[Newreefer2107]

Cover the nems with something that will block their light. I use a short piece of 2" pvc pipe but you could also use a bowl or anything you can rig to block the light. After a couple days they get hungry and go looking for light. Scoop them up while they're "walking." I usually catch them stuck to the PVC. Easy.

Alternatively, you can take the rock out and hang them upside down above a bucket of saltwater. They'll eventually tire and let go. It's best if their tentacles can just touch the water so they know it's there. Shouldn't take a stubborn one more than 10 or 15 minutes. Five is more likely. No need to worry about him hanging there out of the water. He'll let go when he needs to.


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Thanks, I'll definitely give the pvc pipe a go....never thought about something like that.

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[kevin21]

I tried to beat it and failed. Ripped out all the rocks and started over. Once it becomes sexual, it is in the water column. They root themselves very deeply into the rock. I believe Sk8r once had a good post on this, not sure if I can find it. But after reading it, I remember making the decision to get new rock and water and start fresh. You can keep your rock and acid wash or vinegar wash though for sure.