sexual harassment

[dendrite]

I have a 40 gallon sps dominant reef with 20 gallon refugium growing mostly grape caulerpa. I've tried to grow chaeto but the caulerpa keeps out competing it. Two days ago the caulerpa quickly disintegrated covering everything in the tank with a greasy shredding film, fouling the sponges, plugging the GFO reactor, plugging the filter socks, covering the corals and stressing the fish. I'm not sure what precipitated this die off or what can be done to prevent it again, or the best means of clean up other than carbon and water changes, The sps look terrible, the lps are maintaining and the fish are no shows. The only change in the tank was a 3 inch jumper lost one week ago and the addition of microbacter 7 at half dose twice a week instead of once. Perhaps a change in nutrient levels from the above, but the tank has always measured zero nitrates by Red Sea and zero phosphates by Hanna. Any thoughts? Runs 1.025 and 76 degrees

 

[Subsea]

When Caulerpa is growing fast with available nutrients that are depleted abruptly, it is most prone to going sexual. Not sure why, but this is the reason for the 24 hour photoperiod which is used when Caulerpa is in the refugium. The 24 hour photoperiod only applies to Caulerpa.
This may be the time to switch to Chaetomorphy or go to a 24 hour hour photoperiod in your refugium.

Activated carbon is your best way way to clean up the mess.
Patrick

 

[dendrite]

thanks, I will try the total switch to chaeto hopeful that no caulerpa has survived this wipeout. If not, then to the 24 hour cycle. I did a 50 % water change over the last 2 days

 

[saltwater sam]

Its important to remove caulpera as soon as you see the color fading or turning white. This may mean removing very large amounts at a time, but that will quickly be replaced by new growth. But its important to not ignore the signs of going sexual, get it out of there fast!

 

[Forgiven1973]

Ok call me stupid but ill just use the term u informed or a newbie on the topic but whats meant by "going sexual"?

 

[dendrite]

apparently the caulerpa whensensing all is not right in its environment puts its energy into spore formation before dying quickly and en mass. My tank was a horrible mess over the last five days. I removed all the disintegrated mess, replaced the filter socks every twelve hours, changed 300% water over four days, daily changed carbon and polyfilter,blew off the corals and rocks every few hours, cleaned the pumps and protein skimmer and gfo reactor twice, managed to stress out all the fish who disappeared, as well as all the shrimp, snails, and hermits. In the process I lost a red planet and a nice joe the coral. At this point the tank seems to have stabilized, but I will never have caulerpa in any form in a general reef tank . The only positive is that I finally rid myself of the caulerpa

 

[saltwater sam]

When caulpera "goes sexual" it basically turns white and dissolves releasing its spores into the tank. You do not want that to happen. When you notice your caulpera starting to turn white you know what's coming, get it out! If it melts it will turn your water white and spike your nutrients.

That being said, if you notice your water is looking cloudy or white, search for caulpera turning white and remove it! Carbon will remove it quickly if you catch it early enough.