cualerpa going sexual

[thehunt]

I have cualerpa in my fuge and only leave the light on 12hrs a day. It has recently grown stalks with berries on them. Is this it going sexual and if so how bad is this for my display tank.

 

[tanker]

I think the berries are just a different type of Caulerpa. They go "asexual" by "bleeding" the green out and polluting the tank.

PS--there is no warning when it goes---just goes.

 

[thehunt]

polluting

polluting

What do you mean polluting? How bad is this. Does it just promote more algea growth or can it crash my whole tank?

 

[jdmcivicek9]

yes if it goes sexual it can very easily crash your tank...you will have a massive outbreak in your display and once that happens good luck with getting it undercontrol...the best thing to do is get rid of it and use chaeto which a ton of reefers sell on here for like 10-15$ for a bag full...

 

[tanker]

I had it happen once many years ago (about 10 years ago). Lucky I was home at the time. It looked like a forest fire--all the caulerpa was "giving off smoke" and the plant itself was turning white. I threw all the caulerpa that was in my refugy out and did a massive water change. Nothing died (coral or fish).

still use it in my smaller tanks refugy--but the lights are on 24/7. It has been 10years without another out-break.

 

[SteveNMegz]

we've had it in our display for 5-6 months, its a PITA to remove, we've been succesful in icsolating it into a corner of the tank, the trick is getting the roots out that get caught in the LR.

 

[SteveNMegz]

there are also slugs that eat it..Elysia subornata, haven't been able to find any in our area but you might have more luck

 

[StupidsReef]

Trust us you don't want this in your main display. Here's my thread to what it did as you can see in the pics, it's not fun. This turned into 3 types of Caulerpra on me almost over night. I think my C02 help it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1385312

I'm still fight a few pieces of it left in my tank.

 

[snorvich]

+1 YOU DO NOT WANT IT IN YOUR DISPLAY TANK!! I strongly suggest getting it out and I really recommend against using Caulerpa even in a refugium despite it being slightly more efficient at nutrient export. It definitely can crash your tank unless you do emergency water changes and use carbon.