Urchins vs. caulerpa
- Thread starter rc4kinu
- Start date
T Man
~PPPPPPP~
Invasive understated....
Invasive understated....
Urchins aren't much for caulerpa......they prefer the coralline on live rock.
I've had past battles with both feather and grape caulerpa, it's been my experience that hand removal is about the only option.
Everything you've heard about it is true! If allowed to attach to LR it will spread.......and fast. I took this rock out, picked it clean and put it in a circulated tank in the dark for a few months - that worked for me. The rock is now completly free of it. T
Invasive understated....
Urchins aren't much for caulerpa......they prefer the coralline on live rock.
I've had past battles with both feather and grape caulerpa, it's been my experience that hand removal is about the only option.
Everything you've heard about it is true! If allowed to attach to LR it will spread.......and fast. I took this rock out, picked it clean and put it in a circulated tank in the dark for a few months - that worked for me. The rock is now completly free of it. T
tylorarm
Premium Member
I have caulpera nummularia problem in DT. Sea Hares failed, zero interest, now bought two diadema urchins. I'll let you know how they do. Julian Sprung's "Algae a Problem Solvers Guide" does not recommend Sea Hares nor tuxedo urchins for caulpera, instead recommends diadema urchin, surgeonfish and angelfish. Sea Hares do love nori though...at least in my experience 
kwpgrooming
New member
My tuxedo urchin does a great job eating it.
Bongo Shrimp
P. ceratophthalma
For those of you whose urchins did do the job, how long did it take?
I've got the stuff growing out of control in my seahorse tank and would like to get rid of it asap.
I've got the stuff growing out of control in my seahorse tank and would like to get rid of it asap.
Bongo Shrimp
P. ceratophthalma
I know, I would isolate the seahorses while the urchins did their job if it wouldn't be for a long period of time.
tylorarm
Premium Member
diadema urchins not interested in my caulerpa, just coraline so far. They even have to go over the caulerpa to get to the coraline every now and again. The sea hares used to go over it like it was hot coals, couldn't wait to get off it. Lucky for the sea hares there's no caulerpa in my refugium.
ceratophyllum
New member
I had feather caulerpa for a short time in my tank when it was cycling. The tank was a 55 gal; the caulerpa came with the live rock. At first the stuff grew like crazy and I was worried. At about 8 weeks I decided to pull most of it out.
I only left a little bit, but the stuff just withered and disappeared. It looked like something was chewing on it, but I never saw it in action. At the time, I had 2 gorilla crabs (I got rid of those destructive critters), a bunch of red porcelain crabs, a percula clown, yellow tail blue damsel, yellow watchman goby, 3 peppermint shrimp, 2 turbo snails (eaten be the gorilla crabs), 5 or six snails that came in on live rock (not sure what they are.). I have a 10 gal refugium full of chaetomorpha.
I have no idea what killed my caulerpa, but I'm glad it's gone.
I only left a little bit, but the stuff just withered and disappeared. It looked like something was chewing on it, but I never saw it in action. At the time, I had 2 gorilla crabs (I got rid of those destructive critters), a bunch of red porcelain crabs, a percula clown, yellow tail blue damsel, yellow watchman goby, 3 peppermint shrimp, 2 turbo snails (eaten be the gorilla crabs), 5 or six snails that came in on live rock (not sure what they are.). I have a 10 gal refugium full of chaetomorpha.
I have no idea what killed my caulerpa, but I'm glad it's gone.
