caulerpa turning white

[55reeforlando]

i looked at my fuge today (earlier this morning on the way out) and everything seemed to be fine. came home later tonite after class and noticed that most of the leaves portion of the caulerpa had turned white. i have heard that this means it changed sex or something. im not really sure. is this bad? what should i do? thanks

 

[tsquad]

Take it out immediately...it's going sexual.

 

[55reeforlando]

all of it? what does this mean? how did it happen? is this common?

 

[donfishy76]

Caulerpa "goes sexual" for any number of reasons. Changes in temp, salinity, low nutrient levels, any of these can send it into sexual reproduction.
What it means is, that it is sending out gametes to reproduce within the water column, and it can be bad in a closed system, ie aquariums.

I would do a water change and run some carbon to clean up your water.

 

[mwood]

When it goes sexual, can it spread and start growing in the main display? Does going sexual just polute the water, or is it actually going to start growing everywhere including the main display?