Caulerpa in my Chaeto?

[Rufnek100]

Just getting started and I picked up a bag of Chaeto from the LFS to put in my refugium. At first I didn't think much about it and admittedly I'm not sure what I'm looking for, but this looks like I might have a few errant strands of caulerpa in with the Chaeto. Can someone with more experience please help me ID this?

If it is caulerpa, should I leave it be, try and get it out of the existing Chaeto, or ditch this batch of Chaeto altogether and find another source? Thanks!

 

[MrsReefK]

Yes. Looks like caulerpa in there. I would try and get it out if it were me personally, if it's possible.

 

[Rufnek100]

Thanks - is the whole batch "contaminated" or would it be okay to trim out a piece of the chaeto to continue to grow in the fuge?

 

[Opcn]

Dig it out. No reason to let it get into your DT and have a real problem on your hands. Easy yo just tear or cut the chaeto apart and extract the unwanted alga.

Unless you don't mind it. Plenty of folks with Caulerpa in their tanks not harming anything.

 

[Rufnek100]

It's not so much that I mind it, guess I'm a little frightened of it based on some of the "my caulerpa melted and wrecked my tank" posts I've read

 

[reefer1970]

Your chocolates in my peanut butter!!

I grow caleurpa in my fuge and never had a problem.

 

[Sk8r]

I spent five years trying to get rid of it. If you have a tank under 100 gallons, which can support the few fish that will eat it, it can become a serious problem.

 

[Rufnek100]

Thanks all - sounds like a $5 bag of Chaeto isn't worth the risk. Getting a new (carefully checked) bag at the other LFS tomorrow.