stopping caulerpa going sexual

[tramsden]

How can I stop my caulerpa prolifera going sexual..

The Mineral mud sump is lit 24/7 & I regularly crop it.

I see leaves with the yellow gametes on every week, I remove these immediatly, but within the next week I spy a few more, Its a riddle to me why its going sexual and that I cannot stop it..
Is there anything I should do that I'm overlooking..

pH=8.1 SG=1.023 NH4=0 NO2=0 NO3=0 PO4=0 Ca=400 KH=8.6
Lighting is ASL T5 38 twin
Flow thru sump about 1000 gph

mineral mud sump been running 10 weeks.

Any help or comment most welcome..

.. Tony

 

[xcreonx]

people say these ways will discourage asexual reproduction:

-24/7 lighting will help
-giving it plenty of room to grow
-addition of iron helps
-feeding the tank a little more will give it more nutrients to grow
-pruning in small quantities rather than grabbing a big handful and ripping it out.
-presence of other macros may help it grow (strange huh?)

i've never had a problem with mine in my refugium or my main tank. my fuge is lit 24hrs, but my main isn't. i add iron supplements and i feed heavily. i also have plenty of other macros and plants: gracilaria, codium, c. racemosa, c. prolifera, turtle grass, shoal grass, manatee grass, some other unidentified macros...