not grape caulerpa?

karimwassef

karimwassef

Active member
I've had my sediment settling tank/algal turf scrubber running for a while now and I've been harvesting the turf algae to feed my tank for a while...

However, recently, my turf has stopped growing and in its place is a very thick growth of what looks like grape caulerpa.. but I'm not sure that's what it is.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/13E61819-8965-4E4D-A1D7-2E572F32B0CB_zpsuzzyvgrv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/13E61819-8965-4E4D-A1D7-2E572F32B0CB_zpsuzzyvgrv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 13E61819-8965-4E4D-A1D7-2E572F32B0CB_zpsuzzyvgrv.jpg"/></a>

The Xenia from the DT has invaded too and is taking over as well.. my poor turf algae is under assault

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/E4871824-117B-4DE6-A5FE-97656F999BE3_zpsx7muobgl.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/E4871824-117B-4DE6-A5FE-97656F999BE3_zpsx7muobgl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E4871824-117B-4DE6-A5FE-97656F999BE3_zpsx7muobgl.jpg"/></a>

It's growing into very solid clumps that are quite tight. it's growing out of the settling tank now to the point of getting brown tips when it goes above the water line.

Can someone confirm what it is?

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/068EB74E-0791-46C0-BA1A-E76220EE7FA5_zps208hsibl.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/068EB74E-0791-46C0-BA1A-E76220EE7FA5_zps208hsibl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 068EB74E-0791-46C0-BA1A-E76220EE7FA5_zps208hsibl.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/8962ACDB-FA5B-4D9F-9E9F-202C3F3E5149_zpssn1p9jrw.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/8962ACDB-FA5B-4D9F-9E9F-202C3F3E5149_zpssn1p9jrw.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 8962ACDB-FA5B-4D9F-9E9F-202C3F3E5149_zpssn1p9jrw.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/8F11F9AA-EBB0-4F52-951A-5EEAD82D6DC4_zpsd1jzxng9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/8F11F9AA-EBB0-4F52-951A-5EEAD82D6DC4_zpsd1jzxng9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 8F11F9AA-EBB0-4F52-951A-5EEAD82D6DC4_zpsd1jzxng9.jpg"/></a>
 
I turned the flow off to let the water level drop exposing the algae.. usually, it's over the 3" overflow pipe in the middle there.
 
each full grape is about 1/8" in diameter, by the way in case that helps ID. You can see it in contrast to the 2" PVC on the edge or the pulsing Xenia on the right.
 
Is it Racemosa? it doesn't look to have a "trunk" and "branch" structure, but that might be a result of the very tight clumping.
 
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I run a 23 hour on cycle, so I'm not concerned about it going sexual - just surprised at the rate of growth and thick bunching structure.

It is kind of beautiful though.

I've picked up little bits and pieces of it with the turf algae that went into the DT to feed the fish, but the tangs seem to prefer it and eat it first.
 
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