SPS / caulerpa Question

[marinelife]

I was reading my Natural Reef Aquariums Book and it says that having Caulerpa in a system with SPS Corals is not a good idea, the SPS corals do not like the chemicals the caulerpa gives off. Is this true? I have been having problems with my SPS corals dying off some then growning, then dying off again. I know the caulerpa uses alot of calcium but I got a larger CA Reactor to help this problem. I have alot of caulerpa in the sumps and was thinking of removing caulerpa and just running a very small amount as part of my filter system. Any help would be great, everything is in check in the tank chemical wise.

 

[Anonymous]

Chaetomorpha is a better choice for a sump, IMO. Unless you have a huge amount of caulerpa though, I might look for alternate sources to your problem. Just a feeling.

 

[Anonymous]

>... I know the caulerpa uses alot of calcium

Caulerpa does not use much calcium. I think you are thinking about Halimeda :?

Anyway, one of the main issue is that Caulerpa grow so fast that it can smothers coral. If you can keep it in the sump, then you don't have this issue. It is true that caulerprin give off by Caulerpa can slow coral's growth, but I would like to see an article about this issue before making up my opinion about rather it is of concern. If you want to take a blind advice, running carbon once a while should be able to absorb some chemicals.

IMHO, Caulerpa, if managed properly (sounds like you do a good job), is more advantage than problem in a home aquarium.

 

[marinelife]

In Natural Reef Aquariums Book it talks about caulerpa and SPS not mixing, I also posted this on Reef Frontiers site and here is what they say, there is like to an article that I have yet to read http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/sho ... hp?p=34397

 

[Anonymous]

Everybody experience is different. It is not like if you mix SPS and Caulerpa, it is a definitely doom. I keep both together in my reef tanks for years, and there is no direct evidence that one harms the other if you managed it properly.

 

[marinelife]

I wonder if it is in a large amount then what problems would it cause, I have tons of it growing.

 

[Anonymous]

The key phrase here is "managed properly."

As long as you keep them in the sump, and keep them from going sexual (I being thru dozen of sexual event... sorry, but that's the best way I can put it...without any harm to my coral and fish. YMMV.) then you should be in good shape without worry about the caulerprin and other chemicals. Again, to reiterate what I said above, run a carbon once a while if you are concerned.