Fern Caulerpa?

[LeGaCYWinZ]

So it seems some Fern Caulerpa hitch hiked in with the chaeto I just picked up. Does anybody have any experience with this? Is it a good or bad kind of macro algae to have in my fuge?

Thanks.

 

[cilyjr]

it is fine, but i would not put it in my display. it will root to the rock like grape . tangs will eat it

 

[scapes]

ooh!!! i'd keep it caulerpa can become invasive, keep it confined to your sump and you should be fine. i have tangs that would eat that stuff up

 

[spieszak]

If it goes white, YANK it immediately. One small piece going white not that bad..when a clump starts, get it out. Have some in my display, no sump.. keeps phos down. Had a clump go white a while back.. faded green when I went to sleep, white when I woke up.. skimmer went nuts, water was cloudy as all get out.. water change brought every thing back under control, but it could have been worse if I hadn't yanked it when I saw it.

Not the kind I have, but as an example http://vodpod.com/watch/2601188-caulerpa-during-sexual-reproduction

 

[LeGaCYWinZ]

Alright, good to hear. Thanks for the input. I should have no problem keeping it contained to the sump. And thank you for the advice about when to take it out!

 

[Palting]

I started with grape caulerpa in my refugium beefore I read about all those bad things people had to say. I even had it in my DT. I can see where it can become a pest in the DT. It is very, very fast growing, and has creepers that go into the sand and rock crevices that are impossible to remove. Only after I placed my tangs in the DT were they eradicated in the DT.

OTOH, I still have them in my 20 gal refugium. Fast grower, excellent nitrate and phosphate consumer, hardy and easy. I harvest a fistful every week and throw it away. I keep waiting for it to go "sexual", but it has been 8 months and everything is good. Sometimes the strands are white, but that never meant anything to my caulerpa.

I am not recommending you keep it, because of all the stories out there. Just giving you an alternative experience.

 

[LeGaCYWinZ]

I think I am going to keep it because it looks cool and adds diversity to the fuge!

 

[Palting]

I think I am going to keep it because it looks cool and adds diversity to the fuge!

You've got my vote! :thumbsup:

 

[hebsway]

I've got it in mine and I feed it to the tangs a couple times a week. Keep it.