how to get rid off (grape caulerpa)

[Fonchy]

This thng is taking over my 30 gal tank and I want something o keep it in check. On my 125 I used to have a yellow tang and He will get rid of it fast but I do not want to put a yellow tang in a 30 gal tank. What type fish I can put in there to get this thing gone.

Armando

 

[GS-Rock]

i am not sure what fish would eat but, once it starts growing into the rock its hard to get rid of, the only way i got it cleaned up was to pull it out by hand till i had it under control, took like 5 mins a day just pulling alittle at a time for about a week to get it under control, when pulling its ok if some of the roots stay in the rock for every 5 stands that i pulled only 1 grew back and i pulled it out

 

[GS-Rock]

also run your skimmer as high as you can when pulling

 

[Sk8r]

Refugium of at least 1/3 your tank volume will get it in a month.

 

[i2ik]

I am having the same problem right now. My refugium is still new, i only have a bit of cheato in it right now. I am about to put some sand in to keep about 3" of sand. I was wondering what i could do to get rid of it? I bought a striatus tang but he does not even look at it. He is only grazing the glass up to now. What else should i do? Thanks for the help!

 

[Fonchy]

if you have a big tank a sure fish that will get rid of it is a yellow tang. I have had 2 of them in different tanks and they had eaten all of the caulerpa.

 

[i2ik]

Thanks! Have you try with a different zebrasoma species? I would like to introduce a Black tang if i can find one.

 

[Fonchy]

I had 2 hippo tangs but they did not eat the stuff. I know a yellow will do the trick.

 

[rcypert]

No fish is a good option in a 30 gallon tank. The only ones that a reliable are too big for this tank. Does anyone know of any inverts who feed exclusively off caulerpa?

 

[Fonchy]

I had some emerald crabs that I heard they eat it but they did not even got close to it. I heard an urchin will too but tey eat the coralline algae too.

 

[EriksReptiles]

All my tangs eat the stuff and I have Sohal, Hippos, powders, yellows, clown, purple, sailfin, and nasos! I have never had a tang not eat it... I actually buy the stuff at a local LFS to treat my tangs..

Thanks Erik

 

[Fonchy]

hey eriK what is the smallest tang I can put on a 30 gal.

 

[quiksilver]

I had the same issue in my 29g. I used to have a 1" baby hippo that just devoured caulerpa like it was his job but grew out of the tank and got an upgrade. Back to the fish store for another baby hippo for me.

Uh oh, here come the tang police... can't wait.

 

[Fonchy]

I think that is what Im about to do, is either that or take all my rock out and get new one

 

[quiksilver]

Yeah, I thought about just cooking my rock. That would do it. And buying more rock to replace it while cooking. That way when I upgrade tanks I'll have a head start on LR.

 

[Lucky-rc]

Afew years ago I bought some of this cause it was heardy and so pretty... I had no idea the problem it could be.
After just a few months this stuff completely took over my 310.
What I did was pulled as much as I could by hand. Then I took a tooth brush and scrubed every rock one by one. The little pcs. that were down in the cracks and holes I just scratched and tried to just smash them enough that they would not survive the attack. After the first time going through this I then turned the lights out for three days. (corals were fine) and then went over the rocks again. It seemed as if the light out period made the grapes root structure weak enough that they had very little hold on the rock. This was very effective for me. I done this whole process twice about two weeks apart and that was the last of it.
If you have the patience and you try this it WILL work very well.
I would recomend turning the lights out first though. Then begin pulling it out by hand. If you pull gentaly you will get most of the roots with the vine.
Good luck... It's not as tough as people think, it just takes steady commitment.

Lucky

 

[Fonchy]

I will try that, thanks.