Exact needs of Caulerpa

[MediaOne]

So we use Caulerpa in our refugiums as a mechanism to remove organics from out system.

Does anyone know what else caulerpa needs to grow? Do we benefit a great deal by growing a TON of caulerpa?

In extremely nutrient poor water, does it grow like crazy anyway? That would lead me to believe that it just needs lots of light?

your thoughts? Links to information is appreciated

 

[Anonymous]

Don't have an answer for you, but I like your sig

 

[danmhippo]

I am not a scientist nor am I a marine biologist. But from my understanding, many species of caulerpa is a natural nutrient sponge for all sorts of chmicals in the water. From my experiences, my caulerpa grows best with detectable PO4 and NO3, plus an adequate level of magnesium. I have caulerpa prolifera, and they also liked occasional addition of chelated Iron. Keeping the lights on 24/7, mine has never gone sexual. The best part of keeping lush growth of caulerpa is they provide natural refuge for pods. Not that pods won't develope if there weren't caulerpa, but the population of pods are significantly more dense with caulerpa forest. Everytime I am harvesting the plants, there are always a swarm of pods fleeing away from my fingers' path.

 

[kipreefer]

I have found alot of the same as Danmhippo. I use cleated iron form kent marine and it started growing like crazy. They just need light and some PO4 i think. That is all i have found they really need.

 

[afss]

is the cheleated iron that you use similar to the laterite used for freshwater aquaria? If it is can the stuff be interchanged? also what effects does chealeated iron have on corals etc?

danmhippo.
do you find the 24 hour lights affect anything else in the tanks such as pods etc. I have 2 10 gal refugiums that i have though about going 24 hour on, they are full of pods and worms etc, but i don't want to effect the pods negatively.
Thanks
Scott
_________________
grape ape plant

 

[danmhippo]

It takes a while for the pods to get used to the new lighting schedule. But they all lived and now I see pods swarms at any time of the day. The pods are pretty adaptable animals.....

You can increase the density of your pod population if your put tank full of baserock fragments. This serves 3 purposes:
1. You are creating more surface area for the nitrifying bacteria to colonize.
2. You are creating more nook and cranny for the pods to hide into.....sorta building pod farm/pod condo.
3. You are allowing caulerpa to root and attach onto the fragments, making "caulerpa on the rocks", a valued piece of rock for most LFS that you want to sell them to.

24 hours lighting prevents your caulerpa to go sexual, provided you harvest them often.

Yes, laterite can be used, but is only good for the caulerpa that took rooting onto the sand. Chelated Iron is more readily utilized by marine plants as marine plants, unlike many freshwater algae and plants, does not draw nutrients from the roots, instead nutrients are directly obsorbed thru the blades.

 

[SPC]

I would also like to add that micro algae also loves chelated iron. If adding this one needs to make sure they have a fairly good balance.
Steve

 

[afss]

I have mostly cc on the surface (top inch or so) and some very small rocks, and then 1-2 inches of SD under that. Both tanks are in a loop from my main tank to the sump so they get good flow etc.
They had been intended for breeder tanks for growing out banggais.. but since my tank crashed i haven't got new banggais.. I plan to soon, at which point i will probably add more tanks to the loop as i like the pod populations that seem to have built up so far in the 2 tanks
Scott
_________________
grapefruit

 

[dmentnich]

The main thing to prevent it from going sexual is to harvest it and keep it cut back. It is only one cell and when it reaches a predetermined size it will go sexual. If you are using it as a nutrient export let it grow to fill the refugium (cutting it to prevent it from growing too large) and then pull some out each week. You are not exporting the nutrients until it is out of your system. I had originally used a couple of150 W grow light and it grew just fine. It produced a lot of heat and is inefficient so I changed to a few Compact Fluorescent that you buy at the home depot (they are supposed to have a 6000-6500K rating.)

-Danny

 

[ynot]

Can someone explain the best way to harvest the caulerpa. Do you just reach in and rip it out or should it be cut somewhere specific using a knife or something. I got some mexicana growing in an aquafuge 12 with miracle mud....should I let it grow to fill the refuge which is 12" high, or just keep it at ~ 6" inches height and thinned out.

 

[monkeyboy]

I think it would be pretty neat to have Dr. Ron liquify some caulerpa and see what exatly it's made up of so we can determine what it will remove from our systems. I'd also like to see various skimmate from the top skimmer brands, and some tasty liquified xenia analized too see what it's removing.

Sort of off topic, but what the heck...

 

[dragon0121]

Monkeyboy,
Then you should go to the Ask Dr. Ron forum, because that is exactly the request for help that Dr. Ron has posted. His next study will examine the exports from our tanks. Will look at macro algea, skimmer output, etc.

 

[Bubafat]

Quote by Danny150: "It is only one cell"

Um, NO its not, it is many cells, some of which serve different functions (holdfasts, "leaves", stalk, etc.).

Caulerpa is pretty ez, water, light, carbon, nitrogen, iron, a few other minerals, and presto, massive growth!

I have found that caulerpa goes sexual when you either get a large temperature fluctuation or a decent pH fluctuation.

Depending on the type, I would NOT recommend you to add ANY to your main tank, and would even be hesitant to add any to your refugium/sump in fear that it may migrate to your main tank. Certain species of Gracilia are much less agressive (when it comes to holdfasts) and don't spread like mad and are ez'er to harvest. Species like Caulerpa racemosa have holdfasts that are very strong and dig into both the rock and your corals tissues, so even if you do rip off the caulerpa, the holdfasts will stay and continue to spread.

Buba

 

[Manofathousandpolyps]

"Caulerpa is the largest single celled organism on the plant."

- Bob Fenner "The Conciencous Marine Aquarist"

 

[Dan81]

What exactly is a pod and what are the advantages or dis advantages to them and how and where can you get them.