Caulerpa ?

[ReefDreamz]

I have read that caulerpa can "go sexual" and overtake your tank if you dont have a tang. I have some on my rocks. Should I try and take it all out, I don't plan on getting a tang. I don't want a tank full of caulerpa covering all my rock. Right now it has'nt spread at all.

-Cody

 

[Untamed12]

Caulerpa can go sexual and die off all at once. It has happened to me many times and I've not had anything bad happen as a result.

As for it taking over...if conditions are right, just about anything can take over. My opinion is that if there are lots of different algae competing for the nutrients, caulerpa isn't likely to dominate.

I think if you removed it, something else has to use up those nutrients....Better it than hair algae, for example.

 

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9671476#post9671476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Untamed12
Caulerpa can go sexual and die off all at once. It has happened to me many times and I've not had anything bad happen as a result.

As for it taking over...if conditions are right, just about anything can take over. My opinion is that if there are lots of different algae competing for the nutrients, caulerpa isn't likely to dominate.

I think if you removed it, something else has to use up those nutrients....Better it than hair algae, for example.

Yea, alge feeds on nutrients..... so if you see it gowing like mad then you have other problems, dead animals, to much feeding, poor water qualtiy etc.... use the growth of alge as a sign of how the tank is doing.... and prune it as needed.

 

[DiazE]

This is Your calerpa Over growth solution!!

This is Your calerpa Over growth solution!!

Check out this link:
http://www.shellmuseum.org/Sanibel/shells_oxynoe.html

 

[harday]

does anyone sell these???

 

[DiazE]

harday

I don't think anybody has seen a market for this yet. If you look hard enough at your Calerpa, you may have some you hadn't noticed!

 

[DiazE]

If they over-populate my tank or eat all the Calerpa, maybe we can trade on something. I would think they die once the prefered food is gone.

 

[harday]

They could live a LONG time in my tank. .