Culerpa disapearance

[Devin Frazee]

I have two large clumps of grape culerpa in my 55 gal reef with fish. I came home this after noon and one whole clump was gone. None of my fish (gobies Anthias and chromis) are algae eaters. I have a few crabs mostly snails in the cleanup crew. Did it just disolve? Where did it go?

 

[spleify]

I am curious about this as well, the same thing happened to me.

 

[jimmyray]

I wish my caulerpa would just disappear... lol!

 

[graveyardworm]

There is a good theory why caulerpa does this. I dont believe enough study hjas been done to prove beyond a doubt why though. Anyway its suspected that when nutrients or another necessary element for caulerpa becomes limited then the caulerpa enters a reproductive cycle and basically dicintegrates to release spores which will hopefully settle into an area with more favorable conditions. This event is usually preceded by the caulerpa turning pale, but it does happen quickly, over a period of 24 - 48 hours. There are reports that running the fuge lights 24/7 will prevent it from happening. IME not all caulerpas are apparently effected the same way. I've had one species ( go sexual ) while others in the same tank dont.

 

[Devin Frazee]

My culepa was a whitish on it's grapes and did disapeer at night.

 

[Devin Frazee]

I just witnessed the other half of my culerpa disolve before my very eyes. Last night we noticed the grapes turning whitish and we all said we better get that out of the tank and then this morning bingo green clowdy substance everywhere. The tank seem to be doing ok for now.

 

[skeeter-doc]

yes, the white-ish to clear look means the Caulerpa has released its gametes (often called going sexual). Nothing to worry about unless you had a ton of the algae, then I would do a water change and perhaps run some new carbon in a filter to keep the water clean.