chaeto vs caulerpa

[ganjero]

which one works better for you?

 

[rjrobert]

Chaeto. Less of a pain to work with. You don't have to worry about it going asexual and dumping toxins into your tank.

Bob^2

 

[pbukow]

Definately cheato, although i use both in my system.

What is it that causes caulerpa to go asexual?

 

[kl3377]

I use both, Chaeto grows much slower in my fuge then the Caulerpa.

 

[rjrobert]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/nftt/index.php

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/caulerpaalg.htm

http://sgnis.org/publicat/silv2002.htm

 

[nmywrx]

It is my understanding that Caulerpa can go sexual if there is change in their lighting routine.

I've read post where tanks have crashed overnight because of caulerpa going sexual. I had some in my display tank because I don't have a fuge, and I removed it after I read some of the horror stories.

Go with chaeto.

 

[yellowwatchmen]

I like chaeto but i hate how it will get broken up then get in your pumps. I dont think caulerpera profilia will go sexual.

 

[pledosophy]

I prefer caulpera. I've had chaeto go sexual on me it's just as much of a pain as caulpera.

Been keeping various strains of algaes for 6 years now. Never had one go sexual in my system except for chaeto. JME

 

[ganjero]

Are you sure it was the chaeto? I thought it never go sexual.

 

[yellowwatchmen]

thats weird cheto going sexual,

 

[rjrobert]

I've never heard of Chaeto going sexual before so would love more details on that. Wouldn't be lucky enough to have any pictures of the event???

Chaeto can string out and definetly get into pumps if it is rapidly growing so some sort of meshing or filter between the pumps and Chaeto is a great idea.

Bob^2

 

[Sk8r]

Get some plastic needlepoint canvas from a craft store and the mesh will probably contain it: my system won't let it through, but I think that stuff [50 cents a sheet] will stop it, too.

 

[backej1]

I use both, but not in the same tank.

I've used Caulerpa for 3 years in my fuge under by 210 - it's lit 24 hours a day. Never had a problem with it and it grows really fast.

I use Chaeto in my fuges under both my 125s - they're lit on the opposite cycle of the tanks. I've had more issues with this - getting caught in the power heads, being touchy with lighting, etc.

 

[davidryder]

Chaeto can definitely go sexual it's just not as likely as it doesn't grow nearly as fast as caulerpa. I personally like a combination of both but if I had to choose one it would be caulerpa just because it grows so fast and I equate that with higher nutrient export. I have to remove handfulls of caulerpa a few times a month. I'm not sure about processing rates but when caulerpa goes sexual it releases a lot of the nutrients it previously made unavailable back into the tank - one of the reasons it has been known to cause problems.

I think grape caulerpa is the worst type of caulerpa in terms of growth rates and chances of going sexual. I think caulerpa prolifera is the best species to keep - it grows very fast and I've never had it go sexual on me.

 

[carlso63]

I had cheato, caulerpa, and (red) grancilaria in my fuge...

6 months later the cheato "outcompeted" everything else and flat out 'killed' the red off...

There are different "strains" (species?) of cheato... this one I have now is the fastest growing cheato I have ever had and absorbs nO3 / pO4 like a sponge!

 

[fishysteve]

I use caulerpa prolifera in my fuge. I had chaeto, but it died. I think the caulerpa smothered it.

 

[CruzinKim]

chaeto, but i broke down the refugium last year and the sulfur denitrator is so much easier to work with.

 

[bhdmc]

I am currently using caulerpa prolifera in my fuge. Growing very well. I have tried cheato in my fuge w/o success. I can not figure what I was doing wrong. The cheato is growing great in my main tank. I did notice that if I went 24hr lighting on the fuge, I alway got red algae overgrowing the macro algae. I am currently use reverse photo period on the fuge. Hopefully the caulerpa prolifera would not go sexual. So far no problems.

 

[Dr Begalke]

chaeto.

 

[thecichlidpleco]

I got Caulerpa nummularia, anyone got problems with that going sexual often?