I have caulerpa. It grows like crazy, turns slimy with algae, and some disentegrates. I swish it around the tank and it comes back stronger for a week or two and we do it again! Is this what I have heard about "going sexual'? I want a tank with many different plants to grow bugs and food for my fish. I have a 29 gal tank w/ bare bottom, couple pieces of live rock, peppermint shrimp, and freshwater plant lights(flora plant max sun growth fluorescent), and a hang on filter. Am I doing something wrong or should I harvest more plants a week? I was also wanting a plant food suplement but didn't know what to look for. Do I need more water flow, less light? Any suggestions on plants species to grow would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Saltwater plants -need help!
- Thread starter igotsalt
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slowECUdiver
New member
more and brighter light. look into MH, T5 or PC fixtures. if you're stuck with a normal output (NO) flourescent fixture, look into replacing the light bulb with a marine plant bulb, something that puts out close to 20,000 kelvins. make sure it has good output in the blue specturm as well...
not sure but i think most caulerpa goes sexual if not lit 24/7.
i'd summon Samala or bills reef or halophila for more advice, as they know their plants!
not sure but i think most caulerpa goes sexual if not lit 24/7.
i'd summon Samala or bills reef or halophila for more advice, as they know their plants!
graveyardworm
Premium Member
If the caulerpa grows like crazy then I would say light is not the problem. What you describe sounds like nutrient limitation. The caulerpa grows until it becomes starved then it goes sexual in an attempt to move itself to a more suitable environment. You could try feeding more to help maintain nutrients, or you could find a dosing regimen. For this you will need monitor things like phosphates, and nitrates until you determine how quickly its being used then dose accordingly. Check the stickies at the top of the forum you'll find a bunch of links that will help explain dosing and to help you chose what you can use. Also go to the Reef Chemistry forum and check the stickies there. Randy has alot of great info provided there. Iron dosing is something else you may want to look into, and you'll find some great articles in that forum.
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