Caulerpa prolifera ? growth or going to explode in a fury of reproduction

LegoZ81

LegoZ81

New member
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/nftt/index.htm <-- I read this but want others opinions, I recently added the Refugium starter kit fro www.floridapets.com which contains:
a combination of Caulerpa prolifera and Shoal or Manatee grass collected and shipped with its own substrate.

I was wondering if it looked like it was planning on going "sexual" or if these spines are just new growth.

45427094-e112-02000180-.jpg


45427051-d946-02000180-.jpg


High res 2048 x 1536 can be accessed by following this link, clicking on the thumbnail then clicking on the medium sized picture when it opens in a new window.
http://members8.clubphoto.com/legoz516778/3049668/owner-36d5.phtml

Parameters:
pH 8.4
Calc 435 mg/l
phos less than .2 ppm
Ammonia 0ppm
NitrIte 0ppm
NitrAte 0ppm
I don't yet have an Alkalinity test kit.

If you need to know anything else please let me know.
I am running carbon only in the magnum 250 and the carbon is fresh as of last night.
Thanks in advance and sorry for asking a question that has most likely already been asked to death, mine just does not look like what the pics look like.
 
I think you are fine. I'm pretty much 100% sure those are just new fronds growing.

What kind of lighting do you have? Having high phosphate and zero testable nitrogen can promote sexual reproduction in Caulerpa, though. I can't recall any cases of anyone posting about prolifera going sexual... I don't think it's very common. If you aren't currently having trouble with undesireable algae, you may want to dose nitrogen to keep your nitrates around 5ppm. This will keep your caulerpa happy. Also, what brand of carbon are you using? FWIW, some brands of carbon leach phosphates. I stick to Kent.

HTH,
Kevin
 
Thank you! :)

Phosphate from carbon:

FWIW
I use powercarb www.pondrx.com for that reason, from what I read a long time a go one ove the very best out there as it does not use Coconut shell as a source of carbon like most, I also believe I read that ALL carbon leaches phosphate it just depends on how much.
"In order to achieve the best purification of your pond, we recommend an acid-washed (non-phosphoric acid), 4-mm extruded (pelletized) activated carbon manufactured from bituminous coal. The acid washing greatly reduces any soluble ash to improve purity and coal base activated carbon has the most diverse pore size distribution so contaminants of all sizes can be adsorbed.

The 900 minimum Iodine number and 200 minimum molasses number listed on the specification are indicators that the activated carbon has pore sizes ranging from 10 angstroms up to 30 angstroms and greater. Since activated carbon can retain up to 50% water by weight and activated carbon is sold by the pound, one should be note moisture content as a quality indicator - our activated carbon has a maximum 5% moisture as packed."

I say under .2 as that is the lowest the crappy overpriced SeaTest reads there is no .0 or lower than .2 there is NO color change that I can percive in the test tube.

Dosing NitrAte omg this is great I have a friend that CAN NOT get his nitrates under control and I need to add nitrogen lol:

Can you give some good suggestions on Nitrogen suppliments?


My tank setup:
http://members8.clubphoto.com/legoz516778/3049668/guest.phtml


Thanks again! :)
I am even still using BioBalls to help produce NitrAte lol :)
 
BTW I know I need to clean up the dead stuff but I need to get some better gloves first I had a bad reaction to the water/something in it and the back of my hands are still a little red :( (3 days later... I was using think latex gloves and ripped one of them in the tank then submerged the other... DOH
I also need to get some stainless cutical scissors to trim it up :)
 
It's interesting that you had such a bad reaction! Did this occur before the Caulerpa was so big? Does the water from other established aquariums bother you? An interesting experiment (if you can stand it) would be to break off a small piece of caulerpa (perhaps experiment with various species), rub a measured amount of the protoplasm onto your arm, and see how bad your response from each species is. Wanna be a guinea pig? I work in a phycology lab at ISU. I'll give ya a dollar :-)
 
lol maybe...
I have only had the Macro for about a week as I had just only recently purchased the package.
I think that it is just the salt in general I had ALOT of exposure setting this up and after the glove tore I was in and out of the saltwater for about another hour between an old tank, the old sump and the new sump to get everything tranferered with NO gloves.
It was not a good night. lol

I was thinking that it could have been the salt irratating slightly dry skin as I did not have my direct contact with anything but the tank water, I LUCKILY used an old plastic ladle to transfer the sand seeing that I did not know till yeterday that bristle worms sting!
 
Whoops. Well, get youself some nice aloe vera containing hand lotion. If you decide that is is the caulerpa causing your reaction AND you want to help further science, let me know ;-)

Kevin
 
DOH lighting on the 'fuge is 1 10 standard 20W and one 20W actenic bulb. they are in an eclipse fixture.
 
Definately new leaf growth. I will get pictures as soon as I can.
I loaned out my NiMH to a friend that just bought a new Fuji Psudo SLR :)
 
I have the same reaction to water. It has been the same before I added macro. It must be salt. I am ordering some heavy duty gloves to prevent this from happening. I get red blotches, itchyness, and red bumps too. HTH.
 
zaslax said:
I have the same reaction to water. It has been the same before I added macro. It must be salt. I am ordering some heavy duty gloves to prevent this from happening. I get red blotches, itchyness, and red bumps too. HTH.
Click to expand...
That is what I am thinking also... anyone know how to size gloves when buying online I found 24" gloves but have no idea what size to get. TIA
 
I detest Caulerpa...ALL Caulerpa, Any Caulerpa. and did I mention-I HATE Caulerpa!

Now I have to go to sleep so I can get up early and break down my tank to try to rid it of...CAULERPA!
 
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