Free Grape Caulerpa

[lkr]

My grape Caulerpa has overgrown my entire 30 gal refugium. I must take some out, for there is no room for water to flow. I hate to throw it out, but I have no use for it. Please take some. You can get it for free by coming to Scottsboro, or I will mail it to you for whatever the post office charges me.

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Thanks,
Lisa

 

[lkr]

Trying to get the picture in.
LR
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[teamreefers]

i'll take some!!

 

[prncalbrt]

if i can get my sump set up this weekend ill take some too if you still have any

 

[beefarmer]

I will take some just send me the info on pickup or mailing.

 

[lkr]

You can pick up in Scottsboro, AL or pay shipping. I shipped today to Tim, hope shipping is OK in this heat. Others have pm'd me addresses and agreed to pay postage back. Just let me know. I am not charging any more than actual shipping, which was around $5 from Scottsboro to Huntsville. I am just glad to share with fellow reefers. Throwing away just seems to wasteful.
Lisa

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I am afraid that shipping in this heat is going to be a killer for macro.

What Lisa has is Caulerpa racemosa which is a very tough alga. This stuff is the only thing that grows in my fuge for 120G. The nutrient level is kept so low in my 120G that chaetomorpha fails to thrive. However, C. racemosa still grows albeit slowly.

The only problem with growing this alga in your sump/tank is that it sometimes goes sexual and causes a major problem. When the growing condition becomes unfavorable, it spolurates and releases gametes into the surrounding water. You end up with greenish cloudy water and your tank inhabitants may suffer from the lack of oxygen (gametes seem to rob the tank of all available oxygen if light is off.)

Take a look at this article for the way to tell if your caulerpa is going to do this:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/nftt/index.php

This is the reason a lot of people use chaetomorpha instead of caulerpa. However, most tangs and rabbitfish love to eat this stuff. In that case you would not have a problem (cause you won't have it for long )

Tomoko

 

[timrandlerv10]

prior pruning may help keep it from going sexual?

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Pruning helps some (stimulating their growth and keeping the plant from shading itself), but if the tank condition does not suit their liking, there's really nothing you can do. They go sexual fast and the next thing you know, caulerpa is all white and the tank is greenish gray. Some people keep the light on them 24/7, but it's not very good for other refugium inhabitants. I'd stick with Chaetomorpha unless Chaeto does not grow well in your tank for one reason or another.

Tomoko

 

[timrandlerv10]

got mine today, it was alive and it wasnt sprouting...whatever you call the pre-gametes...paypal sent TY LISA!

if anyone wants some, i got a very generous portion, and would be happy to split what i have.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I am surprised that it made it okay in this heat. Keep a close eye on them.

You can feed your foxface with it once he is done with hair algae in your tank.

Tomoko

 

[teamreefers]

Hey Lisa, I haven't got mine yet?

 

[timrandlerv10]

I fed him a small piece--it was hilarious to watch the chromis and male clown turn up their noses...he sniffed it twice then WHOOSH! it was gone.

i still have some extra in HSV if anyone wants some...