Caulerpa! was i stupid to buy it?

[syddakyd]

k i was reading how macro algae is beneficial in marine aquariums it outcompetes nuissance algae and lowers nitrates and makes water quality purer. then i heard about Caulerpa. it released good antiobiotics for fish and is used in healing tanks

so i went to the lfs and got some attached to a rock already. its the grape type btw.

now i was skimmed across a site and ran into a "released toxins when sexual", and was like wtf!!!

so, is it true that it will ruin my tank? i can just keep it pruned ( i know you have to pluck out full pieces and not trim it)

will it harm future corals, fish and inverts?


or will it benefit my tank.

i keep getting different view points

 

[DonW]

I wouldnt worry to much about that. I'd be concerned that its going to take over your entire tank. I'd get it out quick.

Don

 

[ronj]

i took all mine out and threw it away...too many horror stories of it going sexual.....i use chaeto to soak up nutrients..it grows like crazy in one of my tanks!!! most people put it in their sumps...i have it in two of my tanks wedged between some rocks

 

[syddakyd]

I wouldnt worry to much about that. I'd be concerned that its going to take over your entire tank. I'd get it out quick.

Don

i can just prune it though can't I?

how do i know if it becomes sexual

and what does it mean for my tank. its just a different way of reproducing

 

[DonW]

i can just prune it though can't I?

how do i know if it becomes sexual

and what does it mean for my tank. its just a different way of reproducing

Not really. You dont want to prune in the tank, that realeses the toxins. Grape and razor are a real drag, been there done that.

Don

 

[syddakyd]

what if i add fish that eat it? that will keep it in check

 

[DonW]

what if i add fish that eat it? that will keep it in check

Good luck I couldnt get anything to eat that stuff. Must not be very tastey.

Don

 

[Herefishyfishy]

There are those that hate caulerpa and those who love it. I am a pro-plant type. If you do not have aggressive eater tangs, it will grow. I used to keep it in my tank and sold extra on Ebay. This was before I moved more to corals and away from a fish tank and now have mixed plants in my sump/refugium.

Depends on your preferences and aesthetics. If you like the look, great. If you don't like the looks, then that is another matter. The problem that you hear of about going sexual, is when they all of a sudden die off entirely releasing 100% of everything they have into the water as nutrients and or toxins. Grape is one which can do that.

You need to decide what your planned tank is to look like and head in that direction, with or without plants. Be that as it may, the plant addition to the tank is not a problem in itself as long as water and lighting are fine.

If looking for a food for fish, prolifera is a better plant.

p.p.s. Don is very sharp and knows what he is talking about, but dislikes plants as a preference.

 

[Slickdonkey]

Here, check this out my good man.

 

[ronj]

i couldn't get my hippo to eat it for anything!!! i grew it for him, but he wouldn't touch it!!

 

[syddakyd]

ok i removed all of the free floating and pieces trying to attack to rock and removed MOST of the stuff attached to the rock i bought it on

there are a few small 1-2 inch pieces. i didnt want to srub the whole thing off because i think i seen little feather dusters (my luck its aptasia)

all just keep a very small amount in the tank so it can't spread and die off i guess

 

[DonW]

ok i removed all of the free floating and pieces trying to attack to rock and removed MOST of the stuff attached to the rock i bought it on

there are a few small 1-2 inch pieces. i didnt want to srub the whole thing off because i think i seen little feather dusters (my luck its aptasia)

all just keep a very small amount in the tank so it can't spread and die off i guess

Its pretty hardy stuff even a tiny piece that makes it way up through the pump from a fuge will start a take over. I had some luck with a foxface but he could'nt keep up so had to dump some rock. 2 years later I'm still seeing it pop up here and there.

Don

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I do not doubt that. Yet a different fish, a yellow tang developed a taste for my mexicana (very sexual prone species) and prolifera and required me to rip my tank apart to get rid of that vegisaur. Different tanks, different fish, different plants. I prefer prolifera as a food sourse, razer for looks and hardiness, and grape or mexicana for aesthetics. Though a macro algae lover, I will never put grape nor mexicana in a tank again. Prefer halimeda hands down in the tank, and chyto and razer/prolifera in the fuge.

As a side note to that great link by slick, they do not always show pronounced gamete growth prior to the die off. I have been entirely surprised overnight, and not a nice surprise at all!

 

[syddakyd]

i have 2 small white things in my tank i dont think they are aiptasia though

it looks liek a small feather duster but with no tube just the fan

there is about 8 lines and a small webbing

i cant get a decent shot they are so small and white


any guesses?

http://www.divingindepth.com/Deskto...tter of the Month/Feather Duster HomePage.jpg

looks liek this but without the tube and smaller

social feather duster?

 

[syddakyd]

it has short erect "feathers", not long dangly ones liek aiptasia

 

[Brenden]

Sounds like a feather dusters to me. I have a lot that hitched a ride on my LR. (no tubes)

 

[Slickdonkey]

Well from what I've heard you can keep caulerpa without trouble if you light it for 24 hours/day to keep it from sexualizing, if that's even a word. This probably isn't practical if it's in your main tank though.

Disclaimer: I've never grown it myself.

 

[syddakyd]

i think i have 2 fan worms

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/fan_worms.htm

looks kind of liek that

 

[Brenden]

I have around 8 types of Macro in my fuge including feather (taxifolia
), broadleaf(prolifera),and other brad leaf type I can not remember the name of. I run light 24/7 in the fuge and have never had a issue. About a month ago I started messing with the lighting schedule to see what it would do. It started going sexual after about 2 weeks so I ripped out all that had and left the light on 24/7 ever since. It will also grow much better/faster with 24/7 lighting IME. Unless you are lighting 24/7 grow chaeto. Which I also grow in the fuge. Do not buy it though. Plenty members here will give it to you free. (including myself)

 

[Brenden]

i think i have 2 fan worms

Very likely. I had several hundred on my LR until the copperband cleared them out. They are slowly coming back now.