Sexual caulerpa

[Fishie Nut]

I've got a garden of Caulerpa racemosa - grape caulerpa - in my fuge. Will this go sexual? The LFS said not to worry, but...

It grows like carzy. Am I supposed to cut it back when it fills up the fuge? Will it go sexual? I keep the lights on 12 hours on/12 hours off - They're on when the tank is dark.

I'm about ready to prune it and feed some of it to my One Spot and maybe freeze the rest for Rabbit food. Should I be worried about this?

Tank Specs:
100 gal reef, 35 gal sump/fuge. 2x250w HQI; 2x54w T5 actinics, moonlights, 2" sandbed, 175 lbs LR, MRC MR-2 skimmer with Mag 18, Kalk reactor for top off, RO/DI, UV 24/7. Lots of flow: CL with OM SS and Dart, W2K wavebox, Mag 9.5 return, 1/3 hp Prime chiller. AquaController Jr.

Various SPS, LPS, Zoas, cleanup crew. Stocked with: 3 Pseudanthias squamipinnis, Bodianus opercularis, Siganus unimaculatus, Synchiropus ocellatus, Gramma loreto, Nemateleotris decora, Amphiprion polymnus, Paracanthurus hepatus, Sphaeramia nematoptera, Cirrhitops falco.

The tank has been running since 5/06.

Salinity: 1.025
Temperature: 79-80
(All Salifert tests)
N02: 0
N03: >10
NH4: 0
Ph: 8.3
dKH: 3.1 (8.2)
Ca: 420 mg.
Mg: 1120
P04: 0

ro/di water: TDS: 0-25
Daily: Oceans Blend 2 part 30 ml each
Top Off Through Kalk Reactor

Weekly water change 10 gallons
Biweekly Coral Vite.
Nitrate Reactor running GAC

Thanks for any help.

Worired Fishie

 

[davocean]

To keep calerpa from going sexual, you need lights on 24/7.
I personally don't think it's worth the risk of it overgrowing, and use chaeto instead.

 

[washingtond]

I have had Caulerpa in my fuge for over six years now without any problems. I keep the light on 24/7 and have to cut it back every month.

 

[skeeter-doc]

agreed, as long as the lights are on all the time, and you do trim it back when it needs to be, then it should be fine and will not go into sexual reproduction mode, ...

 

[Fishie Nut]

All right. Keep lights on, trim it back and it's A-okay.

Thanks.

 

[Fishie Nut]

Sorry for the double post.
Another question:
Is it better than Chaetomorpha? The same? Is there a reason I should take the chance with the Caulerpa?

Thanks again.

 

[newreef8584]

I have both in my sump and find that the Calurpa grows faster. I can only assume that by it growing so much faster that it is exporting more nutrients from the tank. Can't say that for sure though. I can't find it now but there was another thread here on RC that had a link to a study that was done on the effectiveness of different macros. In that study they chose Cheato as the best due to a group of factors only one which was its rate of nutrient extraction. Others included ease of care and risk of going sexual. I personally have never seen or known of a person having their grape calurpa go sexual. Have seen feather calurpa do it twice first hand. I have been running my lights on a 12 0n 12 off cycle and have had the calurpa for about a year with no problems, I might change to a 24Hr period and see if it increases the growth. You can never have too much food around, the tangs go beserk for it.

 

[Fishie Nut]

Thx newreef