Changing out MM to DSB in fuge....

[Reefguide]

I'm stll having problems with caulerpa growing... I've changed lighting, I've switched back and forth between 12 hr and 24 hr... Have tried 2 different caulerpas, tried addind Iron, you name it... The feather caulerpa looses the feathers and the bubble caulerpa looses the bubbles... The stems are still there nice and green and not decomposing... This has been going on for over 2 months now. I'm buying up most of the caulerpa in town :roll:

I figure I might as well try a DSB instead. Can I just mix it in with the MM to make about 3-4" or should I remove the MM entirely and add the sand? Only drawback I think would be loosing the critters in the mud.

By the way current set-up is a 13w Powercompact 8800k, 1" MM, and currently 12 hr reverse daylight cycle.

 

[Henry1]

I also have had a fair share of failure with c. sertularioides and c. racemosa. It would grow well then crash. However, I have good success with this caulerpa sp. (don't know its name though. see photo)

I am using 2X55W PC 10000K 24/7
Also, the CO2 rich effluent from the Ca reactor is fed into the refugium.

Should you decide to convert it into a DSB, it shouldn't pose any problem mixing with sand.

Cheers
Henry

 

[SPC]

I don't think changing your substrate is going to make any difference, caulerpa feeds from the water column. What kind of light did you end up with?

The stems are still there nice and green and not decomposing...

-I have never heard of this. :? When my caulerpa dies the whole thing decomposes.
Steve

 

[danmhippo]

You got something like hermits, urchins, crab...etc in your MM fuge?

 

[danmhippo]

Also, I find that my caulerpa grows either with or without additional additives. I now doubt if iron supplements is really necessary at all as I have not been dosing iron for months and my caulerpa is still going strong!

 

[Reefguide]

No critters but pods in the fuge that I can see. I ended up with the PC 13w 8800k... Had tried the LOA with same results. Your right it should decompose, I had that happen once but the stems are still there and doing ok.... or at least not decomposing.... If they were going to decompose they would have by now.

I was told caulerpa also feed via root systems that thats why MM was soo good besides the pods eggs and all that other "good stuff" :? I just want to try the DSB to see if it helps... so mixing should be ok?

Henry, Photo not availiable on both...

 

[SPC]

I was told caulerpa also feed via root systems

-No, these are hold fasts not roots.

I ended up with the PC 13w

-I don't know much about PC's, is this like a total of 13 watts??
Steve

 

[seahawkjohnny]

have you checked the nitrates...if you dont have enough the caulerpra wont grow

 

[danmhippo]

Garcia, could it be lighting issue? I have lush growth over my 2 fuges, but I am using 4x96W PC's. I never tried growing macro's with so little light. Maybe it's just me, but I think you should try upgrading lighting before going the messy route.

 

[Reefguide]

Nirates are low, I didnt knwo that was a issue... The lighting fixture is the same one used on the Ecosystems... LFS here has them running just dandy on there smaller 30-55 gal set-ups.. they cant figure it out either...

 

[Reefguide]

Actually just tested there about 12.5 mg/l .... Anyone else hate trying to figure out colors on thest kits?? "Is it more this color of tis one... ?" :roll:

 

[Garry thomas]

My refug is going nuts with racemosa, prolifera, taxafolia,i do add iron which tends to stop the ends bleaching! iodine is added but perhaps that helps? The lighting i prefer is 1 x 40 watt triton 1 x 40 watt coralife 10000K and 1 x 3400k which the low kelvin rating promotes algal growth The calerpa is harvested once a week and fed back to all my tangs..GT

 

[Garry thomas]

My refug is going nuts with racemosa, prolifera, taxafolia,i do add iron which tends to stop the ends bleaching! iodine is added but perhaps that helps? The lighting i prefer is 1 x 40 watt triton 1 x 40 watt coralife 10000K and 1 x 3400k which the low kelvin rating promotes algal growth The calerpa is harvested once a week and fed back to all my tangs..GT

 

[Garry thomas]

My refug is going nuts with racemosa, prolifera, taxafolia,i do add iron which tends to stop the ends bleaching! iodine is added but perhaps that helps? The lighting i prefer is 1 x 40 watt triton 1 x 40 watt coralife 10000K and 1 x 3400k which the low kelvin rating promotes algal growth The calerpa is harvested once a week and fed back to all my tangs..GT

 

[danmhippo]

Wow, GT, you really mean it, eh?

(Just teasing.....)

 

[caecosystems]

Caulerpa prolifera is the best for refugiums. It will not fall to pieces like the others will. I have set up dozens of refugiums for customers and the only caulerpa that stays around is prolifera. I dont add anything special for the algae and it grows like....well.......weeds. Good reefing.

 

[danmhippo]

Ditto on the C. prolifera. I recently suffered several "mis-haps" in my pond. Temp spike (heater failure), freezing temp (incorrect setting on the dual stage controller), alk spike (too much kalk dosed)......etc.

Almost all green macro's died except C. prolifera. They are still green, and still sending out runners. Other than C. prolifera, most of the red macro's survived as well such as gracilaria.