HELP!! Why is my Grape Caulerpa dieing?

[Reef@Dowling]

Hi all

My time at Dowling is a little restricted as I am now Student Teaching at Sayville High School, But i am having a real problem that may be the beginning of a real large problem.

I have had a slow die off of my Grape Caulerpa it started about a month ago. It started when I had a short live plume of a dark purple algae. The water quality has not changed Nitrates still test to 0 this last week my Phosphates rose to a little more than 1.
Other than this issue my tank is doing great.

It looks as if there is a coating on the algae,
"thin coating of purple algae?"

I posted a picture taken with my camera phone.

But the die off is beginning to worry me!!!!!

I have tried increasing and decreasing water movement in my refugium.

Please help

Russ @ Dowling

 

[DgenR8]

Russ,
Take out the Grape Caulerpa and toss it. Basically, it's all one large cell, and once it starts, it's going to keep dying (or going sexual, which could very well be your issue here).
Get some razor caulerpa or chaetomorpha. I can help you with some chaeto if you don't mind the flatworms that will come with it.

 

[billsreef]

Believe it or not, you might want to dry dosing small quantities of KNO3, as well as iron. BTW I've found grape caulerpa can be somewhat problematic in growing very fast and invasive, than crashing after stripping the nutrients. I prefer the "razor" caulerpa, it tends to grow slower and is much more stable. Got plenty of it if you want some.

We're also in the new lab now, so if you want to stop by sometime I'll give you the tour. It's the back most building between the two boat basins at the old oyster hatchery.