i added grape caulerpa to my refugium about two months ago. i already had about 12 mangroves and a euro-reef protein skimmer running as my method of filtration. 75 g tank, 30 gallon sump/refugium, nitrates about 5 ppm with a small amount of brown algae still growing. To my surprise the caulerpa started to die slowly but surely. I've since removed the protien skimmer with the thought that the methods were competing, causing the macro death. However, this did not correct the problem and the caulerpa is almost completly gone. I have used grape caulerpa in other systems with great success and I'm out of answers. I must also mention that the photo period in the refugium is 24 hours. can anyone help? thanks.
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macroalgae
- Thread starter jsteel
- Start date
I have the same stuff in my refugium and it is doing great. I don't think the skimmer is the problem. I have two rs6-2+ running for my 150gals with 80 gals sump/refugium. What kind of lights do you use for your refugium. How much sand do you have in there. have you add any mud for the algea?
I have 40 lbs of lives sand, 1 portion of fuji mud and 10 lbs of lives rock, i also have JBJ power compact 65 wattsx2. my grape caulerpa doing great, speading like wild fire. I only have it for 3 months, i can't even see the bottom of my refugium anymore. beside the fact i give some away. make sure you have a strong lights
I have 40 lbs of lives sand, 1 portion of fuji mud and 10 lbs of lives rock, i also have JBJ power compact 65 wattsx2. my grape caulerpa doing great, speading like wild fire. I only have it for 3 months, i can't even see the bottom of my refugium anymore. beside the fact i give some away. make sure you have a strong lights
Here's an excerpt from a Coralmania article by Eric Borneman:
In particular, I am very unfond of Caulerpa. It is invasive and very difficult to eradicate. It is toxic to fish and has many metabolites - and releases them when the organism degenerates during spawning. Acidic rhizomes etch carbonate and these algae can kill other more desirable species by overgrowth. I have had it grow right through the stalks of soft corals. Many aquarists say that it has not been a problem for them. My response? Just wait. It will. I guess my big question regarding Caulerpa is why use it at all when so many more desirable species of macroalgae exist, like Chaetomorpha species, or others.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/eb/index.htm
In particular, I am very unfond of Caulerpa. It is invasive and very difficult to eradicate. It is toxic to fish and has many metabolites - and releases them when the organism degenerates during spawning. Acidic rhizomes etch carbonate and these algae can kill other more desirable species by overgrowth. I have had it grow right through the stalks of soft corals. Many aquarists say that it has not been a problem for them. My response? Just wait. It will. I guess my big question regarding Caulerpa is why use it at all when so many more desirable species of macroalgae exist, like Chaetomorpha species, or others.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/eb/index.htm
thanks for the replies! To answer your question, i have 10 lbs. of ecostystem mud, 2 lbs live rock and 3 spot 24 watt pc bulbs. This type of lighting and wattage has been effective in the past. the article implies that the caulerpa is degenerating because it is spawning. I was under the impression that 24 hour lighting halted spawning. anyway, thanks!
jsteel":2j09eyi2 said:under the impression that 24 hour lighting halted spawning. anyway, thanks!
It won't prevent it, just maybe prolong it. You'll be much happier using chaetomorpha instead. That way, you will just have light it at a reverse photoperiod and keep the ph balanced.
What is chaetomorpha? is it the kind that look like a green sponge? My Ph very stabble now. Thanks god. It used to be 8.8 and i don't even know about it till all my fish slowly leaving me. I install the milwakee Ph controller for almost 3 months now. My Ph is at 8.2 at night and 8.4 during the day.
Yes, chaetomorpha is often referred to the brillo pad algae. It grows extremely fast and never goes asexual. If it had a drawback, it would be the small pieces that can clog up intakes.
Lighting macroalgae at a reverse photoperiod allows the system to continue removing nitrogen and phosphorus during the main displays night cycle. This will keep the dissolved oxygen constant, minimizing the ph swing.
Lighting macroalgae at a reverse photoperiod allows the system to continue removing nitrogen and phosphorus during the main displays night cycle. This will keep the dissolved oxygen constant, minimizing the ph swing.
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