Macro Algae Identification

[Oatmeal]

I bought a handful of refugium macro algae from my local LTS. Is the algae with the runner caulpera? The leaves are around 1 cm in length. I don't run the lights 24x7, so I'm a little nervous of it potentially going sexual. Thanks.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Yes, it looks like caulerpa prolifera.

 

[Oatmeal]

Doesn't caulpera prolifera have longer leaves? Should I remove this and replace with other algae or try to slowly increase the light schedule towards 24x7?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I suspect it's prolifera, with shorter leaves adapted to its previous environment. It's a perfectly good macro. I don't do the 24/7 thing. Plants need to respire at night. You could run the lighting contra to the display lighting, to smooth out pH levels.

 

[BlueCat1949]

It looks like Caulerpa brachypus to me. It grows just like prolifera but has much small leaves and stems It makes a great foreground plant for macro algae displays.