Help - unknown climbing algae

[Korndog]

If anyone knows how to get rid of this algae, or what it even is.. please let me know.

Its a climbimg algae of some kind, it is growing like MAD in my tank, it climbs over mushrooms and anything in its way and smothers it to death. I've lost a hand full of mushrooms because I can't keep it trimmed down. It sticks to the rocks so when I try and pull it off, it just breaks and continues to grow.

Anyone know of anything that will kill this??? or eat it??
Here is a pic.
Thanks for the help

 

[jdieck]

Looks like some caulerpa species. You can try Tangs or Rabitt fish although your tank might be on the small size for tangs

 

[jcatblum]

Caulerpa peltata (I think)

Nothing will really take care of it that I know. Just keep prunning it, and try to isolate it.

Once it has rooted into your rocks I don't think it will come off unless you cook your rock, or take the rock out and let it dry out.

Good Luck!!!!

 

[kpk]

I have it too on a single rock that I keep as isolated as possible. It's not that bad I just ended up putting it in the fuge for a few days then into an aggressive tank where the dogface had it eaten in less than 3 days lol...

Kyle

 

[luvabunny]

It is either peltata or racemosa, hard to tell without being able to compare the size of the cups. Either way, it is a caulerpa species.

To eradicate it, manually remove as much as you can, as close to the rock as you can. This will involve following each strand as long as you can, and pulling as many of the attachments loose as you can get to. Don't worry too much about tiny pieces getting loose, but get as much out as you can. Then do a large-ish water change, as much as you are comfortable with. While you're siphoning, try to remove any loose pieces, and also siphon the rock(s) it was mostly attached to. If you use any HOB filters, be sure to remove and clean the pre-filter grate, but you will also need to change any fiber pads on any filters you have, because spores can get into them and re-populate your tank.
This caulerpa will only survive if the nutrient level in your tank is high, so you will have to find what is causing the overload. It may be too much feeding, a dead invert, etc. If possible, it will also help to leave the lights off for a few days post-pruning. If this isn't possible, don't sweat it.
After pruning, be dedicated to removing any bits of new caulerpa growth as soon as you see them, not tomorrow or the next day. Caulerpa is a spore breeder, and can easily spread to other parts of your tank.
It sounds like a lot of trouble, but if you follow these steps, you can eradicate it. The biggest help will be to get the parent plant out of your tank, and find out what is feeding it so you can stop the food supply.
Of course, if it is on a rock(s) you can remove, the easiest way is to take them out of your tank and let them bake in the sunshine for a couple of afternoons.

 

[Korndog]

Thanks for the indo April. Unfortunately, the caulerpa is growing on a base rock and has spread to the 3 rocks around it. I have coral in the tank, so shutting off the light will be hard to do. I guess what I could so it take a tooth brush and scrub the roots off the rock the best I can while siphoning the junk out as I scrub.

My PB Tang will not touch the stuff, so the tang theory is out at least for now.

What a pain in the behind!

 

[luvabunny]

You apparently have a high nutrient factor right now. A large water change and lessening of whatever is causing the nutrients will help you to get rid of the problem.

BTW, I've never seen a tang actually go for this stuff.

If you're going to scrub with a toothbrush, be sure to remove as much as possibly by hand first, and only scrub the roots. Grinding the caulerpa into a pulp will only release more spores into your tank.

I have also found that the cooler the water temp, the slower it grows, so....

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7434843#post7434843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luvabunny
BTW, I've never seen a tang actually go for this stuff.

Ya, that Caulerpa peltata (or racemosa) is rather pesky. I have it. In fact, April took some home at the meeting I had a Yellow Tang that ate it though. It must be an acquired taste. After it was all eaten, it didn't come back until several months later, and now I have it again AND green grape Caulerpa which I've never purposefully introduced.

 

[Snprhed]

I have always called it Mermaids Cup, never known its real name. I think that manual removal is best. If you can do a refugium you could light it with a 6500K bulb and it would out compete the remnants in your tank after manual removal.