what are the problems with grape caleurpa?
- Thread starter ozman3803
- Start date
skeeter-doc
In Memoriam
I don't think it is toxins per se, but just more of an organic overload when they release their gametes, ie, "going sexual" It is just a form of reproduction that takes please and in our tanks, which are closed systems, the filtration generally is not able to handle it all. Ozman, if your fuge is lit 24/7 and you prune it regularly, then you shuld have no problem at all. Most problems with this is when a little bit gets into the display tank, if it gets ahold and starts growing, it may be hard to remove, ...
wizzbane15
Member
think of caluerpa like it is a filter sponge in your tank. the sponge looks normal and works fine until you take it out and squeeze it out. caluerpa will absorb a lot of different chemical compounds from your tank but when it goe sexual, it is like squeezing the sponge and releasing all of that stuff back into your tank.
"don't squeeze the Charmin"
"don't squeeze the Charmin"
hyperfocal
Active member
In addition to the problems with gamete release, various types of caulerpa *are* toxic (just google 'toxic' and 'caulerpa' and you'll get a long list of references). Those aren't the things that puts caulerpa on my 'Never Again' list though -- the most aggravating part of it is the tendrils it drops into/onto *everything*, and the difficulty in actually getting rid of the stuff when you just can't take it anymore.
Chaetomorpha is common enough that there just isn't a reason to deal with all the downsides of caulerpa.
Chaetomorpha is common enough that there just isn't a reason to deal with all the downsides of caulerpa.
pledosophy
Active member
I have used chaeto and calupera and find calupera to be far supperior.
If you know what your doing, light it 18/7 or so it is a very efficent and stable means for nutrient export.
If you let it over grow, or are lazy about pruining when need be it will start turning white, if you still fail to pruin it will go sexual and disinigrate, in which case you will need to run carbon.
IME it is by far the best means of filtration available to the hobbyists today.
JME
If you know what your doing, light it 18/7 or so it is a very efficent and stable means for nutrient export.
If you let it over grow, or are lazy about pruining when need be it will start turning white, if you still fail to pruin it will go sexual and disinigrate, in which case you will need to run carbon.
IME it is by far the best means of filtration available to the hobbyists today.
JME
Frick-n-Frags
New member
yes, keep harvesting and maintaining it to maintain its healthy mass at a constant level. You are physically removing the bound nutrients with the excess caulerpa
PLUS you ensure that the mass of caulerpa doesn't reach critical mass, at which point it uses up some key trace, whatever and decides it has to reproduce because it is going to die.
And, since all the caulerpa is all in the same water missing the whatever is needed, it all goes to seed.
If you ever see a whole strand go clearish-funky, immediately get it out.
And there is a difference between crashing and just dying normally, like the trailing end of a vine that is deteriorating as the front end is growing. that is not crashing, more like marginally surviving against some other factors.
PLUS you ensure that the mass of caulerpa doesn't reach critical mass, at which point it uses up some key trace, whatever and decides it has to reproduce because it is going to die.
And, since all the caulerpa is all in the same water missing the whatever is needed, it all goes to seed.
If you ever see a whole strand go clearish-funky, immediately get it out.
And there is a difference between crashing and just dying normally, like the trailing end of a vine that is deteriorating as the front end is growing. that is not crashing, more like marginally surviving against some other factors.
Crazy4salth2o
New member
Keep the population under control as noted. I have had it pollute my system...not fun.
elegance coral
They call me EC
I have been using grape caulerpa for many years. I have had it go sexual more times than I can count, but I have never lost an animal because of this.
