Photoinhibition in algae

[Moort82]

Just wondering if anyone knows whether different species of algae exhibit photoinhibition at all? curious as it has always been made clear 24/7 lighting helps prevent caulerpa going "sexual" but does it impact on its growth at all? In truth I've never had an issue with caulerpa and I only light 12-16 hours a day and was wondering how much more, if any, growth wise I might see by extending the photoperiod. Again its not maxed out on light so it may not be a major problem.

 

[vlangel]

I have had caulerpa in my sump 24/7. Now it is in my seahorse display tank that is lit about 9 hours a day and I see a big jump in growth. Of course the seahorses are much dirtier than my reef tank was so growth could be a result of more nutrients in the water column. Also in the sump it was under a single bulb flo strip light and now it is under a 4 bulb HO t5 fixture so that could be the difference.

 

[Moort82]

I'm in a similar situation hence my question. I have a sps system where the caulerpa hardly grows in the fuge under good lighting and a long photoperiod. I also have a sort of fish only with algae and it grows well in the attached fuge under the same lighting as the fuge on my sps but on a shorter photoperiod.
So i'm pondering, as i'm not really worried about the caulerpa spawning, cutting back the photoperiod to see if there is any change.

 

[vlangel]

I think different varieties of caulerpa go sexual easier than others. I have the feather variety. I have heard that grape caulerpa can go sexual very easily.

 

[Moort82]

I think different varieties of caulerpa go sexual easier than others. I have the feather variety. I have heard that grape caulerpa can go sexual very easily.

Wouldn't disagree with you there. I also avoid racemosa as I have had it go sexual in the past but find that Mexicana and prolifera much longer lived with only the odd leaf going if kept well pruned. Taxifolia also seems to be short lived.