Caulerpa prolifica and sandbeds

[swk]

Hi everyone. Quick question:

Does caulerpa need a sandbed? I'm currently using a dsb in my fuge and am thinking it is useless and would like to get rid of it. Am I better off leaving a shallow bed for this caulerpa sp. to root in, or does it not matter and I can remove the whole dang thing?

 

[saltwater sam]

Does not matter for C. prolifera.

 

[FinzAquatics]

Although not needed, my caulerpa seems to prefer the sandbed.

 

[Khemul]

It'll grow anywhere. It does seem to have a preference for sand, but it doesn't impact growth rates or such. Just means it'll stick to the sand if given the choice. It'll grow just as well on rock and glass if it doesn't have a choice.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Your DSB is not useless, especially if you don't have one in the display.

You get nitrification in top layers and denitrification in the deeper, anaerobic layers. So ammonia into nitrite, nitrite into nitrate, and nitrate in nitrogen gas, that can bubble out harmlessly. A shallow sand bed won't get to that last step, so nitrate will build up. Some people do carbon dosing instead of a DSB. But you've got to be very careful with that. I think DSBs are easier, since once you set them up, you're done.

 

[swk]

Thank you all! I would actually prefer if my tank showed more nitrate. Only reads about .5 at the moment.

 

[ThomasL]

I don't use one on mine and it does fine

 

[Vilelent]

Combined with your DSB, it would help it from going sexual incase it ran out of nutrients. The DSB should supply a source of nutrients to the caulerpa rooting system.

 

[saltwater sam]

Caulpera don't have roots and they don't absorb nutrients from the substrate, they have rhizoids which serve as anchors but not nutrient absorbers. Caulpera only absorbs nutrients from the water column. Remember, it's not a plant.

 

[Vilelent]

Caulpera don't have roots and they don't absorb nutrients from the substrate, they have rhizoids which serve as anchors but not nutrient absorbers. Caulpera only absorbs nutrients from the water column. Remember, it's not a plant.

Interesting, I was under the assumption that it played in some type of absorption roll. I have "rhizoids" reaching a good 3-4 inches deep into my substrate. When trimming, it normally pulls up huge amounts of funky substrate that I have to replace.

 

[saltwater sam]

Ya I have the same issue, they can shoot out tons of the things and they grab on to my rubble that I don't want taken out. Sometimes I'll just use a clippers to cut them off before I pull a clump out so it doesn't disturb the substrate as much.

 

[phobos2deimos]

Caulpera don't have roots and they don't absorb nutrients from the substrate, they have rhizoids which serve as anchors but not nutrient absorbers. Caulpera only absorbs nutrients from the water column. Remember, it's not a plant.

Huh, I didn't know that. WWM seems to concur.