What am I doing wrong?

[AttackDonut]

I have added several different types of macro algae to my tank and none of them survive.

The more calcerous ones are eaten (it appears, chuncks are taken out) which is fine by me, the more varied a diet, the better off the critters are IMO.

But the standard caulepa (sp??) always seems to turn transparent in a few weeks and dissolve into nothingness.

Do I have to acclimatize the stuff like I do with fish/inverts?

Is a temp of 80-82 too high?

I've tried dosing vs. no dosing, and it'll grow like mad for a time and then poof! It's gone...where did I goof?

 

[K. Lee]

I think it is best to acclimate any organism to a new environment for it.

Is your lighting sufficient? Sometimes normal flourescent tubes won't be enough for a Caulerpa spp., especially if the tank is deep.

 

[Fredfish]

Could also be a shortage of nutrients or something like iron.

Fred.

 

[AttackDonut]

I've got

I've got

135 watts of PC lights on a 29 bow front.
I'll check the iron, that's a good idea

 

[K. Lee]

That should be plenty of light. Caulerpa will grow w/o adding iron imo/ime. It should give it and other macroalgaes a good boost tho.